Ghost-Eye/Eclipse custom TX back plates

[Nicholas Wise]

UPDATE 9/18: new 3D mock-ups just posted - link

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Mounting the Cinegears Ghost-Eye 150M (or 300M) or ActionProducts Eclipse 500 transmitter is currently a noga/israeli arm arrangement with a 1/4-20 attachment point on the bottom. Personally, I would prefer the option of mounting it flush to a gimbal crossbar, on the back of a handheld rig or to a cheeseplate on the side of the camera.

Also, like some people, I have no need for the standard-issue L-series battery plate on the rear of the transmitter, as I prefer the Ptap-Lemo powering setup. So, when I removed the battery plate*, it opened up some mounting ideas. A little bit of 3D resin prototyping later and ...

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1) V-MOUNT: for use with the Element Technica or Wooden Camera V-lock system. It attaches by three M3 screws from behind the transmitter's rear plate, in a similar fashion to how the L-series battery plate is held. Three 1/4-20 holes at Red 9mm spacing is included for extra noga/israeli arm positions.

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2) NATO RAIL: useful with various Wooden Camera, Zacuto, CoolLCD (SmallRig) etc NATO clamps, especially this double-NATO clamp (link). The top of the rail has a hard stop, which I think would be good in combo with the Wooden Camera NATO arms. As with all these options, three 1/4-20 holes at Red 9mm spacing is included. As I write this, I wonder if I should have included a bottom spring-stop and I believe some people out there would prefer a NATO CLAMP option.

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3) QUICK RELEASE: this is for use this with the QR plates from Kamerar (link). These might work with the 16x9 Cine Lock's - something to test out. Perhaps there would need to be separate KAMERAR QR and 16X9 QR versions.

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Other options could be a COLD-SHOE version, a straight CHEESEPLATE version or even a RAIL CLAMP type.

If anyone out there is interested in any of these, or other styles for that matter, let me know and I will start putting a list together. With enough interest, I can get these CNC machined and anodized.

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* removing the battery plate requires removing the transmitter's rear cover, which could void warranty. However, it is a very straightforward procedure and I can provide instructions if needed.

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Interest List

V-LOCK
-

QR
Daniel Stilling 3x
Jake Wilganowski

NATO
Daniel Stilling 3x
Jake Wilganowski
Ned Wilson 3x
Grayson Austin 2x
Roddy Blelloch

CHEESE
Kazu Okuda
Grayson Austin 2x

SHOE
Roddy Blelloch

BATTERY
Kazu Okuda (V-Cage)

 

[Daniel Stilling]

I like the Nato rail and the quick release solutions. If the price is right I'd need 3 of each.

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

love it. I'd be into the cine lock version or the Kamerar version. Possible a nato rail lock also.

 

[Jack Allred]

Very cool. I'd be in for a couple but not sure which style.

 

[Steven He]

This is awesome idea, Thank you Nicholas.

 

[Matthew J]

I am interested, but do you have any clue what they might cost each?

 

[Brian Pascale]

Might be interested depending on cost.

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

And what's the timeline?

 

[Nicholas Wise]

working on pricing and timeline - thanks for the interest.

 

[Nathan Richards]

These are amazing! We would love to distribute them through our website on a per-order basis, if you are interested.

-Nathan from Cine Gears inc.

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

Update?

 

[Ned Wilson]

Count me in for NATO Rail style: (3)

 

[Nicholas Wise]

i haven't forgot about this thread - just tweaking the designs and adding a couple other versions

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

Cool I'll definitely buy one

 

[Nicholas Wise]

Apologies for the delay. Below are some new renders. These are getting machined right now and I will share photos/results when they arrive. Pricing will come in the next few days. Please continue to let me know how many of each you want. At this point, I am assuming all interest is "depending on price".

1) V-LOCK - mounts to either TX or RX via M3 screws and works with Element Technica, Wooden Camera and Cameo V-lock bases. Hopefully one of these companies can jump in here and offer a discount coupon on their bases to support this.

2) QR - mounts to either TX or RX via M3 screws and works with Kamerar QR-mini plate. Kamerar unfortunately won't offer to sell just the base plate, but at $45, it's still relatively cheap. There is also a 16x9 CineLock version (with slightly different dimensions) and it looks like you can purchase just the base plate separately here.

3) NATO - mounts to either TX or RX via M3 screws and works with any NATO rail clamp, but perhaps specifically this one by Wooden Camera, which is low profile, narrow and also comes on the end of their 7inch and 11inch arms. Hey WC - wanna join forces and work in a GB combo price?

4) CHEESE - mounts to either TX or RX via M3 screws and provides an Arri-style 3/8-16 and 1/4-20's.

5) SHOE - mounts to either TX or RX via M3 screws and mounts to any standard cold-shoe mount. Thought this would be a good fit for putting on the back of your RX and sliding on to the rail system on the back of SmallHD's new production monitors. There have been various iterations of this mount, and this ones looks a little funky to me, but we'll see how it turns out.

6) BATTERY PLATE - these only fit on the RX's and basically replace the stock L-series plate with either a V-mount or Gold-mount plate. Power is passed through to the circuit board beneath. The minimal design reduces any interference with the interior antennae. I expect I will sell these together with modified IDX/Anton Bauer plates with the correct XH connector crimped on the end.

I did make a version of these that has support struts for mounting to a Director's Monitor Cage. I can get these made as well if there is enough demand.

Again, to reiterate, using these plates involves removing the rear cover plate from your TX or RX and exposing the circuit board. It's quite simple to do and I can provide detailed instructions, perhaps a how-to video. This may void your warranty so please consider this risk first.

Did I miss out a design type? Let me know below and I will look into it.

 

[Kazu Okuda]

im in market for the ghost eye and would be interested once, i figure out my configuration. (1) rx with director's cage v-mount, and (1) Cheese

 

[Roddy Blelloch]

I'm ordering a 150 kit this week and would wanta Nato and a Cheese mount.

 

[Nicholas Wise]

Some 3D printed mock-ups below. Final pieces will be machined from 6061 Aluminum and hard anodized in black.

QR version

V-LOCK version

NATO version

CHEESE PLATE version

COLD SHOE version
[photos coming soon]

RX battery plate (machined example)
(V-mount version shown with optional side 'ears' for use with WC/ProAim director monitor cages. Gold-mount flavors also available.)

 

[Grayson Austin]

I'll take two of the cheese plate version and two of the NATO Rail version.

Grayson Grant Austin, SOC

 

[Roddy Blelloch]

I'll take 1x Nato and 1x Shoe mount.