EX3 Cheek Guard Poll
 

I'm trying to get a sense of whether or not people are using the cheek guard on their EX3. I put mine on while unpacking it, and within a day I removed it. I felt is was not useful.

Now that fabrication has begun on a new EX3 shoulder mount, I realize that we will either need to design it to accommodate the guard, exclude the guard, or also manufacture a spacer so that they guard is optional.

Please let me know - do you use the cheek guard? Thanks!

I don't find it useful except as a kind of added battery cover when folded over. Will probably take it off again.

Dan

In my opinion the plastic cheek guard was a cheap afterthought by Sony and I've never used it.

My guess is that those doing studio work (with all the cables plugged in the back of an EX3) might use it - but I'm still doubtful....anyone?

I never liked the idea of the guard, so it is still in the EX3 box. How much longer before your base plate is ready for sale Ted?

Thanks very much.

I don't mind the guard.. Do you have any drawings you can post just to give us a taste..of your plan? And are you adding a shoulder support?

I only kept it in case I decide to add something to the back of the EX3... I can drill it into the gaurd or something... but it is just sitting in a box right now, same box as the viewfinder scope thingy.

I'm expecting a rough prototype in the next two weeks. Perhaps another two weeks for production?

Not going to use it.
 

Still 'in the box', so to speak. And will likely stay there once I add a 3-point plate.

[Use the viewfinder regularly].

Jus.

Thanks Ted.
Sorry to be a pest, but what would you expect the cost for us end users be please?
Special rate for DVI members?
Thanks

Use mine, makes the camera much more stable when hand-held. Wasn't going to use it as it does look a bit of an after thought, but after using it for a bit I do find it stops the camera wobbling from side to side.

I agree with Alister. I use the EX3 for shoulder work 100% of the time and find the cheek pad indispensible for stabilisng the camera.

We're shooting for $300. We may have an option whereby we can provide an Anton-Bauer or IDX mount with power lead, but those adapter plates run close to $100 alone, nevermind adding a power lead and mounting it. So, in an effort to keep costs down, we'll do as someone else on the forum suggested and "keep it simple" at least to begin with.

Probably, if you have those batteries, you already have a mounting plate laying around. Therefore, a slight modification will enable you to mount it on the camera plate.

Stereo headphones and cheek pad
 

I am going to remove mine. It’s in conflict with my headphones. Or, perhaps modify it, make it a bit shorter.

The cheek guard is clearly a cheap afterthought, nevertheless, it's useful. As Alister says, it gives added stability and prevents some left-leaning.

Keep it up, Ted, and keep it simple. Sounds like a great idea.

Ted,

Is there any way you could have an option for a bars interface? I have one already that I can supply pictures and a hole location diagram for if that helps?

Also if you can supply a v-lock power plate could you make sure it has both a d-tap and at least one hirose connector (like the bebob) please?

Thanks

Dan

Dan,

Forgive me if I'm being thick, but I'm not sure what a "bars interface" is. Please explain.

To begin with, I believe it will only accommodate electronics. then we'll probably include options for AB or IDX with the expected power taps.

Ted,

I mean Matte box bars, not unlike the vfgadgets one here http://www.vfgadgets.com/files/15mmRod-Bracket-1.jpg The one I have is a different design but does essentially the same thing. Here it is attached to my DSR.

Dan

Dan,

Sorry, must have missed your last post.

My prototype probably will not have this interface, and I don't yet know about the first run, but very shortly we will include them as that is considered very necessary. So, the short answer is yes.

Please send me any info you have and I'll pass it along to the fabricator - that should be very helpful.

Initially, AB is working on a mount with a variety of connections. IDX may choose to build an option as well, but I don't know yet. I think, though, that there are adapters available to use one with the other, are there not?

I've requested one hirose, one D-Tap, and one (maybe hirose) dedicated to the EX3, plus a detachable power lead for camera power.

Just fitted a tiny speaker into my cheek pad so now I have a handy way to monitor audio without using headphones while shooting. No good for critical audio but provides reassurance that the audio is at least there.

I was thinking about this one!! Show pics, please.

great idea Alistair
 

Also, I just fitted the cheek pad and like the extra contact point for handheld - I'm used to putting the VF to my forehead with cams like Canon A1 etc. and this actually helps a lot, so I for one say well done Sony on this.

btw when you remove the shoulder pad to add the cheeky thing there is a little USB style connector behind it - what's that all about??

That's the super-secret USB connector for firmware updates. EX3 has none yet, but maybe in the future... Of course, Sony want to do them all themselves - and frequently charges for it.

Of course, if you attach an external hard drive, you can record uncompressed 4K! ;-) (Just kidding - please don't try this!).

Yes to cheek pad
 

Now while I agree with those of you who think the cheek pad was a cheap afterthought, I personally am glad to use it, it helps alot for handheld shoulder work, being able to pin the cam between ckeek and shoulder is a must when shooting interviews for broadcast.

When using the Z1, I used to do the same thing, but the Z1 being quite alot shorter and not really designed for shoulder work, made things really difficult, even worse with the Panasonic P2 and not very nice with the EX1 either

so the cheekpad has my vote, although I am interested to see how long the thing´s gonna last

Thanks to all for your responses here. At first, we'd planned to forego the cheekpad, but since some of you really appreciate it, it has been accommodated for.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/964209-post1.html