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Shoulder Rig Idea

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Medavoym

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Hi!

I've tried several EPIC hand held rigs out there and I am still not satisfied.
Too many bolts, screws, items (pad, dovetail, crossbars, extensions, riggers etc etc etc).
Plus, the camera sits way too high on my shoulder. Nothing compares to old-fashion hand held work we are used to.

The film cameras were so balanced, the hand-held was so simple, it was a pleasure. Just put the camera on the shoulder, strap some handles and away you go:


tumblr_kykabvbE2W1qa3rin.jpg


Even the old Arri 35BL was so easy to put on your shoulder... Now, granted, film cameras have an advantage - they are bigger, they have film magazines, thus, they are easier to balance.

But that doesn't mean digital camera hand-held configurations can't be simple. Look at how simple Alexa is to put on your shoulder:


arri_alexaimg_0078.jpg


So - I think it's time somebody designs a really SIMPLE solution for the EPIC and SCARLET. And I don't mean separate dovetail, crossbar, extensions - which invariably put the camera way too high. I mean something like this:


1236095035.jpg


The Red DSMC Shoulder Pad doesn't cut it in my opinion, it's too difficult and time-consuming to take the camera off the tripod, unscrew the 19mm universal mount from the quick-release dovetail, then screw the shoulder pad in there. Who has time for this?

I am thinking of somebody designing a shoulder pad in the form of the Quad Battery Module, but with nothing inside. Strong but very light. Battery goes at the back for perfect balance. And a nice Shoulder Pad permanently attached at the bottom of that module. Everything quick release.

So - you need hand-held? Take the camera off the tripod, slap the "Hand-Held Module" at the back, slap the battery in the back, slap the handles in front (19mm rods or, better, 15mm lightweight rods) and away you go. Perfectly balanced (with the battery in the back, it won't be front heavy) and same feeling as with Alexa or the old trusted film cameras.

NOTHING MORE. You can go crazy assembling some of the hand-held rigs out there, including the well-known brands. We need something extremely simple - A ONE PIECE DEVICE. That's it. Should be easy to make.

Mike
 
Bob Gundu has a great shoulder rig for his Scarlet - It's a leather Letus shoulder pad (looks like a catcher's mitt) that he Velcro's to the quad battery module. On and off in no time, comfortable, and it puts the camera at the right height for shoulder work. I really like how well it balances.

There's pictures on the Scarlet rig thread.
 
I proposed a "dumb bridge" module over 2 years ago that would use the module connection system for strong attachment and route signal/power for rear modules. I imagined a mostly empty metal casing with a deep padded cut out on the bottom side, wire jumpers and a flat cheese plate style top.

FWIW one of the issues with any design like this, is that by putting the brain, lens, MB, etc in front of the shoulder how much rear weight and/or cantilevering would be needed to achieve balance?

At one point I did some design work with a noted RedUser that was essentially a shell for the brain, batteries, IO, etc that mimicked the best ergonomic cameras we knew of. It would add some weight and expense for sure, but in addition to ergonomic advantages it would make setup and operation simpler and more like what most shooters/ACs are used to. Less learning curve, less pieces for rental houses to manage, less setup time, ... Of course also more limited configuration options and more weight.

Cheers - #19
 
My solutions for docu handheld with Nikon mount. 8kg

Epic_Custom_shoulder1.jpg

Epic_Custom_shoulder2.jpg


(based on old RED ONE accessories) ;-)

Pat
 
You are looking for the AllStar handheld rig. The shoulder pad simply accepts the dovetail you take from camera. If you want even lower center of gravity--as in lens Below your eye--run 15mm LW on the allstar "thin dovetail,"or use their dual bridge plate that puts the 19mm rails below the dovetail.

I like the 15mm LW/thin dovetail solution. Keeps the camera light and simple. With the Camera of Wood battery slide bolted to the back of the thin dovetail, I can let go of the handles and the camera stays balanced--and that's with an MB-19 studio matte box and follow focus on the front!
 
If you are tall enough, mounting the camera under sling style with rails on top to a shoulder pad and counter weight is a pretty great setup.

gini.jpg
 
I agree, it would be great to move from tripod to handheld without attaching extra parts. Like the alexa, works really good. I think a kind of empty module would be nice, also to put in stuff like lockits, bolt, paralinx, etc
 
Don't you guys think too much emphasize is put on a perfectly balanced rig with these new, small cameras?

I mean, if you put an Arri Handheld camera on your shoulder, it's not going to stay there unless you hold it really well, it will fall in front of you for sure. I look at these ridiculous videos of guys wearing huge handheld rigs - I mean HUGE - and walking around hands-free to demonstrate the greatness of their configuration, how it stays on their shoulders perfectly balanced and so on. Meanwhile, they run rods on top of their cameras (or God knows where else) about 2-3 feet long, with batteries, arms, counter-weights, and all crap thrown in there.

You don't know whether to laugh or cry.

The EPIC is so small and light, who cares if it's a little front heavy? Plus, with a longer module (I love the idea) and a brick behind it, it should balance very well, very similar to film cameras.

Somebody should build this. Just a long module with a shoulder pad at the bottom, that's all we need really.

George

-
 
Yes, Bob's solution is great. Because of it, I spent a week and a half seriously considering buying a used Quad module simply for ergonomics.

George, I am also not a fan of the rigging concept you referred to, the "shit all over the place, but look at my counterbalance" school of thought. I grew up with an SR and a sweatshirt--low center of gravity, zero crap flying off the camera, decent counterbalance. This is why I like the AllStar rig.

The two photos I've attached are probably the ugliest jpegs to ever grace the internet. The first shows how the battery, set at shoulder height like a film magazine, achieves counterbalance with a studio mattebox and no crazy rigging. Slide the battery up, release and remove the shoulderpad, camera is ready for tripod in 7 seconds. Best part is I can let go and it stays there, meaning my hands are not carrying the weight, just gently guiding the handles... if I want more forward drop I just slide it forward.

Center of gravity is very low, lens below the eye.

The second shows how the AllStar shoulder pad has a slope built into it for the human shoulder. This keeps the camera level so you don't have to strain your shoulder to do so all day. I do not know of another system that does this.
 

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Could someone design a sturdy Shoulder Pad (sloped) that attaches to the regular thread holes at the bottom of the Quad Module?
As an alternative to just velcro-ing it.

I'd much rather go for that (+ handles directly on rods in front) as opposed to a myriad of other accessories. Even if the camera is a little front heavy, it should be ok.

George

P.S. Ideally, I think, an empty module with a shoulder mount beneath it (longer than the Quad Module) should do the trick, and be cheap enough (nothing inside). Ending the same way as the camera, so we could mount a Quickback with a brick there.
 
What regular thread holes? There's nothing on mine. Velcro is awesome. Very secure and can removed with a jiffy.

George A. said:
Could someone design a sturdy Shoulder Pad (sloped) that attaches to the regular thread holes at the bottom of the Quad Module?
As an alternative to just velcro-ing it.

I'd much rather go for that (+ handles directly on rods in front) as opposed to a myriad of other accessories. Even if the camera is a little front heavy, it should be ok.

George

P.S. Ideally, I think, an empty module with a shoulder mount beneath it (longer than the Quad Module) should do the trick, and be cheap enough (nothing inside). Ending the same way as the camera, so we could mount a Quickback with a brick there.
Click to expand...
 
George A. said:
Could someone design a sturdy Shoulder Pad (sloped) that attaches to the regular thread holes at the bottom of the Quad Module?
As an alternative to just velcro-ing it.

.
Click to expand...

Your Quad has holes on the bottom? Neither of mine do.

Velcro works really well - holds fast and easy to put on / take off. Not so sure I'd be bothered with an empty module.
 
Last edited:
Yup. Everything you said has crossed our path. Bottom line, there is no "Great" shoulder pad setup. The Clutch comes close, but it's quite the piece of gear, looks like a strapped down octopus and limited vertical mobility.

Most other solutions out there are "rigged" bits of odds and ends, nothing solid, nothing one piece and of course, the shoulder mount is invariably too high.

Most important, counter balance. We need the batteries in the back, we need even weight distribution. All the units I've tried are front heavy. I've considered hiring a machinist myself or creating a design for the guys at ViewFactor to make.

Once someone designs the "perfect" shoulder rig, they are going to do very good business. I'm in.

When somebody makes this devi
Medavoym said:
Hi!

I've tried several EPIC hand held rigs out there and I am still not satisfied.
Too many bolts, screws, items (pad, dovetail, crossbars, extensions, riggers etc etc etc).
Plus, the camera sits way too high on my shoulder. Nothing compares to old-fashion hand held work we are used to.

The film cameras were so balanced, the hand-held was so simple, it was a pleasure. Just put the camera on the shoulder, strap some handles and away you go:


View attachment 31931


Even the old Arri 35BL was so easy to put on your shoulder... Now, granted, film cameras have an advantage - they are bigger, they have film magazines, thus, they are easier to balance.

But that doesn't mean digital camera hand-held configurations can't be simple. Look at how simple Alexa is to put on your shoulder:


View attachment 31930


So - I think it's time somebody designs a really SIMPLE solution for the EPIC and SCARLET. And I don't mean separate dovetail, crossbar, extensions - which invariably put the camera way too high. I mean something like this:


View attachment 31929


The Red DSMC Shoulder Pad doesn't cut it in my opinion, it's too difficult and time-consuming to take the camera off the tripod, unscrew the 19mm universal mount from the quick-release dovetail, then screw the shoulder pad in there. Who has time for this?

I am thinking of somebody designing a shoulder pad in the form of the Quad Battery Module, but with nothing inside. Strong but very light. Battery goes at the back for perfect balance. And a nice Shoulder Pad permanently attached at the bottom of that module. Everything quick release.

So - you need hand-held? Take the camera off the tripod, slap the "Hand-Held Module" at the back, slap the battery in the back, slap the handles in front (19mm rods or, better, 15mm lightweight rods) and away you go. Perfectly balanced (with the battery in the back, it won't be front heavy) and same feeling as with Alexa or the old trusted film cameras.

NOTHING MORE. You can go crazy assembling some of the hand-held rigs out there, including the well-known brands. We need something extremely simple - A ONE PIECE DEVICE. That's it. Should be easy to make.

Mike
Click to expand...
 
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