Vincent, the EX3 Cheek plate will stop the camera wanting to tilt. That's why Sony provide it. It might not look pretty but it is effective.

I did actually fit the cheek pad, and although an improvement in as much that I didn't have to fight with my wrist to keep the camera from tipling over, but this was also the last straw for me.

Take a look at the mount from the side when the cheek pad is fitted and now you will see daylight between the mount and camera. The only point of contact is the front baseplate screw and the rear two screws. This is due to the thickness of the metal plate on the cheek pad. The mount appears to also distort the camera body slightly as now I have difficulty in making the battery click into place.

I have taken the whole Heath Robinson setup off from the EX3 and the battery clicks securely into place again.

I hope someone can come up with a better looking design, something that looks like it matches the camera at least.

The cheek pad mounting plate should sit in a recess on the cameras base. Mine sits totally flush, I have no gap or daylight with the cheek pad fitted. My battery fits just fine. Is your plate distorted in some way, mine is a perfect fit.

No there is nothing wrong with the cheek pad that fits fine, it's the shoulder mount that shows the daylight through. The extra thickness of the Cheek pad means the shoulder mount doesn't make contact with the camera body at all points, especially when it follows the rear contour. Maybe it is distorted.

I am not complaining, I have just removed it from my camera and put it down to poor research on my behalf.

Are you attending the Sony Experience next week. I will be there on the Thursday afternoon session.

Hi Vincent, I am running the workshops for the week so I'll see you there.

What's this Sony Experience?

Sony recently offered (via the sonybiz website) 1 day hands on tutorials in London I think with the likes of Phil Bloom, Alister etc. to help EX1 and EX3 users get the most out of their cams. I have a mate who lives near me who is going to one of the sessions next week. I'd have liked to do it myself but have been very busy with work recently so, I guess, missed the chance this time! Should be a great event.

Alister is there any chance for these meetings to be podcasted (or webcasted or whatever the terminology) please for the rest of the world?

I am not sure whether it will be recorded. If it is I will let you all know.

I just ordered the basic DM plate. I couldn't stand the way my EX3 sits on my tripod right now. I have a miller ds20 tripod. ( Miller | SOLO DV 20 Carbon Fiber Tripod System | 1514 | B&H ) I hope it works well with it.

I'll let you know what I think of it when it gets here.

As long as you live in Chicago you will love the DM plate. Got mine a few weeks ago and I love it, but as a UK resident I hate the Royal Mail and the VAT man for the add ons. They are shameless and we are getting screwed.

I just got it! Super fast delivery.. Can't wait to slap it on my EX3. Thanks DM.

You may have read this on another post that I made earlier this year.

My EX3 camera took a nose dive whilst on a tripod (assistant didn't tighten the clamp) My lens snapped in two, a total write off. However the camera was mounted on the DM shoulder brace, and I am positive had I not had the DM mount fitted then the camera body would have also been severely damaged, especially the tripod socket.

You will be happy with the mount, I changed my shoulder brace to the same one as you now have. I am getting the mark II version of Jeff's shoulder mount and will report on it asap.

bottom plate stabilizer
 

If I get the base plate, do I need to even bother with the "supplied bottom plate to stabilize the camcorder" as noted on page 22 of the manual for EX3? Or, is this something I should do?

No, you can just use the baseplate on its own. The new version of the DM baseplate/shouldermount is a 100% improvement on the first model. I would recommend it as an essential purchase for any EX3 owner.

The new baseplate is now made from a single plate, rather than the two sections of version one. This gives it a much sturdier feel, although version one was very stable too. The actual shoulder section is also better shaped to your shoulder.

I will publish a full review on my new web site which will be launched in August.