cheap support for dslr to hold like a normal camcorder? at DVinfo.net

Dave Morgan · November 20th, 2010, 05:57 PM

has anyone found, used, or know of a support I can attach to a DSLR so I can hold it like a normal camcorder?

like the photo attached

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL135.../393515623.jpg

<IMG SRC="http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1351/5529160/22871958/393515623.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Bruce Foreman · November 20th, 2010, 10:13 PM

SpiderBrace 2 Combo is what I use. You will need some kind of viewfinder loupe to attach to your LCD screen and I recommend the Hoodman Cinema Pro Kit as a complete solution.

I sometime dispense with the SpiderBrace and hold the camera by the grip with my right hand, pull it back so the eyepiece of the loupe is against my eyeglasses (non eyeglass users can place the eyecup against the face) and use my left hand to support the camera from underneath and to focus with as necessary.

Links:

Spiderbrace
home

Hoodman "Cinema Kit Pro"
CINEMA KIT PRO-Hoodman Corporation

Greg Fiske · November 22nd, 2010, 10:42 AM

I use the the cullman travelpod, or use a gorillapod. Key is to keep the weight light on the dslr, use t2i and lightweight primes.

Kin Lau · November 23rd, 2010, 12:34 PM

I use the cheap shoulder mount that you can find on ebay. It seems to work well enough, I can go handsfree as needed.

It's not fantastic, but it gets the job done cheaply.

Chris Sgaraglino · November 23rd, 2010, 11:54 PM

What you need is the CowboyStudio DLSR Rig which can be had for about $20 bucks.

Cheap $20 Shoulder Rig Works Perfectly for HDSLR Work ? DSLR Video Shooter

Norman Lang · January 10th, 2011, 05:00 PM

I get lots of great information, like many of you here on the forums, but this tip was the best yet. We all know that these rigs can get ridiculously expensive and that if you pay cheap, you get cheap stuff. But this CowboyStudio rig gets the job done very nicely. Hard to believe it is so cheap, but believe it or not, I bought it and it is good. I also put a Manfrotto quick release on it for 40 bucks. That makes it easy to slide back and forth, but it wasn't necessary. Now I am thinking about a follow focus, a plate and rods. I already have a Hoodman Finder that works great with my Canon 60D. For the moment I can live without the follow focus. Don't get me wrong, I love beautifully designed and well made products. There is a price point that would move me to that excellent Zacuto quality, but they are not even close to it yet.

Sander Vreuls · January 10th, 2011, 05:27 PM

My solution:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSC02060.jpg

Like you I prefered to have it more like a normal camera. The viewfinder is used is too low quality so I want to replace it with a EVF once a nice one in my price range comes out.

This was my first prototype, still got to improve on some things :)

Giroud Francois · January 10th, 2011, 06:16 PM

i use 2 cheap accessories.
one is the grip with some additional accessory shoes

Flash Bracket for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus dSLR - eBay (item 150539419262 end time Jan-25-11 09:39:40 PST)

you can find it as low as $15 and goes on the left side of my DSLR
on the right side i use

Black Heavy Duty Camera DSLR SLR Hand Grip Strap - eBay (item 390272051695 end time Jan-13-11 19:39:54 PST)

you can find it as low as $2 on ebay

the nice thing is the 2nd piece has 2 threaded hole on the bottom part, so you can fix the first one easily.
weight is negligible

Ger Griffin · January 10th, 2011, 08:50 PM

I like that Sander,
Very cool indeed.
Im waiting on one of those cowboyshooter things at the moment but just a word of warning from personal experience.
I had one of those things (cowboy) about 20 years ago (different make, same design) and if you have heavyish weight on that for an extended period of time it will really kill your back. You'll find yourself leaning diagonally away from the weight and this is what causes it. So keep it light and it should be fine. No harm to bring a monopod along with you at the start too in case it happens quite quickly.

November 20th, 2010, 05:57 PM	#1
Dave Morgan Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 293	cheap support for dslr to hold like a normal camcorder? has anyone found, used, or know of a support I can attach to a DSLR so I can hold it like a normal camcorder? like the photo attached http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL135.../393515623.jpg <IMG SRC="http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1351/5529160/22871958/393515623.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com"> Attached Thumbnails

November 23rd, 2010, 11:54 PM	#5
Chris Sgaraglino Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 237	What you need is the CowboyStudio DLSR Rig which can be had for about $20 bucks. Cheap $20 Shoulder Rig Works Perfectly for HDSLR Work ? DSLR Video Shooter DSLR Episode #10: $20 Dollar Shoulder Rig For HDSLR Use. on Vimeo __________________ Chris Sgaraglino The Outdoor Life Blog \| Widow Creek Photography

January 10th, 2011, 05:00 PM	#6
Norman Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 29	The CowboyStudio DSLR rig is the best thing I have found I get lots of great information, like many of you here on the forums, but this tip was the best yet. We all know that these rigs can get ridiculously expensive and that if you pay cheap, you get cheap stuff. But this CowboyStudio rig gets the job done very nicely. Hard to believe it is so cheap, but believe it or not, I bought it and it is good. I also put a Manfrotto quick release on it for 40 bucks. That makes it easy to slide back and forth, but it wasn't necessary. Now I am thinking about a follow focus, a plate and rods. I already have a Hoodman Finder that works great with my Canon 60D. For the moment I can live without the follow focus. Don't get me wrong, I love beautifully designed and well made products. There is a price point that would move me to that excellent Zacuto quality, but they are not even close to it yet.

January 10th, 2011, 05:27 PM	#7
Sander Vreuls Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hilversum, The Netherlands Posts: 184	My solution: http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSC02060.jpg Like you I prefered to have it more like a normal camera. The viewfinder is used is too low quality so I want to replace it with a EVF once a nice one in my price range comes out. This was my first prototype, still got to improve on some things :) Last edited by Sander Vreuls; January 11th, 2011 at 04:30 PM.

November 20th, 2010, 10:13 PM	#2
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	SpiderBrace 2 Combo is what I use. You will need some kind of viewfinder loupe to attach to your LCD screen and I recommend the Hoodman Cinema Pro Kit as a complete solution. I sometime dispense with the SpiderBrace and hold the camera by the grip with my right hand, pull it back so the eyepiece of the loupe is against my eyeglasses (non eyeglass users can place the eyecup against the face) and use my left hand to support the camera from underneath and to focus with as necessary. Links: Spiderbrace home Hoodman "Cinema Kit Pro" CINEMA KIT PRO-Hoodman Corporation

November 22nd, 2010, 10:42 AM	#3
Greg Fiske Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 499	I use the the cullman travelpod, or use a gorillapod. Key is to keep the weight light on the dslr, use t2i and lightweight primes.

November 23rd, 2010, 12:34 PM	#4
Kin Lau Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 385	I use the cheap shoulder mount that you can find on ebay. It seems to work well enough, I can go handsfree as needed. It's not fantastic, but it gets the job done cheaply.

January 10th, 2011, 06:16 PM	#8
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	i use 2 cheap accessories. one is the grip with some additional accessory shoes Flash Bracket for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus dSLR - eBay (item 150539419262 end time Jan-25-11 09:39:40 PST) you can find it as low as $15 and goes on the left side of my DSLR on the right side i use Black Heavy Duty Camera DSLR SLR Hand Grip Strap - eBay (item 390272051695 end time Jan-13-11 19:39:54 PST) you can find it as low as $2 on ebay the nice thing is the 2nd piece has 2 threaded hole on the bottom part, so you can fix the first one easily. weight is negligible

January 10th, 2011, 08:50 PM	#9
Ger Griffin Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 579	I like that Sander, Very cool indeed. Im waiting on one of those cowboyshooter things at the moment but just a word of warning from personal experience. I had one of those things (cowboy) about 20 years ago (different make, same design) and if you have heavyish weight on that for an extended period of time it will really kill your back. You'll find yourself leaning diagonally away from the weight and this is what causes it. So keep it light and it should be fine. No harm to bring a monopod along with you at the start too in case it happens quite quickly.