Post Your Scarlet-X Rig

[Carl Elster]

What are you using to get those two short rails on the top of your camera?

 

[Carl Elster]

What are you using to get those two small rails on the top of your camera?

 

[Bob Gundu]

I use the Wooden Camera one.
http://woodencamera.com/lw-15mm-top-mount

What are you using to get those two small rails on the top of your camera?

 

[Marie-Catherine O'Malley]

Charles Vallières trying out some new concepts at SHAPE

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Shooting downtown DC last night.

 

[Marie-Catherine O'Malley]

SHAPE coming up with new products for the NAB. interchangeable 15mm standard & studio & 19mm studio ROD system up front

 

[Carl Elster]

Frankenstein Scarlet X Shoulder Rig (Day One)

Frankenstein Scarlet X Shoulder Rig (Day One)

After what feels like hundreds of hours of research and the last two days of assembling and re-assembling I've finally come up with a working shoulder rig out of my "scrap" DSLR parts.

I have been primarily a DSLR shooter/owner for the last two years however I have shot with everything from 16mm film to 5D's to Epics. Over the last couple years I've collected a wide variety of DSLR, video and professional gadgets and accessories, hence the Frankenstein rig. I was going to buy a bunch of new custom Scarlet\Epic accessories but decided that NAB is so close I should wait to get the big stuff until I see all the new gear that hits the streets in the coming weeks. But for now I've built a pretty decent, balanced and cool looking rig out of "spare" parts.

Here is a link to the gallery...

Here is a comprehensive list of what's on the camera:

Lanparte shoulder pad
Lanparte Height Riser Clamp
Tripod Mounting Plate with 15mm rail block
Z-Focus #Z-FF-1 with custom Petroff upgraded quick release
Petroff 2 stage 4x4 matte box with custom made Petroff CP.2 clip on ring
Redrock whip
Noga Cine Arm
Manfrotto Nano Clamp
DP4 Monitor and EVF
Manfrotto Quick Release Plate 357
Zacuto Q-Release #Z-QR
Zeiss CP.2 21mm
ES 15mm Articulating Arms
The aluminum rods and some of the joiners and the rear handle are from an old Gini rig that I abandoned about a year ago

RED TOUCH LCD
RED SIDE HANDLE
Canon AL Mount

The whole setup weighs in at about 21 lbs. with the Redvolt in and lens on. I have carbon fiber rods on order from Indisystem to try and get the weight down but I also have a V-mount plate and batteries on the way so it'll shoot back up to around 25lbs or more once I get all my parts in.

I'm desperately trying to keep the weight down for handheld work.

Surprisingly it's well balanced! Although when I bought the Lanparte parts and started to build it I knew I wanted the camera sitting on my shoulder. Up until now I've been shooting with the DSLR cameras out in front of me, which I hate. With a V-mount batter on the back this thing will sit right on my shoulders. It's even well balanced left to right. Very happy with that.

What's on order:

Wooden Camera Battery Quickplate and Back Plate
Wooden Camera LW 15mm Top Mount
Carbon Fiber Rods
V-mount Batteries (not sure where I'm going to get them)
HyperThin HDMI 2.6ft cable
EVF Mount (waiting to see what comes out at NAB... Any suggestions? I really like the Wooden Camera design but it's pricey)

Waiting for NAB for a proper baseplate with LW 15mm rod mounts and a quick release system. I like the Zacuto C300\Scarlet\Epic Studio Baseplate but I have a feeling there will be at least a half dozen options once NAB rolls around. Any leads are appreciated!

Looking for some advice:

1) If I use just one LW 15mm Top Mount on the Scarlet like this and have two carbon fiber rods, will it be strong enough to attach a handle to and use it to pick up the entire rig and also use the rods as mounting points for other accessories? Or should I get a Easy Top X for the Scarlet and use two LW 15mm Top mounts so it is more sturdy?

2) Any suggestions on how to mount my Switronix battery plate with QB Battery Back to a set of 15mm rod clamps so I can mount the battery plate on any LW 15mm rails?

3) What low cost v-mount batteries will "talk" to the Scarlet? Do the MG1 Concept batteries display battery %? If not what are some inexpensive batteries (in the 130-160wh range) that do?

4) I'm hoping a Scarlet specific quick release that is not too expensive comes out at NAB. I don't trust the single screw mounting point of the Manfrotto 357 although I love the design and the vertical in\out and it's so well made...

5) Looking for tripod recommendations for a sturdy fluid head with a MAX rating of 30-35 lbs that will come in under $3000 for the whole kit (legs and head). Suggestions?

6) Tips for a rock solid audio solution that provides proper balanced (??) audio, XLR to 3.5mm adapting and preferably phantom power??? I'd prefer not to get an actual mixer but I do want phantom power because all of my mics are non powered and I'd like the option of using them (I'd rather not have to go out and get all new audio gear)

Your comments, suggestions, tips, hints, questions are appreciated and encouraged!

If you are selling any of the gear I've mentioned that I am looking for please PM and we can work out a sale.

Thanks for checking it out!!

Carl
carlelster@gmail.com

 

[Elizabeth Lowrey]

Stu, that's a Pelican 1510 with Padded Dividers and the Lid Organizer (which is pictured in the 1510 listing but not included.)

I use a couple of 1510s with padded dividers and love them. They are rolling carry-on sized cases - the largest carry-on approved Pelican case. Super useful! Enjoy!

Can you carry two Pelican 1510s on domestic airlines, one as "luggage" and one as "personal item" (ala camera/laptop)?

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Can you carry two Pelican 1510s on domestic airlines, one as "luggage" and one as "personal item" (ala camera/laptop)?

Great question, actually. I've been wondering this myself and have yet to put it to the test! My dad often travels with his guitar in addition to a decent sized backpack... they don't complain about that so I don't see why they should complain about two 1510s... but then again it is the TSA/airlines we're talking about here :biggrinjester:

 

[Brian Iannone]

 

[Paul Schneider]

I´m using the Zacuto Studio Baseplate as several others do here. But unfortunatly I´m unable to open the Redvolt battery door on the sidehandle because of the front risers. Anyone have a solution for this? Can you exchange the screws or something. Or maybe extend the risers out from the body in some way?

(I´m unable to move the baseplate itself forward, as the two mounting screws won't fit then....only one of them, which is not stable enough.)

I was in Zacuto to today with my Scarlet to test this out and they're on it. Hold tight a bit as they're looking into alternatives and will solve the problem soon. The lever def gets in the way of the door, but in in the mean time I was able to just use an allen bolt instead of the lever and it works ok and allows for battery change. Obviously not optimal from a quick change perspective, but it'll get you going temporarily.

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Genus Elite Mattebox, Zeiss CP.2 lenses, OConnor O-Focus DM Cine, RED DSMC Top Plate, EVF Spinner Mount & Sliding Handle, WoodenCamera 15mm LW Top Mount, Viewfactor APU-AB & FMJ Bottom Plate w/ 15mm LWS bracket. Anton Bauer Dionic 90 & Dionic HC batteries get ~1.5 hours of run time each.

 

[Ian McGrew]

Got bored today and did a little photo shoot with my camera haha

 

[Kirk.Attard]

Hi _Ian - Nice photo shoot - Your subject is sooo hot !

One little question - How do you find the 18 - 85 ?
Currently I have to decide wheter I will go to the 17-50 or the 18 - 85

I do mostly music videos and commercials - so with the 18-85 and the 100mm I would be well covered but is it too heavy for handheld? Or do you get used to it as well?

Thanks

 

[Phil Holland]

Nice setup Trevor. I may go that route to upgrade from the upside down RRM 15mm baseplate thing I'm doing at the moment.

 

[Dave Draper]

18 and you own a Scarlet??? Lucky motherf... lol.

Rock on, dude!

DD.

 

[Trevor Meeks]

Nice setup Trevor. I may go that route to upgrade from the upside down RRM 15mm baseplate thing I'm doing at the moment.

Thanks Phil. Yeah, this is rock solid, and the wooden camera 15mm top mount is a nice piece. Really happy with the simplicity and versatility of this rig.

 

[Mike Tiffee]

18 and you own a Scarlet??? Lucky motherf... lol.

Rock on, dude!

DD.

Not anymore, he sold it to get an Epic-M! WOOT!

 

[Ian McGrew]

Hi _Ian - Nice photo shoot - Your subject is sooo hot !

One little question - How do you find the 18 - 85 ?
Currently I have to decide wheter I will go to the 17-50 or the 18 - 85

I do mostly music videos and commercials - so with the 18-85 and the 100mm I would be well covered but is it too heavy for handheld? Or do you get used to it as well?

Thanks

Go with the 17-50 and maybe get a 100mm prime... You'll be fine with that I'd say. The 18-85 looks amazing but is so heavy! A buddy of mine has the 17-50 and it's really nice how small it is for what it does!

 

[BrandonChristensen]

Not anymore, he sold it to get an Epic-M! WOOT!

Seriously?