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Sony HVR-Z1 / HDR-FX1
Pro and consumer versions of this Sony 3-CCD HDV camcorder.

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Old November 2nd, 2006, 05:15 AM   #16
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Probably Phil's not more important issue when he opened this thread, but let me rob a little of it to go in another direction with a shoulder mount. Will you? :)

As I am buying a lot of stuff now (camera, WA adapter, filters, etc.), if I need anything else I have to limit my expense.

But a shoulder mount is not a luxury but a necessity. And the Spiderbrace is very affordable.

Only one problem: you can't disassemble it, so it's large to carry around, particularly on flight trips. They are working on a collapsible version, and I got confirmation on that from SB themselves. But I can't find out more, even if I repeatedly asked them about it. Has anyone seen any photo or have any data about that version?
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Old November 2nd, 2006, 05:24 AM   #17
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collapsable is very important...current biggest problem with spider brace. The dvrig pro does fold down very nicely from what I see.

I won't get mine for a few days probably, could really do with it tomorrow. shooting a live gig at the Astoria in London, would come in very handy...
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Old November 2nd, 2006, 05:47 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Bloom
collapsable is very important...current biggest problem with spider brace. The dvrig pro does fold down very nicely from what I see.
DVDRigPro is too expensive for me now. Until I get what I can afford, I will keep doing the moving shots in a different way.

Even I know it's not the same application, one thing I learnt to do is use my Manfrotto monopod on many manners:

1) Poor man tripod: my version has three foldable small legs at the base, which lets you use it as a tripod in fixed positions. No pans though.

2) Poor man steadicam: as it is it can successfully be used as a simple hand held system; a small weight at the base might make it better.

3) Poor man crane: if you telescope it, you can raise it and move it quite smoothly, particularly if you are in wide angle.

All above was used on a shoot I did some weeks ago with a Z1. It worked great. For 2 and 3 it would be great having a light LCD screen that you can move more freely than the camera screen.
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Old November 6th, 2006, 05:20 AM   #19
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Ok..got my DVrig pro this morning.

Well worth the money. It truly solves all my problems and is very comfortable to use.

Shot a concert on Friday night with my z1 and cavision shoulder mount. Am still in agony!! Wish I had my DV Rig pro then...only downside is the belt and spring rod design (essential i hasten to add to the design) makes taking the camera on and off very quickly not that easy.

Now can I make it work with my M2 adaptor. Might be a bit too much I think, with the rods etc... (perhaps with more weights on the back)
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Old November 6th, 2006, 05:28 PM   #20
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Greetings Phil,

Delighted to hear all went well on your first effort with the DV Pro Rig. I too was initially somewhat awkward at first with taking the camera/rig on/off but now it's second nature - very slight loss of time - practice makes perfect. Another item that made a HUGH difference for me was purchasing a lanc controller - I originally just purchased the rig - two shoots later I purchased a Manfrotto.

The master plan calls for a Chroziel matte box probably on Zacuto rails. So like yourself, I'll most likely need an additional weight.

Drop Danny an email at: http://www.dvtec.tv/ - ask him on the specifics of what you what to accomplish with your gear - he'll fill in the missing blanks.

Remember the first guy to get the system up to 30 pounds wins!!

Cheers,

George
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Old November 11th, 2006, 09:31 PM   #21
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Shoulderable Z1

I picked up a Hoodman for my Z1's LCD screen. It then occured to me that the right magnifying glass could move this to being a shoulderable rig. I tried a cheap magifier and it was indeed possible to view the screen at close range. But the right hand position was still uncomfortable. I think to go the whole way it would need a way of mounting the magifier, and eye cub, a shoulder pad, and an extension with remote control of start/stop, zoom, and focus.

It is definitely feasible, so all that's necessary is for a company like Manfrotto to rig it up.
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Old November 15th, 2006, 10:29 AM   #22
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after using the dvrigpro for a while. it is very good. still a pain for taking on and off quickly but so much less back strain than the other ones i have used. cavision one used for just 4 hours gave me back ache for a week!!
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Old November 16th, 2006, 02:55 AM   #23
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Affordable shoulder support

Today I found a company I didn't know of that makes several products that might be interesting for location shooting.

One of them is a simple and cheap shoulder mount:

http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4128

But they also make a practical monopod with a ball head:

http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4128

And a very affordable kinoflo-style light head:

http://www.fotodiox.com/shop/product...oducts_id=4124

This seems like a company to keep our eyes on!


Carlos
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Old November 28th, 2006, 08:14 PM   #24
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I am working on a way to accomplish this with the Z1. Having that little monitor up front is what made me hopefull.

Step 1 was to get a Hoodman, a type of shade that attached to the Z1 or FX1 monitor. I was playing around with a magnifying glass and found that I could use it to put my eye fairly close to the monitor. In combo with the hood, it acts like a traditional viewfinder on a shoulder cam.

My next steps are to (1) gin up a way of mounting the magnifier to the Hoodman, (2) obtaining some type of handle which would place my right hand forward (3) obtain a shoulder rest, such as what Sony sells, (4) obtain a remote zoom/focus/start button like that sold by Bogen, for mounting on a handle. I think that combo would be lighter and easier that some of the complicated rigs.
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Old November 28th, 2006, 10:28 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Goldberg
I am working on a way to accomplish this with the Z1. Having that little monitor up front is what made me hopefull.

Step 1 was to get a Hoodman, a type of shade that attached to the Z1 or FX1 monitor. I was playing around with a magnifying glass and found that I could use it to put my eye fairly close to the monitor. In combo with the hood, it acts like a traditional viewfinder on a shoulder cam.

My next steps are to (1) gin up a way of mounting the magnifier to the Hoodman, (2) obtaining some type of handle which would place my right hand forward (3) obtain a shoulder rest, such as what Sony sells, (4) obtain a remote zoom/focus/start button like that sold by Bogen, for mounting on a handle. I think that combo would be lighter and easier that some of the complicated rigs.
I did something like this with a collapsable magnifier off a medium format camera I own. The image is not really that satisfactory, in my opinion, but it will work in a pinch.

What would be nice is to have the ability dis mount the regular view finder and move it forward on the camera. There was a discussion of that possibility in a thread several months back.
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Old November 29th, 2006, 01:32 AM   #26
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Picture of Prototype

Mark: Here is a photo of prototype I was working on with a 35mm adapter. Note the old 2 and 1/4 camera view finder magnifier mounted on the LCD.
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Old December 1st, 2006, 07:12 AM   #27
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Another shoulder mount that looks very interesting and affordable.

http://www.camerashop.in/multipurpos...ame-p-835.html

Perhaps lacking the the sort of "mini-tripod" aptitude of the Spider Brace, but at least it can fold away in less space.
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Old December 1st, 2006, 02:47 PM   #28
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Anyone been to Spiderbraces site lately? looks like the collapsable version is out - http://spiderbrace.com/

There also a quick video here - http://spiderbrace.com/collapsable.html

Its not as collapsable as i think some of us would of liked it to be but its definately a better rig now.

Might be about time i bought one i think.

Joe
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Old December 1st, 2006, 04:44 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Lawry
Anyone been to Spiderbraces site lately? looks like the collapsable version is out - http://spiderbrace.com/

There also a quick video here - http://spiderbrace.com/collapsable.html

Its not as collapsable as i think some of us would of liked it to be but its definately a better rig now.

Might be about time i bought one i think.
The front piece, after collapsing, is still too large to put into a bag, which would be the way to do it.

I wonder why don't they allow the two front arms to get together. When folded together it would look like their Mini-Rig, but giving the option of opening up the arms again for normal use.

Is that so difficult to achieve?
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Old December 1st, 2006, 07:44 PM   #30
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Yes it is a shame the front piece doesn't come apart either..
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