Cine Saddle version for Komodo

[Steve Sherrick]

Anyone using a Cine Saddle with their Komodo? I may need one for something coming up but will be traveling and would like to avoid the larger one if possible. Wondering if a Baby Saddle or Tiny Saddle would suffice. My main usage for it would be to smooth out hand held shots and to be able to get some low angles where I can just drop saddle down and put camera on it. This is a doc project, not narrative.

Thanks!

 

[TYLER STOOKSBURY]

Im curious about this as well

 

[M Harvey]

Me three. I think one variable is your lens, though-- are you using small primes, where your center of gravity will still be in the Komodo body itself? (I'm shooting with a regular Cine Saddle and Komodo tomorrow, but will have a larger zoom.)

 

[Tom Hanmer]

Hi Steve
I have the original cine saddle and a mini saddle which I needed for a project years ago. Not sure how the mini compares to the baby or tiny- they weren’t around back then. Personally I feel that the original is too big for the Komodo and the mini just right. No danger of material getting in front of the lens and battery changes simple. Both I find problematic with the original and smaller lenses.
Not sure how you would use it to smooth out hand held shots but would love to know. I used mine for vehicle and bicycle mounting, it worked pretty well for dampening the high frequency vibration. It was also great just being able to throw it on the ground. Depending on the surface it was possible to do some fairly controlled panning and some tilt.
I have attached some shots of a fairly built up komodo on both the original and mini (Tita vlock plate, pag 98wh battery, revolva and canon 24-70).
Hope that helps. Can measure if you can’t find the dimensions of the mini saddle elsewhere.

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

I know it's definitely heavier than you'd want to carry, but I find that just using a small sand bag works wonders in these situations. I would think that a sand bag that had its sand replaced with styrofoam pellets would also do the trick, and for way less than $400.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Cinekinetic seemed to think I’d be better with a Mini or Baby. I’d mostly be using it with small primes and occasionally a small to mid size zoom. So nothing too crazy or heavy. Mostly use saddle for taking strain off arms if I’m not in traditional shoulder mount. And there are times when an easyrig doesn’t cut it for certain situations. And I’d be using it for ground shots, stabilize in car, etc.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Hi Steve
I have the original cine saddle and a mini saddle which I needed for a project years ago. Not sure how the mini compares to the baby or tiny- they weren’t around back then. Personally I feel that the original is too big for the Komodo and the mini just right. No danger of material getting in front of the lens and battery changes simple. Both I find problematic with the original and smaller lenses.
Not sure how you would use it to smooth out hand held shots but would love to know. I used mine for vehicle and bicycle mounting, it worked pretty well for dampening the high frequency vibration. It was also great just being able to throw it on the ground. Depending on the surface it was possible to do some fairly controlled panning and some tilt.
I have attached some shots of a fairly built up komodo on both the original and mini (Tita vlock plate, pag 98wh battery, revolva and canon 24-70).
Hope that helps. Can measure if you can’t find the dimensions of the mini saddle elsewhere.


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Thank you for posting photos!

 

[Steve Sherrick]

I know it's definitely heavier than you'd want to carry, but I find that just using a small sand bag works wonders in these situations. I would think that a sand bag that had its sand replaced with styrofoam pellets would also do the trick, and for way less than $400.

I think the form factor of the sand bag would not quite conform as well and no adjustable strap for how I would use it in handheld. I think it’s one of those you have to try it to see if it works for you situations. But for sure I have used sand bag on ground or even on top of Apple boxes to get shots

 

[Mark Phelan]

Cinekinetic seemed to think I’d be better with a Mini or Baby. I’d mostly be using it with small primes and occasionally a small to mid size zoom. So nothing too crazy or heavy. Mostly use saddle for taking strain off arms if I’m not in traditional shoulder mount. And there are times when an easyrig doesn’t cut it for certain situations. And I’d be using it for ground shots, stabilize in car, etc.

Steve, I had the original years ago and used it as you're talking about. Specifically, I remember a shot in a military helicopter that was bouncing all over the place, and I had nothing but my arms suspending the CineSaddle and my Epic above my lap. It wasn't my first choice, but as my only option besides holding the camera directly, it surprisingly actually worked quite well, YMMV.