Christopher Lowden
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2010
- Messages
- 182
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 18
Hello
I thought I would share with you a "one man band" rig designed for those like me, who like to use "enterprise" classic gear.
I am not a steadicam operator. I did do a Steadicam EFP course in Los Angeles in around 1994 but after doing a few jobs, I quickly realised it was not my future. 30 years later, I still make films as my way to express myself and I want good gear to work with.
My personal rig consists of:
Red Epic MX
Angenieux 24-70mm 2.8f
Redrock Micro with Thumbwheel
Heden M26VE
zhiyun crane 3s
zhiyun powerpack
zhiyun easysling handle
Smallrig zhiyun crane 3s arms and handles
SoundDevices 302 mixer
2x Micron Explorer Radio receivers
Manfrotto 123 rotule
Aigle Concorde Arm & Vest.
I had been using the Aigle concorde rig with the above kit (except the zhiyun crane 3s) for a bit with disappointing results. Aigle concorde is an excellent solution for the price with its elastic band arm (I really do recommend it for thos looking an affordable professional rig); I want to shoot at 50mm and with my talents, the rig was all over the place. So eventually, I thought maybe a gimbal would be better suited to my needs and abilities (which are very basic).
The rig weighs on the arm about 12kgs, which is starting to be heavy for me .The gimbal is not rock solid stable at 50mm, but it is hundred times better than my classic efforts without it. A post prod image stabiliser locks it off perfectly.
The secret is the Manfrotto 123 Rotule which allows me to take the gimbal on and off. Without the ability to angle the female socket, it is impossible to take the rig off the arm. (See attached pictures)
PROS of rig
Good weight distribution
Bounce reduction & stable image for classic tracking shots
Ability to do Don Juan with a gimbal
Easy to un mount rig on a table
CONS
Rig height is high
Heavy
Gimbal consumes batteries very, very quickly
Red Epic MX is at the higher end of the zhiyun crane 3s capacity so fragile. I wouldn't do any of those crazy camera moves you see on youtube with it.
Cannot see how to easily do low or mid mode.
Note: dangeling cables do affect the gimbal a lot. They made my gimbal nod as I walked. These gimbals don't offer cable / power management features for big cameras.
This rig does not replace someone who is trained and knows what they are doing, but could inspire those looking for a personal, relatively low cost solution.
I thought I would share with you a "one man band" rig designed for those like me, who like to use "enterprise" classic gear.
I am not a steadicam operator. I did do a Steadicam EFP course in Los Angeles in around 1994 but after doing a few jobs, I quickly realised it was not my future. 30 years later, I still make films as my way to express myself and I want good gear to work with.
My personal rig consists of:
Red Epic MX
Angenieux 24-70mm 2.8f
Redrock Micro with Thumbwheel
Heden M26VE
zhiyun crane 3s
zhiyun powerpack
zhiyun easysling handle
Smallrig zhiyun crane 3s arms and handles
SoundDevices 302 mixer
2x Micron Explorer Radio receivers
Manfrotto 123 rotule
Aigle Concorde Arm & Vest.
I had been using the Aigle concorde rig with the above kit (except the zhiyun crane 3s) for a bit with disappointing results. Aigle concorde is an excellent solution for the price with its elastic band arm (I really do recommend it for thos looking an affordable professional rig); I want to shoot at 50mm and with my talents, the rig was all over the place. So eventually, I thought maybe a gimbal would be better suited to my needs and abilities (which are very basic).
The rig weighs on the arm about 12kgs, which is starting to be heavy for me .The gimbal is not rock solid stable at 50mm, but it is hundred times better than my classic efforts without it. A post prod image stabiliser locks it off perfectly.
The secret is the Manfrotto 123 Rotule which allows me to take the gimbal on and off. Without the ability to angle the female socket, it is impossible to take the rig off the arm. (See attached pictures)
PROS of rig
Good weight distribution
Bounce reduction & stable image for classic tracking shots
Ability to do Don Juan with a gimbal
Easy to un mount rig on a table
CONS
Rig height is high
Heavy
Gimbal consumes batteries very, very quickly
Red Epic MX is at the higher end of the zhiyun crane 3s capacity so fragile. I wouldn't do any of those crazy camera moves you see on youtube with it.
Cannot see how to easily do low or mid mode.
Note: dangeling cables do affect the gimbal a lot. They made my gimbal nod as I walked. These gimbals don't offer cable / power management features for big cameras.
This rig does not replace someone who is trained and knows what they are doing, but could inspire those looking for a personal, relatively low cost solution.
