Premium Members Emily St. Pierre Posted December 16, 2014 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 I'm looking into a cheap back up option for a Baseplate with a rod support system that is compatible with a Steadicam Archer Dovetail plate. It would be for the volunteer small indie productions that i'm doing to gain experience and skill. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should go for that isn't super expensive. I've been looking into this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/841127-REG/Zacuto_Z_CGB_GORILLA_BASEPLT_f_C300_SCRLET_EPIC_CAM.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Van Campen Posted December 16, 2014 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Hi Emily - I picked up the Zacuto Universal a while ago when they dropped the price: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/587442-REG/Zacuto_Z_UB3_Z_UB3_Universal_Baseplate_Version.html Looks like they have a new one about to be released at closer to $600. Anyway, it's a bit more cash but pretty bombproof. I also had a semi-stripped clamping lever on it and their support was excellent, mailing out a replacement one the next day. I'm a fan of Zacuto and would buy again. Good luck! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Beau Cuizon Posted December 16, 2014 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 If you're looking for really, really affordable solutions you might want to check this out: Cheeseplate Base THE GOOD: Cheap (60 bucks). Very Solid. Small. Fits 15mm rails. Cheeseplate set up, lots of threaded holes. Has some forward and aft adjustments. Fits DSLR's and smaller cameras like the fs-100/700 and C100/300, AF-100. THE BAD: No vertical adjustments for rail clamps. Plastic knobs, washers (metal screws, tho). Small/short footprint. Shipped from Hong Kong, so I'm not sure how long it would take to get to you... I have one, and it's pretty solid. I used it for about a year on my shop's fs-700, and it worked fine. Never stripped any threads, or busted any screws. As for support, well...don't expect any, it costs 60 bucks. the company who makes this also makes a lot of handy little doodads, which you can find in their eBay store, most of which is of middling quality, but extremely affordable. Here's a version with the vertical rail adjustments: Cheeseplate with Vertical Adjustment Looks kinda tall, tho...maybe too tall? I don't know. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Hinkle Posted January 11, 2015 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hi Emily, I like the option that Beau suggested. Here is one that I like: http://www.ebay.com/itm/15mm-Rod-Support-Dovetail-Quick-Release-Base-plate-fr-Rail-DSLR-Rig-Follow-Focus-/271366879743?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2eb9f9ff It's half the cost of the Zacuto and has adjustable height Rods and a Quick Release Plate. It is going to put the center of gravity of the camera relatively high which could be an issue when balancing but I think it will work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Desiderio Posted January 11, 2015 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Get a high quality easily serviced Zacuto plate and call it a day. If it's something you plan to use frequently it's worth it. That Chinese plate above looks just awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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