Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:56 pm
Just to explain a bit more about my odd request: I'll be assembling a very lightweight but strong & flexible rig once I get my BMCC.
I've already acquired a few bits, but am holding off until I have my own camera in-hand. If for no other reason, some of the bits may be less expensive the longer I wait, and new bits come onto to the market almost every week.
The Wooden Camera BMCC baseplate is the smallest & lightest I've found. It can have attached to it 2 rod clamps, at the front & back. This makes it easy to attach/remove rods in front for a matte box, FF & handles, and/or rods in back for a shoulder rig. Other baseplates can do this, too, but either weigh or cost more.
I've had a custom, very small "top cheeseplate" made for me by a machinist. It's similar to the one sold by RedRock & Berkey, but it's smaller, lighter, and is the precise height so that a rod clamp attached to it positions rods exactly 85mm above the lens center axis. This gives me the option of rigging a matte box, FF, etc. above the lens instead of below it when I want. Having this custom top plate made for me was relatively inexpensive.
My goal is to keep the weight of rig parts directly attached to the camera as low as possible for hand-holding or shoulder mounting the camera. In the latter configuration, accessories such as my small MixPre audio mixer & AB battery will be located directly above & behind my shoulder. I plan to use a small shoulder pad from CPM, and a AB battery plate from IKAN. For me, a cage adds weight & functions I rarely need.
My hope is that the custom top plate & WC baseplate, together with standard rail parts, will give me all the flexibility I require, without a lot of extra weight & cost. Now all I need is a camera ...
Cheers.