OT: camera support

Serena wrote on 6/12/2007, 6:30 PM
I've just noted references to the Easy Rig camera support from several full-time camera operators. This, nor its junior "Turtle", has never been mentioned here when the topic of hand-held camera supports has been raised. Just from viewing the promotion videos it looks like a very effective mount for hand-held work. It looks more flexible and more effective than the Potabrace and yet, although it's been around for a while, no one here has mentioned it with the topic has been raised. Any hands-on experience among users here?
http://www.easyrig.se/tortlerig.htmlcamera supports[/link]

EDIT: the video on the manufacturer's website is of very low resolution. This site has a much better video (same, but sharp!). http://www.lemac.com.au/sales/EASYRIG/Easyrig.htmEasyRig video[/link]

Comments

farss wrote on 6/12/2007, 6:53 PM
We tried one out at NAB 2006 with a F900, letting a F900 dangle off what looks like a bit of string was a bit breathtaking. But yes it works as advertised. I didn't feel it's doing much though apart from taking the weight off your arms. Some of the other gizmos provide a sort of stable platform for panning etc.

Bob.
rs170a wrote on 6/12/2007, 7:03 PM
Serena, this rig came up in the rec.video.production newsgroup when it was first introduced a number of years ago.
Here's the link where one shooter talks about his experiences with it.

Mike
Serena wrote on 6/12/2007, 7:30 PM
Mike, a very useful review. That pain in the right shoulder is pretty familiar! And my spine isn't in great shape. Think I'll rent one for a try (Turtle, that is).
Bob, certainly not a steadicam substitute. Looks attractive for those days with a lot of hand-held with a lot of walking around.
rs170a wrote on 6/12/2007, 7:36 PM
That pain in the right shoulder is pretty familiar!

When news shooters in my area first went electronic, a lot of them suffered from the same thing. It became known as "camerman's shoulder" :-(

Mike
Dan Sherman wrote on 6/12/2007, 7:43 PM
RigPro is my choice.
Have done day-long shoots in comfort with this appliance.
Transfers weight to the hips and shoulder.
Great alternative to a tripod in run and gun situations with DVX or HVX cameras.
richard-courtney wrote on 6/12/2007, 8:01 PM
It looks like something I wore when I had braces as a teenager!
Most of the camera weight without the device is on your shoulder/neck muscle and
I still have problem with any weight up there. (please no jokes about just resting
the camera on my middle age spread/belly)

If I was going to invest in any form of brace I would seriously look at
using a full backbrace and chest bracket that can give you "steadicam" smooth
moves (inertia). This device does take the weight off the shoulder so could be
worth it for you.
farss wrote on 6/12/2007, 8:54 PM
I wasn't even comparing it to a Steadycam rig. Rather the brace things that hook into your belt / over the sholder kind of cheap gizmos. The Tiffen Steady Stick is one that comes to mind, MUCH cheaper too and should be more than adequate for a Z1 class camera. Some of the support devices even lend themselves to adding a pan/tilt head to them.

The one big bonus of the Easy Rig is you can let go of the camera to give your arms a well needed rest. I find my arms give out before my back or else I can oftenly find a place to prop myself against something but that doesn't help the load on the arms.

Bob.
Serena wrote on 6/13/2007, 12:14 AM
The wide variety of body camera supports is a fair indication that none of them are entirely satisfactory. The Steadicam, apart from being expensive, is highly desirable but I find rather loads my back (so not something for a long shoot). My alternative body mount has a strut down to waist and I can take hands off, if rather watchfully. The thing about the Easyrig is that you can take hands off in confidence and can swing the camera around to adjust/change filters and it appears to allow a great deal more camera mobility than other body mounts (of those I've tried). Being able to rest your arms is a good point. The backpack holding other stuff is good, too. The price of the Easyrig is the big downside; haven't checked the Turtle.
Serena wrote on 6/13/2007, 2:27 AM
Picking up one current user report, and most I've read are in agreement:

"The EasyRig is GREAT for saving your back during long stretches of HH, and IMHO, absolutely indispensable when needing low angle, moving
handheld- eye level HH around a dinner table, for example.

Note, however, that the EasyRig is NOT a stabilizer in such that it does not actively isolate the camera from body movement like a steadi or glidecam arm. Walking normally with the rig transfers some hip motion to the arm which can tug the camera back and forth on the shoulder (this is less of a factor the longer the cable is extended). However, with practice, bent knees, and perhaps wearing the vest a bit higher off the hips, you will quickly find the sweetspot where the rig and torso become one.
"