added 3 April 2003

 

The CMC Dolphin Rack
by Jeff Donald

Jeff is one of our primary moderators at the DV Info Net Community. In his spare time he teaches photography and digital photography.

Harold Greene and Curtis Media Company have found a solution to a long time problem I’ve had. I have looked for years and years for a device to hold accessories on location. How hard could this be? Well, harder than I could have ever imagined. Carts, clamps, caddies, bags and numerous other devices have all met with mixed success. Some were limited in size or weight of devices they could accommodate. Others lacked reliability, dependability, and quality construction.

Harold Greene has solved all my previous complaints with his latest product, the Dolphin Rack. Over the past several months I’ve had the chance to use the Dolphin Rack in many different configurations on various production locations. The Dolphin rack is almost infinitely variable in configuration. It accommodates various tripod designs and configurations. I used it successfully with several Bogen designs (single tube) and a Vinten (dual stage) and it can be configured to accommodate almost any present day design.

The fit, finish and overall quality of construction are excellent. The major components are drilled and fitted with different components to accommodate different brackets and fasteners. This extreme engineering is what allows so many different accessories to be attached. At all times the tripod remained stable and secure. This includes having a laptop, various small monitors, waveform/vectorscope, and on more than one occasion soft drinks and lunch.

I was very pleased, even surprised by the stability of the Dolphin Rack. Hanging my Ti Powerbook off a tripod is not something I would ordinarily do. At first I was hesitant of the strength and security the Rack would provide. However, my fears were quickly laid to rest. The laptop sat safe and secure atop the Rack while I panned and tilted to follow hawks in flight. But the TiBook only weighs a little over 5 pounds. How would it perform with much heavier loads, like a Sony 8045 field production monitor? The additional weight and size is no problem for the Rack. The monitor rested safely on the rack through several indoor shoots. The weight limit is rated to 15 lbs. but I feel it could safely hold more. While I don't personally use zoom controls (nor did I test this configuration) an accessory swing arm bracket, to hold the control brackets, is available. The arm does double duty as it can also hold battery belts and helps organize cable clutter.

How does the rack treat your tripod? I’m happy to report that my Vinten tripod, with light grey finish, doesn’t show a mark from the Dolphin Rack. The clamping surfaces are all covered with pliable rubber or felt to protect all mounting surfaces. The fastening hardware is ¼ inch aluminum that screw into stainless steel inserts. This attention to detail not only makes it easier to mount and remove, but lends a heightened sense of security when using it with your expensive gear.

You are probably wondering how I managed to mount so many different accessories. The Dolphin Rack is available with various size angle brackets and mounting arms. Again, all are beautifully machined and finished aluminum construction. Numerous mounting holes are drilled in all the right locations to make custom configurations a breeze. The attention to detail is evident in the smoothly finished edges and carefully rounded angles. No chance of cuts or scratches on your hands and little chance of marring your gear.

Downsides? Well, if you carry all the brackets, angles and knobs for all the various configurations the weight adds up. I found carrying my laptop very convenient and will standardize my field kit for just that configuration. The beautiful black finish gets a little hot in the Florida sun. I would appreciate a choice of a lighter color to minimize heat, not only on my hands, but also my gear. Harold has just notified me that a lighter color will also be available.

I highly recommend the Dolphin Rack to both studio and location videographers, hey even still photographers can benefit from the convenience. It has won a place in my location kit and will sit happily on my light grey (read cool to the touch) Vinten for many years to come. After using it for just a few months it has become an indispensable production aid. The regular price is $179.95 and a NAB special is running and you can save $30.00 on the basic kit. The C and I brackets, extra L brackets and extra knobs are sold separately. Contact Harold Greene for additional savings during the NAB sale.

Written by Jeff Donald.
Thrown together by Chris Hurd.