Look this:

http://prolost.blogspot.com/2007/06/redrock-gets-it.html

That rig looks supa-cool, but I'm not so sure about that EVF -- it's from the Canon XL1/XL1S, and it was barely adequate for standard definition... plus it's 4:3, so I wonder how viable it really is for managing focus. Sure is a neat looking set-up, though! Thanks for the link,

That looks freaking awesome. But Chris has got a point there. Maybe with a different viewfinder it'll be able to bust ass. But this thing does make you think...look at where technology is today! I studied film about 7 or 8 years ago and I shot most of my projects with a Sony DCR-TRV30, which cost like 500€ more than the HV20 but had less than half the quality. Today for 1000$ you can have this little bundle...plus the huge bonus of adapters like redrock, letus, and the brevis. God bless evolution.

Just checked out viewfinder at BH, about $1,450. More than the camera....:)

I just shot a 48Hour with a Letus35A. I have posted a simple flip design for this camera a couple of months ago using one 3ft piece of almuminum, and a few other things. I mounted a small DVD player that had flip capability, as my viewfinder. Focus was a struggle, but I think a more dedicated monitor will help immensely.

Sorry, $1,450 is the cost of the XL series monochrome CRT viewfinder (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/186650-REG/Canon_3157A002_FU_1000_Monochrome_Viewfinder.html), which isn't the same as this one. The EVF pictured in that rig (it uses a color LCD) can be bought as a replacement part from Canon for something like $250.

That rig also supports an external LCD on an arm guys!

-Stu

Yeah, I gotta say, it looks quite impressive.

Sorry, $1,450 is the cost of the XL series monochrome CRT viewfinder (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/186650-REG/Canon_3157A002_FU_1000_Monochrome_Viewfinder.html), which isn't the same as this one. The EVF pictured in that rig (it uses a color LCD) can be bought as a replacement part from Canon for something like $250.

Chris:

So where can we order one ??

What, an LCD color viewfinder for an XL1 or XL1S? That's a replacement part from Canon Service. Since those camcorders were discontinued years ago, I wouldn't count on ready availability. Sometimes you can find them for sale in used condition in our Private Classifieds forum (from people moving up to the monochrome CRT EVF for their XL1 / XL1S cams). Hope this helps,

That is so cool

Okay CH, thanks. I just wasn't sure where it had come from.....

Is there any knows damage for the camera hanging up side down and record? It´s a gr8 solution to get the picture and screen-info right on a external tft..

People that worry hanging a sub 1k camera upside down is probably not who this rig is geared for.
I would guess that the rig is 3 times what the camera costs.
Unless Redrock has changed it’s pricing.

Agreed... that HV20 is probably one-third the cost of the entire system.

I guess that if they were building this rig specifically for cameras such as the HV20 (to encourage people with such cameras to buy 35mm adapters) they should keep the price down...otherwise it's just better judgment to buy a Xh-A1 for this price. I gotta tell you, though, that is one sweet good looking rig :D

People that worry hanging a sub 1k camera upside down is probably not who this rig is geared for.
I would guess that the rig is 3 times what the camera costs.
Unless Redrock has changed it’s pricing.

Hehe, sure but I was thinking for us other with non Redrock adapters who also want a correct picture.. ;S

More pics for drooling over... via Mike Curtis at HD For Indies, from a CineGear Expo report:

http://www.hdforindies.com/2007/06/prolost-redrock-gets-it-new-handheld.html

I guess it shows the kind of impact the HV20 has had on the industry when products like this start appearing.

That thing looks really freaking awesome. It has a really pro look to it. People who are afraid to show up for a gig with a smaller camera won't have that problem anymore if they show up with this rig. I'm very curious about how much will it cost though.

Am I missing a power source for the Redrock unit...? I would probably want to see a mount at the rear for a large format battery (AB or V-mount), particularly as this setup looks very front-heavy. Perfect setup actually for an HDMI recording solution to go back there...!

But this thing does make you think...look at where technology is today! I studied film about 7 or 8 years ago and I shot most of my projects with a Sony DCR-TRV30, which cost like 500€ more than the HV20 but had less than half the quality. Today for 1000$ you can have this little bundle...plus the huge bonus of adapters like redrock, letus, and the brevis. God bless evolution.

same as me! it's amazing where we're at now... and full-res HD via BM intensity on this camera!


i was just wondering how do they actually hook up a viewfinder to the HV20?

edit: ah, i see now on the photos from hdforindies...

I've been adding to my HV20 rig, and when I saw the Redrock Micro set up, I had to take the next step.....

The mount frame, and the handles, and all probably cost about $25.00 to build. I still will add a shoulder mount.


Need to figure out a follow focus next....

See photo attached...

Hey Chris, I've been following your camera mount ideas and you got me looking around town at all the different 7" and 8" portable DVD player for external monitoring...great idea I had never considered.

But what I want to know today is, what did you use for the handles, where did you get those?

How do you use 2 handles with an adapter? Wouldn't the image shake when you let one hand go to adjust the focus?

Hey Chris, I've been following your camera mount ideas and you got me looking around town at all the different 7" and 8" portable DVD player for external monitoring...great idea I had never considered.

But what I want to know today is, what did you use for the handles, where did you get those?

The DVD player is a Polaroid bought at Walmart, $100.00. Not the greatest focusing screen, but


They were in the "bracket" hanger department at Home Depot near the aluminum tubing and such. They actuall are used for hanging things on walls. More in shape of a C. Just cut off one end.

How do you use 2 handles with an adapter? Wouldn't the image shake when you let one hand go to adjust the focus?

Frist of all, while your focusing, you have to go one handed for sure, but so to with the Redrock. Second, I've already had it on my steady stick, and it help with that. Third, I just finished project last night, so I have yet to really shoot anything... Jury is out. Of course, Redrock Micro faces same issues...

I have DENVER DFT-709. Very inexpencive and very sharp(you have to tweak sharpness to the max). You can focus with it very easily. It has standard inputs and flip function and external battery pack for 10 standard AA batteries (It runs couple of hours on 2500mAh). At the bottom is also standard camera thread mount and it looks very solid and almost pro. (Little to big for hand held maybe).

The DVD player is a Polaroid bought at Walmart, $100.00. Not the greatest focusing screen, but...

Chris, I went looking at the portable DVD players at Best Buy, all of which had a demo disc with multiple movie shorts to play. The one thing I quickly noticed is that even though all of these portable DVD players were physically widescreen LCD's, they would only playback widescreen letterboxed. All of them had a setting to where you could get the widescreen movie clips to fill the entire LCD, but the image playing back was disproportionate...like you can often see when people don't setup their widescreen TV's correctly. Having to significantly letterbox a widescreen image (DVD) on a widescreen player just to make it look right seems like a complete waste of LCD screen.

So my question is this, when you run the HV20's signal into the player, does it fill the entire LCD proportionately or does it need to be letterboxed to look right?

Nathan:

Every thing appears to be appropriate on the Polaroid. The mode switch has four selections which give 16:9, 16:9 inverted, 4:3 with pillars on side, and 4:3 inverted with pillars on side. There is a "hold" switch that locks the modes in, and I leave that on all the time.

Comparing the 16:9 with the LCD, aspect appears appropriate. I think there are some "overscan" issues, where the entire recorded image may not show up on LCD, but I think we have all come to expect that on consumer monitor solutions.

they should keep the price down...otherwise it's just better judgment to buy a Xh-A1 for this price.

If I could buy this at the same price as an A1, I might just take this. As the accessories alone put it at an advantage in some respects. Plus, if you ever outgrow the HV20 itself, the 35mm adapter and follow focus are more than likely usable on the next camera you purchase. If they make a functional version of this I just may be stepping up to the plate.

Btw guys, does anybody knows where to find similar shoulder pad?

Ian, might want to try:
www.varizoom.com