Quick release plates

[Alan Rencher]

Does anyone out there ever bolt on Arri dovetail plates, touch and go plates, O'Connor platform plates, etc. to their top stage for quicker hand-offs? Would that be a better or worse solution than using a Cat Griller?

[Brian Freesh]

Worse due to added weight and height.

 

Other than the Cat Griller, there's an LA local option: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=18152

 

I know you have a smaller dovetail than will fit, not sure if there is a better option for ya.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

Cat Griller is the way to go unless your dealing with constant handheld setups. That's when you want to keep the Arri Dovetail with 19mm rods and use the short plate by Innocinema/ActionProducts

 

http://www.innocinema.com/actionproducts-arri-adaptor-shortplate-1060.html

[Alan Rencher]

I hear you, Brian, but with Epics the added weight isn't a problem (most of the time). The SOS plate does seem like the winner, though.

 

Alfeo, that short-plate is exactly what I was thinking of!

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

Love my SOS plate... LOVE IT!!!

[Steve Acheson]

I find the best setup (which may be what you're talking about) is the sony style plate with rods on your stage dovetail and the arri digicine baseplate system ( http://www.filmtools.com/arri-338350-338352-digi-cine-baseplate.html )for the head.

 

Its perfect you can leave the rods mounted on the head with lens support, swing away matte-box, follow focus, etc, and "unclick" just the body and slap camera body on the sony style plate on your sled and put on the you clip on matte-box.

 

Then for the epic I like to use the Genus GAP Adopter Plate with the same baseplate system.

( http://www.filmtools.com/genus-gap-adapter-plate.html )

 

I would love to figure out a way to use this plate with the epic but the camera height is too high.

 

 

( http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tilta-III-Upgraded-Quickrelease-Baseplate-BS-T03-shoulder-pad-for-DSLR-rig-kit-/330832772780?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d072b7eac )

 

If I use a short zoom I only have to tweak my balance and I am ready go in minute or so...