I just received my Sony Shoudler brace for the Z1, very expensive but it really does help stabalize the camera and fits very nicely onto the Z1 and slides into position for use at the touch of a button. Your shoulder still does not take the weight with this brace because it is not a shoulder mount but still very compact and it works (plus it makes the camera look even more high tech!). Now I want a Steadicam Flyer!

Seriously, how about some pics of the brace in action?

Oh, OK then here are a few quick pics of the brace attached to the camera and some of the positions it can be placed:

http://www.led-watch.com/images/z1brace1.jpg

http://www.led-watch.com/images/z1brace2.jpg

http://www.led-watch.com/images/z1brace3.jpg

Cut and paste the links into your browser.

Enjoy.

But we want to see your cool new gear on your camera in your hands!

It's nice to see this stuff 'for real'.

So slap that thing on and take some shots for your good friends at DVInfo!

:)

Sorry, too shy and nobody here but me to take the pics.

Simon,
are those your pics?
It looks like a well-thought-out piece.

Does it just push back against your shoulder or does it actually sit on your shoulder.

How does it attach to the camera body?

thanks!

It just pushes back (braces) between the camera and the body, making it more stable and stop it wobbling around, it does not sit on the shoulder, it pushes against it at an abgle - think the Canon XL series has a similar kind of thing. It is correctly fitted to the camera shape and attaches by a metal bolt that's part of the unit. They are just quick pics I took.

$299 + shipping from B&H

So do you think you could replace the metal bars with telescoping rails to support a matte box also? Do the rails extend all the way through the piece that fits to the bottom of the camera. You know, one set of rails for matte box support AND shoulder brace support.

No, the rails only extend out the back with the shoulder pad at the end that flips round. It dosent look like the kind of thing you can modify without breaking, I know there are other bigger shoulder mount units on the market that are more suitable for use with matte boxes.

I don't get the idea of this brace (other than looking good).
The whole idea of putting lcd in the front of the camera is to be able to lean the camera to your chest/shoulder.
If you move camera out of your body's balance point, you move it out of balance. And for the bonus, you'll have to extend your arms more, so they get tired sooner...

Your logic is the wrong way round, this brace extends the physical length of the camera to the point where it can be firmly braced against the chest, shoulder or body (squeezed against) making a firmer grip during shooting. Without the brace it is wobbling around on outstretched arm. It will also reduced fatigue a small amount because the point of balance is slighty further back, you lean back (not forward) slightly during use. It is very good and compact (though in my opinion it could have been 25% larger and worked as a short shoulder mount too) but overpriced that is my point,, It is a brace, not a mount, so heavy uses may also want a proper shoulder mount too.