I am looking for a rig for C300 so that I can have support for my long tele lens (Canon EF 400mm f2.8 L IS USM). I would like to know if anyone in this group is using C300 for wildlife and if so, can you tell me what kind of long lens support you guys are using.

I would like to hear about longlens support using other cameras as well.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Hi Sabyasachi,

I use a lens support that is based on a single stainless steel tube set up parallel to the lens axis. To adjust the tube is rotated until the self-aligning crescent shaped carriage takes the weight of the lens. Installing and adjusting is very quick. To work the tube has to be to one side of the camera, in the this case it is far enough to one side to act as a useful sighting aid – very helpful for finding the subject in the absence of a zoom. More recently I have made a very low level mintripod for macro work that utilizes the tube as a support for the front leg.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/attach/jpg.gifhttp://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

Here is a picture of a universal support I had made. it can adjust to almost any camera and any lens. I have a had a 500 on it, etc. It was not cheap but it has kept things dead steady and totally adjustable. prior to this \I had all kinds of issues.

you can also measure the step between lens and camera base and build a wood one very cheaply.


dale

if you want a close up i can take a couple pictures and post them for you.

Hi Dale,
Would love to have some close ups.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

I have rigged the C300 on a zacuto universal baseplate and an Arri baseplate. The zacuto is good unless you raise the plate on the riser, it then exhibits some flex which will come out multiplied down a long lens setup.

The arri baseplate is simple and very solid. I actually used a zacuto riser and rods on it. No flex, very solid.

Thanks Mat!

I have got an Arri style dovetail plate 18 inch made by Wooden Camera which mounts on my OConnor fluid head. Then I screw in the bridge plate either to the lens or to the camera, depending on the lens. This bridge plate slides over the dovetail and I now can balance well.

Which Follow focus do you use?