Shoulder pads for handheld-any new contenders?

[Mark Schlicher]

A few years back Erwin posted about the Camera Comfort Cushion for handheld operating. With the advent of memory foam and gel, I wonder if there are any new solutions, either DIY or manufactured. If you own a CCC, does it do the job for you? Have you tried any customized foam inside the zippered pocket?

 

I went to Home Depot today and didn't find anything suitable to modify from their (surprisingly small) selection of kneepads. Maybe I'll try Lowes.

 

I just started a handheld show for a few weeks and my shoulder is taking a beating from the mediocre shoulder pad. For now I'm stuffing a square of two-inch open-cell foam under my shirt and it works okay but I'd love to have a better solution.

 

Suggestions appreciated!

[Bob Gundu]

Hands down the most comfortable shoulder pad I have ever used. If you can attach velcro to the bottom of your camera, you're golden.

 

http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/mcs-shoulder-pad.html

[RonBaldwin]

Hands down the most comfortable shoulder pad I have ever used. If you can attach velcro to the bottom of your camera, you're golden.

 

http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/mcs-shoulder-pad.html

 

this one looks really cool -- it's very similar (if not identical) to the old panavision shoulder pad. I was actually going to have something like this made. Now I don't have too

[Lars Erik]

http://www.modular51.com/index.php?main_page=index&main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=20

 

I have two of these babies. Like an American Express. Never leave home without it. Except those days I'm not working! :-)

[Ken Nguyen]

Just like you, during the first few months of doing handheld work, I looked for all kind of shoulder pads on the market. Made a lot of pads using all kind of foams as well.

I found out that nothing is better than than standard shoulder pad that comes with the camera and my own shoulder.

Doing it regularly for a while, you will see that. Your shoulder will adjust to it.

No extra pad is needed. Extra pad might do you more harm than good.

Just likes steadicam operating; remember those first few months; standing in front of the mirror looking at you shirtless body after a hard working day; the vest was clearly printed on your skin.

Now, you don't see it anymore.

 

Cheers,

 

Ken Nguyen

[matthew pearce]

CCC now makes a larger shoulder pad that I believe they are now selling on their web site. I ve used mine many times and are very happy with it. good coverage and the straps keep it on your shoulder with out slippage. Stock cushions are working well to date.

[Mark Schlicher]

Thanks, all.

 

Ken, the show is using a camera that does not have a stock ENG-type foam, and the contour angle is not ergonomic so there is a significant pressure point where all 30lbs of camera/lens/lockit/microwave/battery hits in basically one spot. I'm concerned about nerve or tendon damage, it's more than just toughing out the pain until I get used to it. The camera's on my shoulder for 10 hours a day pretty much constantly.

[Erwin Landau]

I have two different pads one by CCC that I use mainly with Film Cameras like the Panavision Cameras as shown in the picture , as it is high, it fits perfectly in between the Body and the Mag and another one that has served me very well in the past. It's somewhat similar in appearance to the Modular 51 but with different filling and what's more important, stickier surface. )

I hated the fact that with the modular 51, if you had any trapezius muscles at all, the Camera would slide off your shoulder...) It used to be sold by the Camera House in LA.

Rolled up and taped Duvetyne does the job as well in a bind. It really depends on the Camera used that's why I carry a couple... and they are dirt cheap and save your shoulder and or collar bone... especially if you get constantly bumped by the Stuntmen... the regular pad won't do it!

 

With the Panavision Gold and a 1000 footer, "no-pad" was not really an option.

 

 

 

 

[Lawrence Karman]

"Just likes steadicam operating; remember those first few months; standing in front of the mirror looking at you shirtless body after a hard working day"

 

OKaaa......

 

I bought my Modular 51 pad off of Erwin. Wound up giving it to Candide and happily bought another from Canada. Nice thing about that pad is it's size. It's long so it gives you lots of options as to where to rest the camera. Sometimes the camera needs to sit just above my massive pecs and the pad reaches there. Relying on the often supplied camera pad in the shoulder cut out as Ken prefers is sometimes not the best option when shouldering a front heavy camera. Often I will have the AC's leave the Arri base plate on or extending the support rods back over the shoulder indent and wind up sliding the camera way back to achieve a better balance, less fatigue. Not to mention having MDR, Monitor, transmitters etc. mounted towards the rear of the camera. Nice to have a wearable pad for that.

[Peter Abraham]

This is going to sound really goofy. Many years ago I took a parking cone. Yep, the day glo orange kind used to block off parking spots. Took a matte knife. Got serious with looking and measuring. Carved a chunk out, and used it for a HH shoulder pad for a MovieCam Compact. Worked amazingly well. Put a bit of foam under it, but the flexible nature of the cone reduced the sharp contact points.

 

I'm just sayin'........

[Mark Schlicher]

Thanks for all of the replies. I checked out the DIY options and actually found a couple of knee pads that I could have modded, but in the end I opted for the CCC pad. Very reasonably priced (especially considering the time savings compared to sewing and/or cutting). I like the fact that pads are removable and interchangable for different heights, stiffness, etc. So far I like it very well.

[Thomas English]

I use the Panavision pad similar to the one Erwin has. Easily purchasable at panastore. Its fantastic. I regularly operate with the 19mm bars and the bridge plate straight onto this pad. Quick, dirty and easy..

[Noel Sterrett]

I sometimes use a Portabrace pad attaches with velcro to rods or a dovetail:

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/752114-REG/Porta_Brace_SP_3G_Universal_Shoulder_Pad.html

 

Cheers.

[Eric Schilling]

I use a Jansport fanny pack and cut a motorcycle gel pad to fill it. The wrinkles in the fabric help to keep the camera from sliding off your shoulder.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Hands down the most comfortable shoulder pad I have ever used. If you can attach velcro to the bottom of your camera, you're golden.

 

http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/mcs-shoulder-pad.html

 

This is my go to pad, I have the CCC's which are great but this pad is awesome. As Ron Said just like the old Panapad