Redrock Micro: create the cinema experience

[Michael Frymus]

I am having problems making a custom shoulder mount rig for my DSLR. I want to make a shoulder mount rig so that I can quickly remove all my gear off the shoulder mount and put it on a tripod.

Currently I have only have the Shoulder Mount w/ 24" rails.
*The reason I don't want the riser or side offset is because I don't need it and because I don't want to use a loup, now or in the future. Instead I want to use a monitor & a loup will be pointless as I cant have two working at once.
^
Its because if I use a loup, its harder to pull focus if you don't have a monitor seeing what you are doing. And since both the camera lcd and the monitor cant be on, I'd rather have an external monitor for myself to look at to see what I am filming & the focus puller to look at to pull focus.


Instead of the riser or side offset (like in the Eye Spy), which will block my monitor (once I get it), I want to have an offset upwards using one of these items:
http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/DSLR-Clamps/microRiser or http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/DSLR-Clamps/microRiserQuckRelease

I can then put that on my shoulder mount rails, and put additional 12" rails on riser. The 12" rails will have the DSLR baseplate, follow focus and matte box on those rails & the camera. Then, when I want to switch to a tripod setup, I can just slide the rails from the riser offset and attach those rails to the DSLR Tripod Baseplate. That is the plan...

My questions are:
1) Will one of those two riser offsets hold the weight of a camera, DSLR baseplate, follow focus, and matte box?

2) Second, If I have this whole setup, I noticed that I may have an issue seeing my monitor. The monitor will be attached on the left handle rod. But, if the monitor is there, the follow focus will get in the way, especially if there is a whip on it. Pushing the whole rig behind the monitor will make it a lot more front heavy than it is. but, pushing the monitor front, will have it too close to my face. Is my only option mounting the follow focus on the other side?

3) If for some reason its not possible to do this set up, then I will have to go with option #2, but it will take a little longer to set up. Although it will save money, it may take too long to set up. If I don't get the riser offset, and just mount everything onto the shoulder mount rails, can I mark the positions of where everything is (like with tape) and put everything back into place quickly? So, I just quick release everything off the rods and put the pieces (follow focus, DSLR baseplate w/camera, and matte box) on the tripod. Then do the same when I need it on the shoulder mount, just everything will be marked exactly where it needs to be already. Is that possible?

[Michael Frymus]

I "stole" this picture from some guy on this forum, thought it would be a good example.



As this guys setup, the follow focus is in the way of the monitor. If there is a whip on it, it will be even worse. So, how do I work around this?
Do I mount the monitor on an arm and have it a bit higher, or swap the follow focus to the other side?

And, as in the picture, the guy has another set of rods on top of the shoulder mount rig. An upward riser, not a side offset. If I purchase one of the two risers as mentioned in the first post, can I do this setup? So, all I would have to do is slide off the rods from the riser and then slide then onto the dslr tripod baseplate that is on the tripod.

That way, I dont have to remove everything off the rods and re-attach them and adjust everything all the time.

[Rachel Howard]

This picture looks like our old Field Cinema Bundle with the cage. Just email me at sales and we will get you going in the right direction: sales@redrockmicro.com.

Just FYI, you can mount the FollowFocus on either side with any of our rigs- they are all modifiable.
_________________
Kind Regards,

Rachel Howard
Redrock Micro
rachel@redrockmicro.com

[Michael Frymus]

[Daniel Colmenares]

Michael,
I believe that he has a DSLR Platform Kit and one extra shoulder mount rod calmp and screwed them together.

Pretty ingenious solution, I would probably add another micro clamp at the other end of the tripod platform for added rigidity.
_________________
Daniel Colmenares
Forum Moderator | EVS Rental Agent
Cinematographer
Not a Redrock Employee