attaching EX3 to the sledge /Flyer LE/

[Mario Dobsovic]

Hello guys. I have problem with attaching EX3 to Flyer LE Steadycam. I don't know If I should use two holes in EX3 whose are pretty close to each other and if this is only way how to attach camcorder to sledge - is not that sou fragile? If you use another way of joing that together, please share your experiences. Thanks.

[Jess Haas SOC]

The base of the ex3 is not flat and if you don't use some sort of intermediate plate you will get unwanted movement. You want something like this: http://www.freshdv.com/2009/11/chrosziel-ex3-baseplate.html or this: http://www.vfgadgets.com/grip-camera/ex3-heavy-duty-base-plate-system

 

Otherwise I believe you just get the one hole. I have tried using gaff tape, wedges, etc. to beef up the mount but never gotten very good results.

 

~Jess

[Mario Dobsovic]

Thank you Jess for you suggestions.

Some kind of plate like those by vfgadgest.com would be fine, but their products are a little bit heavy instead of this one: "EX3 Base Plate shoulder mount with back plate" I prefere to switch this system pretty often among using on tripod, then on shoulder and of course with flyer LE. My be those products are OK /talking about speed of changing way of shooting/. What solution do you exactly use?

Or any other suggestions? Thanks for inspiration.

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Thank you Jess for you suggestions.

Some kind of plate like those by vfgadgest.com would be fine, but their products are a little bit heavy instead of this one: "EX3 Base Plate shoulder mount with back plate" I prefere to switch this system pretty often among using on tripod, then on shoulder and of course with flyer LE. My be those products are OK /talking about speed of changing way of shooting/. What solution do you exactly use?

Or any other suggestions? Thanks for inspiration.

 

 

I shoot with the EX3 pretty often and use cardboard drink coasters under the camera in front of and behind the 1/4-20 mount. What brand of beer is up to you ;)

[Andrew Stone]

Kevin's solution is obviously the best but if the client gets a bit wiggly about shimming with cardboard, there is a baseplate available that is a lot cheaper than the VFgadgets one and is as good. You can find it here.

 

-Andrew

[Mario Dobsovic]

Andrew and Kevin, thank you for good advices. I'm gonna try cardboards first /or boards made of cork/. And also Andrew's hint is affordable price, thank you both.

Mario

[Dana Love]

Kevin, that's a great idea. Unfortunately, I already bought the VFGadgets plate. I'll need to find another use for beer coasters now!

[Norbert von der Heidt]

Hi All

 

For those who may want another option, I use the DM-Accessories adaptor which allows me to attach my Chrosziel-Sony 15mm rod/wedge plate directly to it and also still keep partial use of the shoulder pad (doesn't extend now). The plate is CNC machined to fit the bottom of the camera body and make a stable connection. Here's the link:

 

Here's the link:

 

http://shop.dm-acces...corder-products

 

Hope this helps.

 

Cheers

Norbert

[Mario Dobsovic]

Kevin, can you please post picture of your set up with coasters? Also Im concerning about position of dovetail on the EX3. Because if I want to keep center of gravity just exactly at the hole suggested by Steadycam, dovetail is conected to EX3 only with one screw and fore part of dovetail is just under end of the lens where no junction with the EX3 is. And this setup is very unstable even with coaster. My be I do something wrong - so picture would be very helpfull. Thanks a lot. Mario

[Andrew Stone]

Hi Mario,

 

I know it takes time for a baseplate to ship to where you are but I would get one and not wait too long. If you own an EX3 you really can't get around it. Cardboard is fine as an interim measure but the baseplate is really the way to go. One other thing you should be concerned about is the stress of continually screwing down the Steadicam dovetail plate to the bottom of your EX3. You really have to tighten down the screw for the plate to stay in place. As you probably know, the EX3 is known to have the tripod mount ripped out of the bottom of the camera if it receives a fair amount of lateral torque which it will unless you put a baseplate on it.

 

-Andrew

[Mario Dobsovic]

Hi Andrew,

 

thanks for reply. as I said Im new on using flyer and actually new on using EX3 as well. so Your suggestions are very very helpfull. in this time I use ex3 cca 80% shooting by hand, not tripod or steadycam, so Im a little bit worry about weight of baseplate. ex3 is heavy for handheld shooting even without additional eqipment like baseplate... but I would prefer baseplate placed only to the bottom of camera, not to bottom and back part. (do you think that increasing of stability using baseplate conected also in back part of ex3 is so significant for using ex3 on tripod?) probably the best solution is make it by myself to fit it to sledge of flyer and to meet requirements of manfrotto videohead 501 as well. smart craftman can do it - if not, i would need to wait for shipping from canada...

 

Mario

[Andrew Stone]

Hi Mario,

 

The bottom piece of the baseplate only connects to the tripod screw mount. The back wedge plate attaches to 4 points on the back wedge of the EX3. Most EX3 owners struggle with exactly your dilemma but most bite the bullet and get the baseplate.

 

Another option since you are using a Manfrotto head is the manfrotto baseplate has the two rubber pads that do compress when you affix it to the bottom of your camera conforming to the uneven base of the EX3 but that won't solve your problem when you affix your dovetail plate from your Flyer rig. The problem with the Manfrotto baseplate though is the rubber pads. Your camera will have flex on tripod even if you really tighten down the Manfrotto baseplate.

 

Some people go for a shoulder rig adaptor for the EX3 that places the weight of the camera firmly on the shoulder and gives you a piston grip to hold with your hand.

 

I have to admit. I seldom to handheld work. Either tripod or Steadicam

 

-Andrew

Edited May 23, 2010 by Andrew Stone