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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 :)

BEST Camera Rigs for RED EPIC .. alts to the Red Clutch

Michael Lindsay said:
The basic problem is accessories manufacturers are not interested to create a 'European' style hand help setup for the Red Epic.

Everyone acts like handheld is a special occasion on set (like steady cam etc) ... The Frankenstein setups I have seen on reduser have scared me..

Simple needs

Low optical height
Keep camera small
Goes on a ARRI dove tail
One move from shoulder to tripod and back (no tools and less than 5sec)
It needs to ballance!
Click to expand...

+1

But you and I can't be the OOOONLY ones who think these thoughts? :)

How is the base plate on that dove? Is it possible to rig it so it mounts on the 509HD manfrotto head without changing plate?
 
Yes..it will go straight on. Vocas give you a small dovetail plate with the BP and you would leave that on the tripod all the time.

Christoffer Glans said:
+1

But you and I can't be the OOOONLY ones who think these thoughts? :)

How is the base plate on that dove? Is it possible to rig it so it mounts on the 509HD manfrotto head without changing plate?
Click to expand...
 
Michael Lindsay said:
Be warned the vocus is more a owner operator system. A hire company would need something else.
Click to expand...

How do you mean? I've been on numerous sets where the operators complain about every rig they ever encountered when speaking of Red, so this rig would be good for them, no?
 
Hand Held systems are incredibly personal. I've had to rig up things for DP's (using their gear) for my Epic and what like and what they like are most likely very different beasts.

So what I have tried to be versatile in what I can offer, but that can be an expensive proposition. In the end I don't care to hire that system out. My philosophy, get a system for your own operator work, get one that can work with all cameras/base setups. I use my rig for both my cameras the F5 and C500 and really any camera out there. Plus, triggering. That's a big deal for me, I want the ability to trigger the camera from the grip.

So all this really about personal taste, get what works for you. That usually ends up with plenty of experimentation.
 
There is. It's this rig Matt Uhry built. On the button of the shoulder rig is a screw that attaches a place for direct connect to your tripod. On and off in seconds.

Christoffer Glans said:
It would be nice if there was a rig that you could just "click on" the camera and then remove it, just like on a tripod. Please, can someone invent and sell to me? :D
Click to expand...
 
I agree.

The lower optical height adds stability, making the camera feel like it's part of your body, an extension
rather than a weight seated above, tippy...

Small rigs are the best, At least the ability to start small and add to it.

The ARRI dovetail and tripod solution all in one. Some thought and good design, done.
One move from shoulder to tripod. It's amazing this stuff is still hard to find. The market is wide open.

How much would you guys be willing to pay for a solution addressing these issues?

The balance question is always the concern. Our battery is on the shoulder, add a bigger battery, more weight but better balance. It's hard to
find a solution with balance and low optical perspective. I go for a slightly front heavy setup, using my elbows tucked into my tummy for greater stability and compaction.
I then use the rig like it was part of my body and use body moves to achieve subtle movement/achieve framing requirements. Shake is much less than holding the basic Epic body with LCD and a handle. I'll post some footage from the rig soon.

I've helped to build one of the best shoulder rigs around for the Epic, based Matt Uhrys batch of prototypes. It's really awesome. Mine is more modified than any other, Matt put in
special time to give my rig an aggressive edge and to conform to extreme shooting environment demands. This is a system I would take into battle, put up against any other setup and be willing to try just about any should you could conceive for the shoulder rig platform.

If there is enough interest, Matt and I will go to work for you guys. My rig runs from 20-30 pounds decked out.
Michael Lindsay said:
Simple needs

Low optical height
Keep camera small
Goes on a ARRI dove tail
One move from shoulder to tripod and back (no tools and less than 5sec)
It needs to balance! (With a prime lens/LMB5/FF)
Click to expand...
 
Anyone used the Wooden Rig (151900)? It looks like a basic (but decent quality) dovetail rig, price is good but I wonder if the camera is going to sit too high. The requirements list posted earlier was this:

Low optical height
Keep camera small
Goes on a ARRI dove tail
One move from shoulder to tripod and back (no tools and less than 5sec)
It needs to ballance!

 It looks like the Wooden setup checks all these boxes - IF the optical height is workable.
 
I have this WC rig you listed, I do feel like the camera sits to high. Also I feel like its quite heavy, I do like the hipster leather grips:)

I am currently trying to sell my WC should rig to get something simple, similar to this: http://www.actionproducts.ch/portfolio_item/shouldermount-razor/

If you are interested in trying the WC rig I will give you a good price on it.

David Kuhn said:
Anyone used the Wooden Rig (151900)? It looks like a basic (but decent quality) dovetail rig, price is good but I wonder if the camera is going to sit too high. The requirements list posted earlier was this:

Low optical height
Keep camera small
Goes on a ARRI dove tail
One move from shoulder to tripod and back (no tools and less than 5sec)
It needs to ballance!

 It looks like the Wooden setup checks all these boxes - IF the optical height is workable.
Click to expand...
 
I think Epics are pretty thin and top heavy, which makes it a little more difficult (you have to add more weight than necessary, which generally isn't the greatest). Plus if you put it on your shoulder, the lens sits really high. ALSO, because Epic is so short/small, it should really sit in front of the shoulder in order to put the lens in the right spot (particularly for short primes) which is kind of haggard because it puts the weight on your arms... Again, needs to add more back weight behind the shoulder to compensate.

It's a tough beast.

As for snapping on and off; isn't that just a matter of putting a quick release between the bridgeplate and bottom of the camera?
 
Mike P. said:
I think Epics are pretty thin and top heavy, which makes it a little more difficult (you have to add more weight than necessary, which generally isn't the greatest). Plus if you put it on your shoulder, the lens sits really high. ALSO, because Epic is so short/small, it should really sit in front of the shoulder in order to put the lens in the right spot (particularly for short primes) which is kind of haggard because it puts the weight on your arms... Again, needs to add more back weight behind the shoulder to compensate.

It's a tough beast.

As for snapping on and off; isn't that just a matter of putting a quick release between the bridgeplate and bottom of the camera?
Click to expand...


Agreed. That's why I don't bother with having a pad on the camera itself. I wear the pad. That serves two purposes; getting the lens height lower as well as weight, and allows me to pop the camera on and off sticks quickly via the RED quick plate. The camera pretty much sits right at the base on my shoulder. Plus, I like looking at the 5" touch right next to the lens. It makes for a wider setup (I can still go through doors) but I can see the world around and in front of me and it allows me to react to it if need be. Short lenses put the FF right at my chin, and I'm fine with that, but the camera base itself is right no my shoulder and is pretty well balanced with a RED brick in back. For longer lenses I get to push the camera further back and still remain balanced.

Anyway, I really recommend checking out Ergocine's wooden hand grips, especially the trigger version. There are other wooden hand grips out there, but I fell in love with Ergocine's when I tested them at Abelcine.
 
Added to this topic, what I'm really looking for is a monitor/EVF solution. Right now I feel that there's another round of EVF's that should be coming with HD resolution, and ideally flip a flip up option. So I'm waiting. I have my own thoughts about the EVF mount I'm going with, but I'm interested in what people are using/ hoping for with their hand held setups. I was even considering the new TVLogic vfm-058w coupled with the PS-Finder simply because I really love my TVLogic, but ideally the EVF itself is smaller. Plus, it MUST work with every camera out there.
 
Daniel Kelly Brown said:
I have this WC rig you listed, I do feel like the camera sits to high. Also I feel like its quite heavy, I do like the hipster leather grips:)

I am currently trying to sell my WC should rig to get something simple, similar to this: http://www.actionproducts.ch/portfolio_item/shouldermount-razor/

If you are interested in trying the WC rig I will give you a good price on it.
Click to expand...

tried Actionproducts razor on every possible config too.Front heavy ,not satisfied
 
Matt Uhry's rig does all this.

Mike P. said:
I think Epics are pretty thin and top heavy, which makes it a little more difficult (you have to add more weight than necessary, which generally isn't the greatest). Plus if you put it on your shoulder, the lens sits really high. ALSO, because Epic is so short/small, it should really sit in front of the shoulder in order to put the lens in the right spot (particularly for short primes) which is kind of haggard because it puts the weight on your arms... Again, needs to add more back weight behind the shoulder to compensate.

It's a tough beast.

As for snapping on and off; isn't that just a matter of putting a quick release between the bridgeplate and bottom of the camera?
Click to expand...
 
How do you guys feel about counterbalance (like a v-mount out the back)? I really dislike having the camera too far out behind my head/shoulder, because I feel like I'm gonna inadvertently hit a frame or something. BUT, given the options, I can't see any better way... The irony is that I'm basically trying to make it sit like an Alexa.
 
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