What is a good shoulder mount for the NX5u without breaking the bank?

Have you looked at the spiderbrace 2....
http://www.spiderbrace.com/
I use it with my AX2000, lightweight and works great, and it does not break the bank...

I have looked at a couple in this configuration, the issue with these kind of braces is that with your hands on the two (or even one) handle - that hand is not available for controlling the camera?

That's the problem with any camera like this; there's really nothing you can do to make it like a shoulder-mount cam. There are some shoulder braces that have controls on them that attach via LANC and replace the controls on the cam, as far as I know, but it isn't the same.

However, there was one shoulder brace I used that had a terrific counter balance that dropped behind your shoulder, almost halfway down your back. You could even remove your hands completely and the cam and brace would just balance neutrally. Your right hand stayed on the cam's handgrip when you shot. As I recall it was called the CB-105 and it was available on eBay from someplace in California. No idea if it is still available but might be worth a search.

Edit: There are actually several threads on this in the Shoulder Mounts subforum, including links to the site where they sell these. Here's one:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/shoulder-handheld-supports/120091-cb105-review-counter-balance-shoulder-mount.html

Chris here is my mount. I made it more like a shoulder mount. It is kind of a Frankenstein mount. I took some parts from my DV rig to take the weight off.

Dan,

How much did that whole rig cost you? can you include a link where you purchased the shoulder mount?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike, If you don't count the DV rig (cost $300.00 off ebay) Just under $700. Here is a used matte box in in the classified.http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/private-classifieds/495581-matte-box-carbon-fiber-rails-ff-system.html Just add the hoodloop got mine here and he made it work better for the NX5 HoodLoop (http://www.westsideavstore.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=5&pg=1)
Here is another post http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-nxcam-hxr-nx5u/488433-shoulder-brace-system-nx5.html

Dan