What are your recommendations for using the Letus (plus rails etc) without using a tripod if you want to move around to take shots? Do you use a shoulder pad or simply balance the rails on your shoulder?

Tim.


Unless you have to be at shoulderheight for your shots, maybe try a cross-shoulder strap from a weedwhacker (whippersnipper) as a sort of sling and shoot with the camera at upper waist height with the LCD screen to sight with.

Unless you orientate the combination partly across your bodyline, your back, neck and shoulders will get a crank in them fairly quickly.

On the shoulder, if you are left-handed like me, you may find it easier to reserve your right hand for lens focus with right thumb under the right rod for support, use your left thumb under the camera carryhandle and left third or fourth (pinky) finger to operate the top "run" button in the handle. With the EX3 you have the eyepiece which may be a bit high in this arrangement. With the EX1, it is either "close-up" eyeglasses or a sock-loupe for the LCD screen.

You may also need to fit the rod extensions and set the appliance well forward on the rods to leave enough overhang on the back to rest on your shoulder.

I have a Cavision Shoulder Pad (http://cavision.com/rods/RS15SP.htm) plus single handgrip: Cavision Shoulder Pad System Package with Single Handgrip (http://cavision.com/rods/RS1580SSPE.htm) which both attach to my rods. Then I add the accessory case: Cavision Accessory Cases for Shoulder Pad System (http://cavision.com/rods/spcase.htm) from which I hang a small sandbag to balance the whole thing.

Not ideal, but affordable and works.