How do you hold the XL series?
 

My background is shooting stills, and the H1 is my first video camera. My H1 is currently mounted on a teleprompter, but I'm curious, how do you hold the XL series cameras? For starters, does the butt of the camera go "on" your shoulder or pushed "into" your shoulder?

Best,
Christopher

The XL H1 goes on the shoulder. So not like a XL1 which goes against it.

I just hold mine in front...my right shoulder is significantly stronger.

You hold it on your shoulder...and truth be told, it's very front heavy. You can put an Anton Bauer battery on the supplied back accessory plate, or a Firestore, and it might be better balanced, but it's not easy on your right hand. I've been accustomed to this with the old XL so it's not that big a deal to me, but if you're handheld on shots for a long time, it's not that comfortable.

Yep, it is front heavy, and like Barlow is suggesting, I bought the IDX V-mount battery adapter to hold the sony style ones. Don't have it yet 'cause it wasn't available at the dealer at the time I bought it.

http://www.dnk.ru/img_cv/idx_xl1.jpg

With the XL2, and I assume with the Xl H1, I put on the CH 910 battery charger with two BP 945's. I add a wireless reciever on there and it balances quite well!

This is exactly what I do with my new XL-H1 ... but I use 2 of the new BP 970 high capacity batteries on it ... it certainly adds for weight on the camera, but it balances it quite nice on the shoulder ...

Nice Solution
 

Very nice solutions to balancing the camera. I am considering doing the same. Could someone post a pic of the XL-H1 with the CH-910/dual battery solution attached?

Regards,

Greg

I will when I get the chance. I have a Vocas mattbox w/rails as well, so it does add weight on the camera ... makes it well over 10 pounds with the dual 970s ...

i find a simple waist strap-style stabalizer works wonders. you can hold it for hours and hours without feeling the pain.. the cheap ones that are like a monopod coming from a strp around your waist

Upon purchasing an xl2, I seriously got into weight lifting at my High School. Trust me, after like two months, your camera will feel like nothing.

TWC was here for the one year anniversary of hurricane Charley, and the guy there (shooting shoulder mount with BetacamSP or something) was likewise gigantesque. It sounds funny, but I guess it makes sense.

One thing I like with the H1 is that I DON´T have to carry my Anton Bauer batteries. For interviews you have to put it on your shoulder, and for short intervals it´s no problem. For everything else I shoot from the waist using the included strap. For serious work it will be on a tripod anyway.

is there a way to dismount the XLR plate? i don't use it often.