11Jun 3 Legged adjustable camera support rig – First impressions
I finally made it home around midnight last night and the first thing to greet me (besides the dogs) was a large stack of boxes. This morning I dug through them to find the 3 legged camera rig I ordered a few weeks ago.
There isn’t a lot of padding in the box and there aren’t a lot of extras. Basically the kit includes the 3 legged adjustable rig, an allen wrench, and a single page manual. The design isn’t quit as compact as I was expecting but it does still fold up into a form factor about the size of a large net book.
Adjustments aren’t as simple as the manufacture makes it out to be. You’ll need the included allen key to loosen and snug up the adjustable arms. The allen head bolts are also designed to strip if they are over tightened, so you have to be careful when snugging up the arms.
The included 1/4 20 screw on the bottom of the adapter is also part of the camera mount which isn’t the greatest configuration if you plan to mount this on a tripod. I added an extra 1/4 20 screw to provide a more secure mount for my Manfrotto 577 QR plate. There is still plenty of room, even with a large QR plate, to adjust all of the arms to any position you’d like.
Even though there are a few problems I’ve found with this rig so fare, overall I’m very impressed. I don’t normally expect much from a DSLR RIG under $100, but the DSLR RIG shoulder mount (or whatever name you can find it under) feels pretty solid for the price (currently $85 on ebay).
The 1/4 20 threads are in every position you could think of on this guy, so mounting microphones, monitors, counter weights, or whatever else you can think of should be very easy. The only mounting issue I see as a problem would be finding a good place to attach a follow focus or matte box.
I’ll try and have a video review up once I get a chance to actually play around with this some more, but my first impressions leave me feeling good so fare.
UPDATE: Full video review is now up.
June 11th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Sorry for being so OOT but what’s the exact name of the Liliput monitor that you use?
June 11th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
I got this rig in the mail last week, I like it so far as well. If you can provide any support on where to locate a good mounting solution for a counter weight that would be awesome. I was thinking a rod with a 1/4″ thread would do the trick with another thread on the back to mount a few weights. Maybe I will have to make something myself. I plan on getting some of those arms though for a led light and a monitor. I couldn’t located the support pad accessory they mentioned in the manual, seems that its an unnamed company that made it, hard to track it down.
Overall it is pretty sturdy after you tighten up the legs, a saw a user posted that it may cause neck fatigue, which is not the case because you turn the shoulder support rod to align the eye cup in a comfortable position.
My only complaint is that it becomes top and front heavy, definitely need a back support rod probably a foot or so behind the back with some weights on it to counter balance the weight on the shoulder to make it float for ease of use when making any adjustments to a juicedlink or on the cam. You could also design a shoulder pad to velco over the support rod for more comfort.
June 11th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Also thanks for posting pics of the bottom qr plate and the top qr plate solution, that really helps, if you don’t mind, can you provide any information on which ones you are using? Thanks man.
June 11th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Forgive me, you did mention the qr plate. Should’ve read the text before posting. Sorry.
June 12th, 2011 at 5:17 am
No problem.
June 13th, 2011 at 3:21 am
This is a great first look…i enjoy how you answer the questions i would ask…like about the overtightening of the screws…
June 13th, 2011 at 10:53 am
I was looking at this on Ebay. I would have gotten it, but they don’t have any real test video of it.
June 13th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
I’m working on one, should have something up this week.
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December 11th, 2011 at 7:24 am
well done, that’s a very detailed review of this item!!
my question is…. how do i mount a follow focus ring on this rig?!?