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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Another 'Rod / Setup / Confusion / Advice' Thread... jump in, the water is nice

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Gary Paul Walker

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After renting setups for almost every shoot I've ever done, I've decided to buy a follow focus, matte box etc for my Scalet X

Initially I was quite clear on what I wanted... the Wooden Camera solution of the easy riser and the 15mm lightweight adaptor. But then that got me thinking - what about the weight?? I had visions of the matte box dipping down under the stress, or needing rods so long that they feature heavily in my next short (carbon fibre rods are not the best character actors)

So my solution is this: The Wooden Camera setup (riser with 15mm lw adaptor) for my follow focus, and then have the riser bolted on to a set of 19mm rods for the matte box (or lens supports).

My question is this - does this solution make sense? Have any of you adopted a similar approach.
The only thing that sees to be clear to me is that the Riser is key to bringing the Scarlet X to the standar height for rod support.....

Thanks for anyone elses thoughts on this
Gary

Oh, and it's Alan Rickmans birthday today so feel free to reply in a Severus Snape-esq way!
 
15mm rods are plenty strong for a mattebox... unless yours is made of lead, you'll be fine running just 15mm LW
 

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I've kind of done the same thing, only with View Factor's "Full Metal Jacket" instead! I have their 15mm LWS plate on the bottom and keep the rod brackets in place... when I use our 18-85mm RPZ, I need to bump up to 19mm rods for support. (the LWS set up doesn't leave enough room for 15mm rod lens supports... bummer.) I've even used the 15mm rods for the follow focus and the 19mm for lens support... looks crazy with all the rods, but works great! Good luck.
 
If I'm going with Red's Quick Release Dovetail and Modular Assault Plate for 15mmLWS, do I still need a bottom plate like View Factors or Wooden Cameras to bring everything to correct height?
 
The lightest weight/strongest rod combo I've found yet is Berkey Systems AL rods. They're feather light and very strong. For nastier jobs I've got heavy steel 15mm rods from Modern Studio Equipment. They don't thread properly with other rod systems, but they get the job done and they're like 2-8 dollars a crack.

In either case, unless you've got a 4 stage matte box with the full size wings, brow and bottomer on, you should be fine.
 
Hey Mike, I notice from the pics on the other thread your touch screen is mounted on I assume a Red arm when going hand held. How do you find repo-ing the screen with this set-up, as I am thinking of going the same way ? Thanx
 
Thanks for all your replies - and I certainly appreciate being able to see and hear about your set-ups. It looks like, for my needs, I'll definitly be going with the wooden camera set up, and slowly build a rig around that. I'll post pictures of my results here so you can all see what I've done :)
 
Mike Garrick said:
Hey Mike, I notice from the pics on the other thread your touch screen is mounted on I assume a Red arm when going hand held. How do you find repo-ing the screen with this set-up, as I am thinking of going the same way ? Thanx
Click to expand...

That is the 9" RED arm in the pics. I like the flexibility of being able to move the LCD around. In the "run and gun" pic I just bolted the LCD onto the WC side handle and left the arm off. The RED arm is really easy to adjust, simply loosen one knob and entire thing loosens allowing you to move all the joints.. once it's set just tighten and it stays. I got the 18" LCD cable.
 
@ Mike Thanks for that!!

In the process of ordering, for $180 or so. Sounds like it is the way to go as opposed to fixed mounting & swapping positions for every different configuration with blasted allan keys. :/!

I know I am in a special hell on set when I need an allen key.
 
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