Premium Members Joseph Fitzgerald Posted October 7, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Hello All, I've been a member for some time now but this is my first post. At the end of October I leave for a 3 week shoot on a narrative project in Cusco, Peru. Much of the project includes and is from the POV of children. (LOW-MODE) The producers tell me that anything I don't have when I come, we wont be able to find/rent out there. We are shooting with the Panasonic AG-HPX 500, and I own a Master Elite rig. Has anyone flown this camera low-mode before? What bracket system did you use? many thanks, Joe Fitz p.s. I have learned so much from this forum...thank you everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Vanderspek Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Hello All, I've been a member for some time now but this is my first post. At the end of October I leave for a 3 week shoot on a narrative project in Cusco, Peru. Much of the project includes and is from the POV of children. (LOW-MODE) The producers tell me that anything I don't have when I come, we wont be able to find/rent out there. We are shooting with the Panasonic AG-HPX 500, and I own a Master Elite rig. Has anyone flown this camera low-mode before? What bracket system did you use? many thanks, Joe Fitz p.s. I have learned so much from this forum...thank you everyone! You are probably best off with something like http://www.brantsfagan.com/bsfProducts.asp I did just see this camera at my school today, and (the default) handle has abit of curvature to it so a normal clamp wouldn't do the trick, mind you if the handle has been replaced with that nice one that is built for Steadicam low-mode attaching by the rental house, you're set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jeff Muhlstock SOC Posted October 8, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Hello All, I've been a member for some time now but this is my first post. At the end of October I leave for a 3 week shoot on a narrative project in Cusco, Peru. Much of the project includes and is from the POV of children. (LOW-MODE) The producers tell me that anything I don't have when I come, we wont be able to find/rent out there. We are shooting with the Panasonic AG-HPX 500, and I own a Master Elite rig. Has anyone flown this camera low-mode before? What bracket system did you use? many thanks, Joe Fitz p.s. I have learned so much from this forum...thank you everyone! Just Flip your rig upside down. Its a key stroke in post to filp a shot. Fast, simple, rigid. Its really the best way to go in the video world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Karavite Posted October 9, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Hey Joe, Most Panasonic cameras have an image invert in their menus. Just fly the camera upside down in low mode & invert the image in the camera (or in post if the camera won't do it). It is a faster switch, and you'll have less vibration than any low mode bracket. If you must have a bracket, than Brant's is most likely the stiffest, but I don't see a reason to undersling any digital cameras. Best, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted October 9, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 I'm a fan of shooting video cameras upside down for low mode also as it is a fast switch, but there are times when an elaborate video village setup makes for a fair amount of grumbling as not all monitors can be turned upside down easily (LCD's on desk stands, for instance). I bought a VLS for those times. I believe the HPX has an image-inversion monitoring feature for the LCD but can't flip the image for recording. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Vanderspek Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 I'm a fan of shooting video cameras upside down for low mode also as it is a fast switch, but there are times when an elaborate video village setup makes for a fair amount of grumbling as not all monitors can be turned upside down easily (LCD's on desk stands, for instance). I bought a VLS for those times. I believe the HPX has an image-inversion monitoring feature for the LCD but can't flip the image for recording. Yea I didn't find a reverse scan in the manual which I grazed over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rob Vuona SOC Posted October 9, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Hello All, I've been a member for some time now but this is my first post. At the end of October I leave for a 3 week shoot on a narrative project in Cusco, Peru. Much of the project includes and is from the POV of children. (LOW-MODE) The producers tell me that anything I don't have when I come, we wont be able to find/rent out there. We are shooting with the Panasonic AG-HPX 500, and I own a Master Elite rig. Has anyone flown this camera low-mode before? What bracket system did you use? many thanks, Joe Fitz p.s. I have learned so much from this forum...thank you everyone! One other option if you can't get the (http://www.brantsfagan.com/bsfProducts.asp) low mode kit, and your not in the flip video mode . . . . John Meyers gave me a quick fix on the standard low mode bracket, because of the rubber curvature of the video handle the standard bracket wiggles, so getting some longer bolts to go all the way through your low mode bracket until the hit the top of the camera makes the bracket rigid, it takes a little futsing but once you find the right bolts and a couple of nuts your good to go . . . . $1.95 Home Depot or Lowes Oh ya, tape the top of the camera to avoid unwanted scratches . . . . Fly Safe, Hike Machu Picchu and the adjacent mountain , Weina Piccu, i think that's the name, very spectacular place and they are right, there will be no place to get anything Video or anything steadicam once you get over there, Unless you are in Lima, in which case I can help, a very good friend runs the commercial and film division for Lima. All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jon Beattie Posted October 15, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 I usually try and do the flip the rig and go. No one has given me any grief about it. Everyone seems to really like brant's bracket. I have not used it. can you build the camera in high mode with it and a spare dovetail? Or will it only go on when you need to built for lowmode. The other thing that I've looked at is the MK-V handle replacment with 1/4 and 3/8 holes/threads but I've never heard a single word about it. It looks like a great option too. I have the baer-bel sony quick release plate. Its super light weight. It was working really well for me. Then I did a job with a varicam and 3 times (twice while shoulder resting lens down because of rain) and once when I was ejected from my handsfree (a tale for another time) the camera came right out of the plate. I'm alittle scared in using it now. I guess I have to email markus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard James Lewis Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 (edited) It shouldn't go anywhere as long as you are physically screwing the plate into the bottom of the camera, not just tightening the pull down screw towards the back of the plate. I know a few people who have come unstuck not knowing how to use this plate properly. You need a 3/8" screw and it will go up into a threaded hole in the body of the camera. Hope this helps. Rick. I usually try and do the flip the rig and go. No one has given me any grief about it. Everyone seems to really like brant's bracket. I have not used it. can you build the camera in high mode with it and a spare dovetail? Or will it only go on when you need to built for lowmode. The other thing that I've looked at is the MK-V handle replacment with 1/4 and 3/8 holes/threads but I've never heard a single word about it. It looks like a great option too. I have the baer-bel sony quick release plate. Its super light weight. It was working really well for me. Then I did a job with a varicam and 3 times (twice while shoulder resting lens down because of rain) and once when I was ejected from my handsfree (a tale for another time) the camera came right out of the plate. I'm alittle scared in using it now. I guess I have to email markus. Edited October 15, 2008 by Richard J Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Alfeo Dixon SOC Posted October 16, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 i like the heavy duty handles from vfgadets. You will have to replace the Panasonic handle which you could do in prep at the rental house or give it to them and let them do it, because most handles have some sort of electronics be it a tally light or buttons and switches. http://www.vfgadgets.com/grip-camera/heavy...-camera-handles I called about the HPX3000 and they where still in the works on that model back in July. Hopefully they are caught up on production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Vanderspek Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 i like the heavy duty handles from vfgadets. You will have to replace the Panasonic handle which you could do in prep at the rental house or give it to them and let them do it, because most handles have some sort of electronics be it a tally light or buttons and switches. http://www.vfgadgets.com/grip-camera/heavy...-camera-handles I called about the HPX3000 and they where still in the works on that model back in July. Hopefully they are caught up on production. I knew there was a commercially available handle somewhere but it escaped my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Joseph Fitzgerald Posted January 28, 2009 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Thank You Everyone! I looked into all of the options, and they were all great. However, I went with the VLS bracket and it worked perfectly! The HPX500 did not have the option to flip the image during recording, nor do I have the option to flip my monitor, which is something I'm saving up to remedy. Also, those vfgadgets handles looked great but I was working a personally owned camera and the owner was wanting to keep everything stock...and one handle was more expensive than the VLS. Thank You so much everyone!!!! Joe Fitz p.s. I climbed Maccu and Waynu Picchu...it was incredible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted January 28, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Gents-- Glad to hear everyone's positive and complimentary feelings about my VLS! Yes, you can run in high mode with the VLS in place. Just make sure to set the VLS so that the tape door is clear before you balance. Also, most people are rigging their VLS units to move their dovetail plate forwards to accomodate PRO35 adapters and other large lenses for HD work. And yes, I still have VLS units in stock and ready to ship. Best, Brant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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