Zacuto Baseplate

[Tom Gleeson]

Has anyone used the new Zacuto Baseplate? http://www.zacuto.com/vct-baseplate

I have never liked most of the solutions as the camera ends up too high on the shoulder and not keen on the elaborate rigs and I want to go from shoulder to tripod in an instant rather than rebuilding everytime. Thoughts?

 

[Lee Saxon]

I haven't tried it out but it looks really great. You can see, and they mention more than once in the videos, that it is quite a bit lower on the shoulder than most solutions.

I kinda wish I'd thought of it first.

 

[Tom Gleeson]

Yes I just wish it had an Arri rosette on the side although I will look into adding one

 

[Tom Gleeson]

Maybe this could work but it would depend on the spacing on the side of the baseplate of the 1/4" holes. Also the side handle will project over the side of the baseplate so having the potential to foul any added bolt ons like the rosette. http://www.coollcd.com/smallrig-bolt-on-rosette-arri-1272_p1272.html

 

[Thomas Koba]

I would recommend the Shape Baseplate, it has the rosseta mount including excellent handles. Snaps on on a Sony Baseplate lock too, like to Zacuto.

http://www.shapewlb.com/upload/publ...1/SHAPE-BP0008 PRODUCT PICTURE-640X480-v1.jpg

 

[Lee Saxon]

Wow, I hadn't seen that shape baseplate. There's some...uh...resemblance in this new Zacuto...

 

[Lee Saxon]

Tom, do you own any of those Smallrig Rosettes? Can you confirm they actually fit "Arri standard" rosettes? I was considering buying one as a cheap way to make sure a rosette accessory I'm developing is compatible, but given the price I was a little wary.

 

[Tom Gleeson]

Yes quite similiar but the Shape is $745 and Zacuto $585. Also the Zacuto is .9kg and the Shape looks heavier but I cannot find a weight for the Shape in its Tech specs.

Lee on the Website they say the Smallrig Rosettes are Arri standard

 

[Michael Lindsay]

I have never liked most of the solutions as the camera ends up too high on the shoulder and not keen on the elaborate rigs and I want to go from shoulder to tripod in an instant rather than rebuilding everytime.

very reasonable and it foxes me that so few of us care about this...

Out of curiosity when you go to tripod do you mean to a sliding base plate?

Also do you want 15mmLW or 19mm?

 

[Tom Gleeson]

I agree Mike as it frustrates me I have to change the configuration to go handheld. Although Assistants usually only take a minute its another lost minute.
I have made the change to LW15mm for most work as I mainly run primes and the tripod's slide plate is sufficent. I will keep my heavy duty slide plate system with a Studio 15 setup for days I require a bigger PL zooms.
If the Shape base plate is lighter I would buy it but unsure how to determine this.

 

[Bob Gundu]

Comfy as that Shape one looks, I have heard from those that own it, the padding is uncomfortable.

 

[Ned Wilson]

I've used the Shape for loads of jobs (mostly with C300's). It's great. Sits low and you can adjust the height of the rods. Really well built stuff.

 

[Mathias Erichsen]

I've used the Shape for about a year and like it allot.
The only thing I do not like as much is that you have to take the shuolder pad of when you want to put it on a tripod. Looks like the zacuto is different there..

 

[Thomas Koba]

I don't take the shoulder pad of when I click it on a tripod. You just have to squeeze it in, it will adapt. I don't notice it at all now.

 

[Med D]

Do either of these provide standard 15LW axis-to-rod distance with an Epic? That would be a stretch for an adjustable riser.

 

[Lee Saxon]

It's not shown on their website, but in the videos they remove the rod clamp and reattach it upside down so that it can be raised above the level of the base. Since it would only have to be 10.9mm above to be the right height for Epic, I'd be shocked if it couldn't do it.