Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

The V-Lock - Top Handle thing

Christoffer Glans

Christoffer Glans

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
4,993
Reaction score
36
Points
48
Age
42
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
I'm about to send in my Epic for the Weapon upgrade and I'm still trying to figure out the best solution for my problem mentioned in other threads. The included top handle won't fit with the V-Lock expander and Red Bricks. Design flaw or not, I need a solution to this. What are my options?

I could go for the wooden camera V-lock which puts the battery lower, but I got the accessory credit which would be nice to use instead on Red gear like the V-lock expander. So I'm not really sure what solution to go for here?
Either drop the top handle and go for something smaller, or keep the top handle and go for the wooden camera solution?
 
Work-arounds so far:
WC top plate
Flip the top handle
Get smaller V-lock batt's (including some forthcoming from Red)
Use a dumb top handle (like the WC)
Use a different battery mount (like the WC)
 
Tim Morten said:
Work-arounds so far:
WC top plate
Flip the top handle
Get smaller V-lock batt's (including some forthcoming from Red)
Use a dumb top handle (like the WC)
Use a different battery mount (like the WC)
Click to expand...

So far the good ones are
Get smaller V-lock batt's (including some forthcoming from Red) no one knows if Red is going to release it and it's somewhat of a waste of money since I need to sell three used Red Bricks and used batteries aren't really going for much
Use a dumb top handle (like the WC) means selling the top handle and getting a smaller less comfortable handle
Use a different battery mount (like the WC) having to buy third party and not use the accessory credit
 
Which would you rather have in the future? I'd side for that and hold off on using the top handle. Currently mounting my WC NATO handle atop the LEMO A connector and it's just about right.

Hoping it only takes one company that wants to capitalize on the height design by making a RED Handle riser that secures to the two 1/4-20 holes on the far left and right of the top plate, a 3-pin pogo passthrough, and another set of 1/4-20 holes atop to secure the top handle. But by that time... almost might as well have a secondary top plate.
 
i bought a used dumb single outrigger handle for now, at least until better battery options come along.
red teased us with new batteries coming, i just wish we had an eta on this since the cameras are all coming soon and we dont have a clear solution and most of us will be buying new battery systems very soon which is a big investment.
 
How about simply a shorter screw-in handle section for the weapon top handle? Same effect as taking a saw to it, but a little neater ;)

I have some coming for myself. Could easily do more :)
 
and you can also mount the small new universal handle backwards on the back screws that are closer to the battery.
 
jordan levy said:
and you can also mount the small new universal handle backwards on the back screws that are closer to the battery.
Click to expand...
I saw the pics, it seems a good solution to get a top handle and a side handle at the same time.
 
Simple list to make any v-lock work with a top handle

Wooden camera top plate (DSMC 2)
red top handle (DSMC 1)
RED nato rail OR wooden camera nato rail
Base I/O module
ET v-lock module
 
It takes somebody in a metal shop about 30 minutes tops to make a replacement for the tube inside the red handle with threads in both end etc.. I think cost vice that would be about 50-60 USD tops... Then just take the rest from the current handle and cut the rubber part to length, slide it on and screw it together.

Or you go out in the forest cut a nice tree, use a knife and make a tailor made wooden handle, and just buy the right tool to make the threads... Think that would cost about 50USD as well. Oak handle would be nice. :)


So the issue is not really something to break the piggy bank over. If you dont do what I did and get some guy to do hand machined aluminium handles, got the bill for them now made three of them for as little as 900USD :)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0352.jpg
    IMG_0352.jpg
    87.2 KB · Views: 0
Not sure why folks love the Red top handle... Don't we have enough Rec buttons already? Love my leather WC top handle, selling my Red handle as soon as I get it.
 
The newer V-Lock Anton Bauer Cine batteries look like they would fit perfectly.

http://www.antonbauer.com/en-DE/New...-new-cine-battery-series-at-the-2015-ibc-show

CINE_Banner_v01.jpg
 
Daniel Schweinert said:
The newer V-Lock Anton Bauer Cine batteries look like they would fit perfectly.
Click to expand...

Yep.

phfx_stiltsvilleMC2016_BTS_0094.jpg



Also, if you are getting the REDVOLT EXPANDER with XLR inputs and all that you should have enough clearance.
 
Phil yo you don't feel that the 7" is too close the handle to have the handle and the DSMC2 monitor on the top pogo?

They feel a bit to close to me so I've been playing with the best layout and think I'm going to use the lemo adapters to put the monitor somewhere other than right in front of the handle.
 
Louis Maddalena said:
Phil yo you don't feel that the 7" is too close the handle to have the handle and the DSMC2 monitor on the top pogo?

They feel a bit to close to me so I've been playing with the best layout and think I'm going to use the lemo adapters to put the monitor somewhere other than right in front of the handle.
Click to expand...

It is close and it's still cool to use cables and position things wherever you want them.

I'm digging the speed of cable-less setups. A full camera build takes no time at all and I don't have any cables flying around.
 
There's a lot of good suggestions here, however there are a few factors counting in for me. I'd like to keep costs down as much as I can, although I get that I need to do something for it to work.

1. I'd like to keep my own batteries, rather not sell my current ones just because they don't fit. It's costly to replace my whole battery setup. I also might not be able to fit the anton bauers in my camera case, which means a new case or another case, which is a no go.

2. Top handle needs to be able to be used when shooting. There are numerous times when I use it while shooting handheld.

3. Top handle cannot be mounted on a top plate since the top plate will make the camera too high for the case lid to be closed. And I'm not intending to have the camera in the case without the handle (to be screwed on when on location), because I want to have it like my Epic, ready to shoot directly.

4. Using the Red V-lock expander would be optimal since I can use my accessory credit to get it, it saves money. Optionally, if this is more economical I might do this and get the "new" batteries from Red with that credit, fixing the first note in this list. However, "new" batteries from Red aren't confirmed yet and we don't know how they perform or look.

5. No wires, except monitor (on an arm). The less cables the better.
 
If the darn handle was just a little shorter then all the issues would be solved. What I want is more 1/4 20 mounts on the left side of the brain (ribs or something) it's hard to mount all the little boxes I have on the brain and keep it neat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top