Premium Members Matthias Biber Posted February 18, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 It took a while until I had my first Alexa- Codex job and saw the need for a bracket, that allows more fore – aft adjustment. So I built this one, as I was not happy with the already available ones. These are the advantages: - ZERO height is added - no need for the arri V-wedge or other parts supplied by the rental house - lock down of the sony style hook in the back with quick release. This also eliminates a possible source of vibration. - light weight - large fore – aft range with many mounting holes. Back heavy setups can be mounted. Center of gravity of the setup can go back to the 2nd R of the ARRI logo. - works with YOUR dovetail plate with arri spacing, that already fits your topstage. There are different tolerances from different manufactures. So I tried to avoid making a new dovetail. Anybody interested, please drop me a line at steadicamera@gmx.de The bracket will be available very soon and of course black anodized Price is not fixed yet, but will be more reasonable than some other, bigger plates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 These are the advantages: - ZERO height is added - no need for the arri V-wedge or other parts supplied by the rental house - lock down of the sony style hook in the back with quick release. This also eliminates a possible source of vibration. - light weight - large fore – aft range with many mounting holes. Back heavy setups can be mounted. Center of gravity of the setup can go back to the 2nd R of the ARRI logo. - works with YOUR dovetail plate with arri spacing, that already fits your topstage. There are different tolerances from different manufactures. So I tried to avoid making a new dovetail. that is what I am talking about! Looks great!! rb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted February 19, 2012 Moderators Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 M I'm missing something. The camera u showed is not really really back heavy I want to see a big transmitter and a big battery on it That's the kind of set up that kills me I see that kip handle and back section getting in the way Of putting the plate back further I want what u got but maybe I don't get it. I'm thrilled you're making something Let me know Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I think the camera is on there just to demonstrate how far forward it can go. I was just about to run to Industrial Metal Supply and and make a longer version of what I have been using when saw this. Looks like it will get the camera about 3" farther forward than I could previously on a standard pro plate in a db3 and it will sit flush with the plate...seems all the other ones raise the camera at least .25" (not a big deal really) and some as much as .75" (a big deal). here's a picture I put in another thread showing the max I could get the camera forward without going to my xcs plate (which would raise the camera a bit). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted February 19, 2012 Moderators Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ron. Isn't the topic. Back heavy Alexa ? If its very very back heavy don't u move the plate back. U showed a very front heavy camera. I can deal w front heavy Alexa It's back heavy alexa that's the problem for me. Did I again just miss the topic ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ron. Isn't the topic. Back heavy Alexa ? If its very very back heavy don't u move the plate back. U showed a very front heavy camera. I can deal w front heavy Alexa It's back heavy alexa that's the problem for me. Did I again just miss the topic ? Janice, I think Ron does not have a picture and or a plate that will allow him to move the camera back any farther than is showed. Also I suspect Matthias does not have a Codex recorder on hand to show in the picture he took of his plate. It would be good to see one on there to confirm that the quick release lever that you smartly pointed out does not get in the way of a standard dovetail plate and moving the camera far enough forward to balance. Although, in a quick search here on the forum, there are many pictures of Alexa/Codex combinations and none of them show the camera pushed as far forward as in the picture Matthias has posted here. Looks like it will work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted February 19, 2012 Moderators Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 L Thx I kind of figured as much Can math. Hang 8 lbs off the back of the cam some way and do a rough test? Then we know we're all in the ballpark w his new plate Would work Thx. "Pioneers are the ones w the arrows in their backs . . . " I can't afford to be a pioneer any longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rob Vuona SOC Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ok, I am new to using the Alexa, but I am missing the situation problem , why don't you just use the Sony V plate quick release and you have all the forward or backward adjustment you would need No? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard James Lewis Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 As I posted in a previous thread. I am using one made by Optical Support, which works great, and is very light. Rob, this solution is lighter than the Sony plate, and is rock solid. Plus if you want to use the Sony plate you have to make sure the kit comes with the WA-1 Wedge Plate Adaptor, or it won't work. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ron. Isn't the topic. Back heavy Alexa ? you are right, he is just showing how far forward you can get the camera if there is a big back load. I had an issue with this on a pilot last year -- we were trying to change as little as possible on the camera for it's conversion from sticks to steadi (the picture I posted above is from that shoot). I removed my mdr (the assistant was using the arri remote focus -- poop btw) and the arri mdr was mounted near the back, as was the cinetape readout. The boxx was on the rear of the camera (I sometimes fly it on the back of my Nebtek...which would have helped in this situation). It worked fine with the zoom but with a prime I was all the way forward with the camera plate and maxed on the dbox fore/aft threads. I could have put the mdr back on but I was just playing around with what worked and what didn't. link to pics of codex on the alexa (and a cool set-up with it on the bottom of the sled): http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=13639&st=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard James Lewis Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ron, Why do you need the Arri MDR on there if its an Alexa plus? Just curious. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I think it was an older arri ff system. The a-cam was using the newer one. We should have just used my preston, there were some issues. and the plate you pictured probably works wonderfully, but it raises the camera a bit. I liked this one because it does not. By using the one by Optical support with the xcs dovetail, it looks like you are raising the camera by an additional .75" or more. Not that big of a deal with a lightweight camera (like a stripped down Alexa) but when loaded with accessories (and codex) that extra height is not too welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard James Lewis Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I see your point, but in reality it doesn't make that much of a difference to me. I use the XCS plates for everything so the extra 1/4" from this plate is fairly insignificant, plus it seems that only with this design can you have a really solid lock on the back tie down point without having a massive lip on the end that prevents you from positioning the plate right at the back (if you should need to) I'd probably pop the codex down at the base of the rig anyways, no point having that much weight up there. Best, Rick. I think it was an older arri ff system. The a-cam was using the newer one. We should have just used my preston, there were some issues. and the plate you pictured probably works wonderfully, but it raises the camera a bit. I liked this one because it does not. By using the one by Optical support with the xcs dovetail, it looks like you are raising the camera by an additional .75" or more. Not that big of a deal with a lightweight camera (like a stripped down Alexa) but when loaded with accessories (and codex) that extra height is not too welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Matthias Biber Posted February 19, 2012 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 my pic above is for demonstration only. It is not a real setup. Put on the rig like that, it would be very front heavy. It just shows how far you can go to the front with this bracket. Did not have a codex when i took the picture and unfortunately did not take a picture when i had the codex. Sorry for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 19, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I'd probably pop the codex down at the base of the rig anyways, no point having that much weight up there. good point -- I would like to try the same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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