DvRigPro for Red

[S. Um]

I know that I will be handholding my Red camera often, so I was looking for ways to make it as smooth as possible. I contacted DVTec, makers of DvRigPro and other camera supports, to see if they have any support planned for Red. After some investigation, Danny from DVTec emailed me back saying that they can probably adapt their EngRig product to work with the rails on Red's base production pack. But they wanted to see if there's enough interest in this product to make it worth doing. So now I want to ask others on this board if they are interested in buying something like this.

Here's a link to the EngRig product: http://www.dvtec.tv/id2.html. Basically, it's a spring loaded rod with one end connected to the front of the rails, and the other end inserted in a little pocket on your belt. The rod offers another support point for the camera, making it more stable. It also takes a lot of weight off your shoulder and hand and transfers it to your hips, which is a more solid platform. This setup is especially helpful on front-heavy cameras - i.e. big lens, matte box, and follow focus.

Full disclosure: I do not work for DVTec, nor do I know any of their people other than through this email exchange. I do own a DvRigPro, and I use it often with my HVX200 and DVX100. I can definitely vouch for the quality and functionality of that product.

[Paul Hazlett]

I have seen this in plenty of ads, and it makes me queasy. On slip with the rod and goodbye children.

sorry just a personal quirk.

[Clint Johnson]

I'm really interested to see how my Red works with the Birger mount and the Canon L IS lenses. The lens stabilizes the image very nicely as I move my 20D around with the shutter partially depressed. It was stated that this is how the Birger mount will work when the Red is shooting and I think that it will be very effective.

It will all depend on the imaging capabilities and breathing of those Canon lenses being within the usable range.

As a side note, if anyone were thinking about saving money and using a Sigma OS lens, they will be disappointed with the stabilizing. There system tries to lock the image for the firing of the shutter and jumps and jerks around in between shots. This is great for still photography but useless for motion... unless you are going for offbeat and disorienting footage that jumps and sticks in a random little movements.

[Mark B.]

Is that a recently built Sigma OS lens? I don't know if Sigma's made stabilization improvements recently, but Canon seems to make improvements every couple of years. If it's an older Sigma lens then maybe their new stuff is better.

[S. Um]

I have seen this in plenty of ads, and it makes me queasy. On slip with the rod and goodbye children.

sorry just a personal quirk.

LOL. The rod is held against your stomach, not your private parts, and the pressure is more downwards than inwards. If the rod ever comes out of the pocket, it will just fall to the ground because it's not attached to the camera. So if you slip, I'd worry more about protecting the camera rather than the family jewels.

[S. Um]

I'm really interested to see how my Red works with the Birger mount and the Canon L IS lenses. The lens stabilizes the image very nicely as I move my 20D around with the shutter partially depressed. It was stated that this is how the Birger mount will work when the Red is shooting and I think that it will be very effective.


I'm looking forward to see if image stabilization will work, too, but with Nikon lenses. But as everyone who has used a camcorder with OIS knows, it only goes so far. If there is another way to help stabilize the camera when handholding, I would definitely consider it.

[Clint Johnson]

Is that a recently built Sigma OS lens? I don't know if Sigma's made stabilization improvements recently, but Canon seems to make improvements every couple of years. If it's an older Sigma lens then maybe their new stuff is better.

It's the new 18-200mm O.S. lens so it would be the latest and best they have to offer. I still want to see how well it does on the Birger and Red... the optics aren't Canon L lens quality and they have more variance than Canon with their build quality but they might make an interesting run and gun lens for 2k capture.

[Anthony Gratl]

I know that I will be handholding my Red camera often, so I was looking for ways to make it as smooth as possible....I do own a DvRigPro, and I use it often with my HVX200 and DVX100. I can definitely vouch for the quality and functionality of that product.


I'll be doing a lot of handheld work as well, and I use the rig now with an hvx and it's a very good piece of gear. I was thinking of just modifying the kit I have now.
I don't really understand how the ENGRIG is more robust, as it seems like they're just supplying a gimble and the spring loaded rod and holster thing. 300 bucks for that? Not seeing it.
For my money, I'd rather have them modify the spring-loaded rod to support more weight, as I really like the way that the hvx camera sits forward on the dvrig pro, allowing me to view the monitor to make sure the image is fine as i interview or whatever else...this would be great to continue with red as well.......I'm also very curious about the nikon lens situation and how well they'll work.
By the way, nice move to email them and get them interested. kudos

[Jason Francois]

played with one of these at NAB and it was pretty nice. A lot more money than the DVRIG, but worth it in my opinion. I used it with a large ENG camera and it was very easy to manipulate.


http://www.easyrig.com/easyrig_3_cinema/cinema_index.htm

[jimhare]

What is the approximate cost for one of these? Seems like a good thing to have around.

Jim

[Adam C Lubkin]

played with one of these at NAB and it was pretty nice. A lot more money than the DVRIG, but worth it in my opinion. I used it with a large ENG camera and it was very easy to manipulate.


http://www.easyrig.com/easyrig_3_cinema/cinema_index.htm

In the behind-the-scenes on "The New World" DVD you can see Lubezki using this, or something like it.

[Shawn Nelson]

In the behind-the-scenes on "The New World" DVD you can see Lubezki using this, or something like it.

I remember seeing that. It single-handedly made me want one. Now that I've been playing with Red, I *really* want one. Shoulder mounting it is not a pleasant experience.

Do you think the 700 or the 600 would be better? I'm torn. The 600 is 26-33lbs and the 700 is 33-44lbs.

[S. Um]

I'll be doing a lot of handheld work as well, and I use the rig now with an hvx and it's a very good piece of gear. I was thinking of just modifying the kit I have now.
I don't really understand how the ENGRIG is more robust, as it seems like they're just supplying a gimble and the spring loaded rod and holster thing. 300 bucks for that? Not seeing it.
For my money, I'd rather have them modify the spring-loaded rod to support more weight, as I really like the way that the hvx camera sits forward on the dvrig pro, allowing me to view the monitor to make sure the image is fine as i interview or whatever else...this would be great to continue with red as well.......I'm also very curious about the nikon lens situation and how well they'll work.
By the way, nice move to email them and get them interested. kudos

I like the way the camera sits forward, too, because you can lower or raise it a little. But the weight of a Red plus the DVRig Pro might be too much for me.

I agree the price for the ENG rig is a little steep, but they probably don't sell many, and have to recoup their development costs. But wouldn't it be great if everyone followed the Red pricing model.

[S. Um]

played with one of these at NAB and it was pretty nice. A lot more money than the DVRIG, but worth it in my opinion. I used it with a large ENG camera and it was very easy to manipulate.


http://www.easyrig.com/easyrig_3_cinema/cinema_index.htm

Looks interesting. Can you get smooth moves with it? Is there any weight on your shoulder?

[Jason Francois]

I remember seeing that. It single-handedly made me want one. Now that I've been playing with Red, I *really* want one. Shoulder mounting it is not a pleasant experience.

Do you think the 700 or the 600 would be better? I'm torn. The 600 is 26-33lbs and the 700 is 33-44lbs.

Hey Shawn. I would be thinking in terms of trimming the kit down a bit. Use CF cards and maybe even belt mount the batteries, which would make the 600 viable.

There has to be a way to take your RED to a distributor and try it out to be sure.

I can't find a price for the 600 or 700. I'm sure it's not cheap, but I was blown away by how much easier it was to get used to than my stabilizer was.

J.

[Jason Francois]

Looks interesting. Can you get smooth moves with it? Is there any weight on your shoulder?

I remember feeling that the weight was really well distributed.

The moves are different than a stabilizer. The DP's that were demoing it could get it to do some crazy things, but it was slow-going for me. It's best use, IMHO, is to move around hand-held style with a lot cleaner moves. I think that a steadicam would still be better for very complex moves.

j.

[Shawn Nelson]

Hey Shawn. I would be thinking in terms of trimming the kit down a bit. Use CF cards and maybe even belt mount the batteries, which would make the 600 viable.

There has to be a way to take your RED to a distributor and try it out to be sure.

I can't find a price for the 600 or 700. I'm sure it's not cheap, but I was blown away by how much easier it was to get used to than my stabilizer was.

J.
B&H has the EasyRig 2 700 for $3000, and the 600 for a bit less. I'm not sure if it's the same as the website's "EasyRig 2.5", B&H usually does not carry outdated stuff.

So why trim the kit? I was thinking the opposite, bulk it up. It seems that a heavier camera on such a contraption would be more stable.

[Jason Francois]

I remember feeling that the weight was really well distributed.

The moves are different than a stabilizer. The DP's that were demoing it could get it to do some crazy things, but it was slow-going for me. It's best use, IMHO, is to move around hand-held style with a lot cleaner moves. I think that a steadicam would still be better for very complex moves.

j.


B&H has the EasyRig 2 700 for $3000, and the 600 for a bit less. I'm not sure if it's the same as the website's "EasyRig 2.5", B&H usually does not carry outdated stuff.

So why trim the kit? I was thinking the opposite, bulk it up. It seems that a heavier camera on such a contraption would be more stable.

It appears to be able to handle the weight just fine, from what I've seen, but I'm thinking it would be a lot easier to be more fluid, plus I'm always interested in the old-school way of shooting. Grab a Arri BL16 and a couple rolls of film and just head out the door. Just being nostalgic, I guess. :)

Load it or lighten it, I think the Easyrig looks interesting.