Living on the other side of the planet means that to buy a shoulder mount for my EX-1 from B&H Photo, or any of the other suppliers mentioned in these forums would cost me an arm and a leg, and that doesn't include the shipping charges. So I made my own. All up, including all materials and cost of bending shoulder bracket and powder coating, the mount only cost me $100 (and the aluminum was free - found in the engineering shop bin).

Great work Shaun. I am just up the road in Newcastle. I have the cheap Indian shoulder mount, but yours looks better.

Excellent, Shaun.

This is an example of what I meant in another thread, writing about shouldermounts / shooting styles that allow using the EVF instead of the LCD, which - in very bright sunlight coming from behind - can be completely useless due to reflections.

I'm using my PAG Orbitor and/or "El Cheapo" shouldermounts in exactly the same fashion (the latter with Manfrotto QR adapter mounted directly on the main pedestal, with the support removed). The extra bonus being that the camera CoG is closer to your body, thus feeling even lighter.

If only the EVF was of the Xtrafine resolution, as found on the Z7!

PS. Serena and Mike, do you know what I mean now?

Great work Shaun. I am just up the road in Newcastle. I have the cheap Indian shoulder mount, but yours looks better.
Thanks Graeme. We should meet.I am looking for other EX-1 operators for a project I am working on on the Coast

Serena and Mike, do you know what I mean now?

Piotr, Of course I know what you mean. Shoulder mounts have been around for a long time. I used them shooting 16mm back in the 70s. And since. There are many designs and I doubt that you can imagine a shooting position I haven't used. Unfortunately you don't understand what we've been telling you, which is possibly a Polish/English translation problem. The LCD with hood and eypiece can be used on a shoulder mount, whether the sun is behind you or where-ever. But you are stubborn. You will note in Shaun's photo that he is looking at the LCD.

Wearing a large sombrero might fix the problem.

The LCD with hood and eypiece can be used on a shoulder mount, whether the sun is behind you or where-ever. But you are stubborn. You will note in Shaun's photo that he is looking at the LCD.
You are right Serena. I have a Petrol hood on the LCD. I thought about making the mount so that I could also use the EVF, but it's such a bad monitor I never use it. Piotr, I have found that if I have sunlight hitting the LCD whilst on the sticks I position my body to shield the viewfinder (or contort my body in such a way that I can tilt the viewfinder downwards and still see it)

Great work! Just pad that shoulder!

Could you please send more pictures. I will definitely try to do the same thing !

Thanks Graeme. We should meet.I am looking for other EX-1 operators for a project I am working on on the Coast

Hi Shaun,

Pete McMurray has an EX-1, I'll let him know your on the lookout.

Welcome to DVInfo - small world

Hi Shaun,

Pete McMurray has an EX-1, I'll let him know your on the lookout.

Welcome to DVInfo - small world

Thanks Paul. Already got him in mind.

Could you please send more pictures. I will definitely try to do the same thing !

Will do Sebastie. Just waiting for the next few days work to finish then I will post some more photos with more details of the build

Hey Shaun,
I have been looking at building the same thing for the Z1.
How does it handle? can you use the eye piece? What about getting on to a tripod in a hurry?
Look forward to more photos.
Cheers
Simon

How does it handle? can you use the eye piece? What about getting on to a tripod in a hurry?

The problem with using the eye piece on shoulder mounts without any front support is that - since the camera needs to be offset to the left so that the typical, handycam-style EVF can be put against your right eye socket - the created moment of gravity will make it unstable, and put an even greater burden on your right (supporting) arm.

Therefore, when I plan to use the eyepiece, I am using either the PAG Orbitor, or my (modified) "El Cheapo" shoulder support. Both have front support against your waist belt or abdomen. See here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?p=880059&postcount=17

The other question is easier - it's enough to mount a QR plate adapter on the shoulder mount, using the same plate as your tripod.

Hi Shaun
I might be available depending upon the project and timing, although I'm in Bowral
Send an Email
Cheers

Could you please send more pictures. I will definitely try to do the same thing !
Sebastien, I finally got around to taking some more pics of the mount I built. Hopefully they will give you more detail of what it looks like and how I built it.

That's well done Shaun! Keep it up. I'm going to be putting together something for the EX3 when I get it.

http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Blooms_Blog/Blooms_Blog/Entries/2008/7/3_Superb_new_shoulder_mount_for_EX1_type_cameras.html

This is brilliant!!!!

WAY better than El Cheapo

Have you tried with Letus and rails? Says 7 lb. max, so guessing not quite up to it.

Why it doesn't say it is compatible with EX1???

Will it keep wanting to tilt downwards?

Phil,

I've been meaning to ask you a few questions about how you configure when you go handheld with an Ex-1 and a Letus.

1. Do you always go with primes or do you ever put a zoom on for the flexibility?

2. Do you use an additional monitor like a Panasonic BTLH80W or a BTLH900 or the TV Logic.

Of course both of these options involve way more weight.


My preferred way to shoot handheld with an EX or an HVX has always been much more simple. I Just use a Bogen monopod with a Bogen tilt head and stick one end in a fanny pack around my waist.

Takes the weight off, comfortable and extremely flexible as to height or angle. I can go low in a second or put it pretty much anywhere. I like it way better than any shoulder rig, but I haven't used it with a 35mm adapter that way yet . Might be too heavy. I'll try it as soon as my back heals up.
(Of course I hurt my back sleeping on the wrong side - not from shooting!)

Lenny Levy

Why it doesn't say it is compatible with EX1???

don't know. It does on the ebay page where I originally found it.

It won't work with LEX, way too heavy

Thanks Phil,
So do you ever use the LEX + Ex-1 handheld and if so - how????

Actually a related question I've been meaning to ask as well. When you're running around with the LEX and EX-1 shooting all that lovely B roll stuff - again how heavy is your rig?

Are you using a monitor attached to the rails? Zoom or sticking with primes? Are you alone or do you usually get a helper? How many lenses do you bring?

Its a lot of stuff to carry around and I'm struggling with how much to bring if I just want to go out myself and mess around. I just found a nice soft Lowe Pro bag that can carry a ton of lenses easily so that's a start. The Pelican was just too unwieldy.

Lenny

- Lenny

I just found a nice soft Lowe Pro bag that can carry a ton of lenses easily so that's a start. The Pelican was just too unwieldy.

Which one? I'm anticipating the same dilemma shortly.

I use a similar setup but it's homemade with the use of a monopod and it suspends on a belt around my waist. Must say I'm not so happy about it, sure you can film 1 hour without getting tired but every movement you do with this kind of setup get's translated in some weird looking shakes. As long as you stand still then it's OK.

I"m sure that this shoulder mount, eventhough it has more adjustment options, suffers the same problem, because it's in direct contact with your body any movement you make will make your camera "shake".

Also panning and tilting your camera is problematic; especially when you work with the lcd flipout, you need to move you whole body to the left or right to continue having a clear vision on your lcd. Tillting is also a problem with camera's that have lower res lcd's, as all the detail dissapears when you look at an angle on the lcd meaning you need to correct the angle each time.

Under certain circumstances it sure has it's benefits but with too many limitations.

Another question Phil, I noticed by looking at the images of that mount that it doesn't seem to have some kind of tripod head on top but it looks like the camera is in a fixed position, is that so?
If that is the case then the camera movement possibilities of this rig would be very limited.

Noa,

Do you use a tilt head on top of the monopod?
If not then its a terrible pain in the butt.
The tilt head makes all the difference in the world.
I use a Bogen 3230 (I think that's the number). I like the one without a quick release because it is even more flexible for tilting when its loose.

Most of what your complaining about though is endemic to using any flip out viewfinder handheld. I actually prefer the eyepiece but its such a piece of XXXX on the EX.

Justin - Its a Lowepro Nova 5 AW and its only $100. I can get 7 Nikon primes and 2 zooms in there and still have room for more, yet its not heavy or very large. Pretty cool little bag for this purpose. I need to get a case for shipping it though.

Lenny

any chance for a photo of the EX1 on the rig?

Noa,

Do you use a tilt head on top of the monopod?

yes, there is a regular tripod head attached to it, normally I hold the viewfinder against my eye so I can hold it more stable while still having the possibility to tilt the camera slightly. In that way I can also reach all camera controls with both hands.
As you said, if there is no tripod head attached it's certainly is a pain because you have to use your whole body to make a tilt movement with the cam. That's why i asked Phil if that was the case, my opinion was that this would limit camera movements.

Another question Phil, I noticed by looking at the images of that mount that it doesn't seem to have some kind of tripod head on top but it looks like the camera is in a fixed position, is that so?
If that is the case then the camera movement possibilities of this rig would be very limited.

Same as el cheapo.

You you tilt and pan like it is on your shoulder

Same as el cheapo.

You you tilt and pan like it is on your shoulder

Don't quite get you, Phil. With El Cheapo, you need to bow in order for the camera to tilt, while with a camera that "is on your shoulder", you can rock it on the shoulder...Quite a difference!

I guess you have to bow/straighten up with this new mount; if I'm mistaken please enlighten me!

maybe I have spindly shoulders but it is loose enough to tilt on my shoulder.

maybe I have spindly shoulders but it is loose enough to tilt on my shoulder.

Well, I guess it's more a matter of exceptionally soft abdomen, where the support is working against while you rock the mount on your shoulder:)

Mine is just too hard for this technique to work; too much beer recently!

yeah my six pack isn't quite there

i have nice natural padding that absorbs natural shocks and jolts

yeah my six pack isn't quite there

i have nice natural padding that absorbs natural shocks and jolts

Aha! Now I see why you never recognized breathing as a thread in using El Cheapo successfully!

Phil, thanks to you, mine just arrived today, and I'm really liking it. Running around with an XH A1 to test it out. It's has a very good feel and makes the Canon XH A1 feel very comfortable shoulder mounted. I think this will be my go to shoulder mount from now on. The DVMultiRig will be relegated to it's more unique configurations. Thanks for letting us know about this!

This little gizmo solved my problems...

Every bit is customisable. However, as someone said here earlier, there is an issue with vertical movements. Lateral movement is fine as it has a 'fluid head' mounted on the pivot. So.. to solve the verticals, I mounted a manfrotto mini-tilt adapter (http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/images/products/large/Manfrotto%20234RC%20250.jpg) and now, i can pan, tilt everything..

Now.. just wondering if a ball head can fit on this thing...

This thing is heavy btw.. the entire front end is all metal..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320265061193

Any EX1 users out there bought this? If yes, would like to hear your comment.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320265061193

Any EX1 users out there bought this? If yes, would like to hear your comment.


Heavy... but good balance..I plan to modify the brace when I get time.

Make that VERY heavy. Like most, it is designed for those who use the LCD screen. It is not user friendly for those that might want to look into the viewfinder. Quite the bargain, though.

how's the built? metal or plastic feel? Will the bracket moves along with your breathing?

Holy cripes that thing would have to be heavy! Whatever amount of weight that hangs in front of your shoulder blade would have to be equally added to the back. My shoulder is starting to ache just thinking about it.

If you're worried about arm fatigue, the DV MultiRig and other products are much lighter and transfer the weight of the camcorder to your hip. The plus side is that the MultiRig folds into a tight package. Admittedly, the belt and assembly require a few minutes, and the downside is that low altitude shots are limited by the height of the suspension. This is an issue for us in indoor mixed martial arts in which the action goes to the floor. For that reason, I switched to the VSB-1. I can see your draw to a $65 brace, but I now prefer the flexibility of the Vortex Media VSB-1 .
http://www.vortexmedia.com/EX1DVD/VSB1.html

You can add whatever counter weight you like, including useful counterweight such as a field recorder, accessory batteries, etc.

It is metal. It is rock solid. But, it is very heavy. That's why it works so well.
If you are going handheld all day, look elsewhere. Otherwise it is fine.

And what about eye strain trying to look at an LCD just inches from your eyes for long periods.

The only shoulder support that I have found (other than Zacuto) that is designed for those of us who want to use the viewfinder is Chrosziel's DV Balancer. I have tried the DV Caddie, the Steady Stick, the Stasis, the CB105 and (my second favorite) the Varizoom VZ-LSP. None can compare to the DV Balancer. It is light as a feather. It takes a while to adjust to your body. Like being fitted for a suit. It works as advertised. The downside is that it is ten times the price of the CB105. After a couple of months of using it, I still love it.
I bought mine from Chris at ZGC.

$655 for THAT???

Here is a photo of the PCI custom tripod plate for EX-3 camera. A gel shoulder pad (not shown) makes it possible to use the camera on the shoulder.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/members/peter-mykusz-albums-black-anodized-ex-3-camera-plate-picture97-follow-focus-chroziel-shade-high-quality-lens-beautiful-combination-camera-plate-solid-clicks-into-place-numerous-holes-back-plate-allow-easy-additions-battery-mounts-batteries-receivers-etc.jpg