MiniDV Shoulder Brace

Dylan Couper · February 20th, 2003, 09:33 AM

I have a knock-off of this model (MightywonderCam). I think they used to sell for $299, not $99. I got mine used for a bit less than that. I rarely use it anymore with my Canon XL1. $99 is about what it's worth, IMHO. If I had to do it again, I think I might have bought the other one.

You can add more foam to the shoulder area. Go to Home Depot.

Brian Pink · March 6th, 2003, 09:07 AM

so i ordered a varizoom vz-1 from zotz to use at a dog show last weekend. here's my quick breakdown, keeping in mind that i only put the thing on for the last hour of a 4 hour shoot since prior to that my arms weren't too tired to keep the camera steady:

pros:
light, easy to adjust, kept the camera stable.

cons:
not enough pressure on your shoulder ( your arm still carries the weight ), must contort entire torso to change shot, i was too cheap to buy the zoom controller ( bad me ).

conclusion:
a good thing to have in the kit for when you need it, but not something i'm going to shoot with every time. also, did not replace need for steadicam. =)

Christopher Go · March 6th, 2003, 11:01 AM

I agree completely with your assessment. What'd you think about the price? I removed the handle on my shoulder brace and started using the grips from my matte box instead, which extends to where the former handle used to be. I'd like to post a picture but the forums don't support this feature.

Have to go to Home Depot for the foam suggestion, thanks Dylan.

Brian Pink · March 7th, 2003, 08:51 AM

i got the shoulder brace for $99 at zotz, seemed reasonable.

re: foam, the Home Depots here in LaLaLand don't carry foam anymore strangely enough. but there is a great place called Diamond Foam on La Brea, just south of Wilshire. i got foam cut for 2 cases for $40. they'll do from 1-6" thick and as much cutting as you want for that price. if you're not in LA, check upholstery supply stores ( if you can't get your foam at Home Depot ).

Christopher Go · March 9th, 2003, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the tips, Brian. Was that $99 with shipping?

Brian Pink · March 9th, 2003, 09:11 PM

no, but the thing is really light. i got that plus an ME66/K6 overnight and the shipping was $36.

Marc Martin · March 17th, 2003, 04:48 PM

Anyone try this?

http://www.cullmann-foto.de/english/...zial/2702.html

John Jay · March 20th, 2003, 08:18 PM

my favoured R&G support is the following

a leather pouch style tool belt (from handiyman store)
a manfrotto 434 monopod
a ball head with QR plate

connect camera to the ball head, then the ball head to the monopod then place the monopod in one of the tool belt pouches

adjust the belt to have that pouch in the crotch area

this way the camera weight is taken on the hips and is much easier to control and also allows for a more natural height of shooting from the chest area (I am over 6 foot tall and shoulder shots are too high)

when finished the monopod can be stowed in the hammer bay of the tool belt

tool belt is also used for filters, WA lens, tapes and batteries

Don Bloom · May 20th, 2003, 06:06 AM

I have had the screws from the shoulder pad to the cam arm get loose. They're small. I carry a set of hex head wrenchs all the time and can tighten them up. The last time I did I used a bit of thread goop (I forget the real name) and haven't had a problem since. I use theshoulder brace lots and lots so I kinda expected it to loosen up but it's never hurt me on the job
Don

Imran Zaidi · May 20th, 2003, 07:01 AM

I agree about the bolts on mine... they are harder to tighten than they should be, but overall, the thing is light, durable, and pretty darn comfy.

Chris Mah · May 21st, 2003, 01:59 AM

I ended up making a very simple but effective shoulder brace for about $20 in parts from Home Depot. All prices are in Canadian.

I already had a Manfrotto Super Clamp ($40) and a Varizoom VZ-Pro-L controller so I only needed to buy a few extra parts from Home Depot.

3 foot 1 inch square aluminum tubing with plastic end caps ($12)
3 inch C clamp ($4)
2 inch C clamp ($4)

The 3" C clamp attaches to the front left of the tube and becomes your left hand grip. The 2" C clamp attaches to the front right of the tube and the Varizoom attaches to it. The Super Clamp can be attached anywhere along the tube. I have a Manfrotto 501 quick release plate that's attached to the Clamp so it's very easy to move the camera from tripod to shoulder brace. The camera can also "swivel" because of the way the QR plate attaches to the Clamp. It makes more sense when you see how a Super Clamp works.

The tube can be cut to length anywhere you want. I just extended both my arms to what I thought would be a maximum comfortable length and left about 4" overhanging my shoulder. I purposely did not make a special shoulder rest but prefer the tube to rest anywhere on my shoulder.

For a really stable shot, I can pull both my arms in close to my chest or if my arms start to get tired. Another way to hold the brace is with your left hand on the C clamp and your right in the normal hand grip of the camera. I don't know if this is possible with the design of some of the commercial shoulder braces that I've seen.

Since everything clamps together in a few minutes, everything goes in my camera bag except for a 30" aluminum square tube.

If anyone's interested, I can send them a picture.

Dylan Couper · May 21st, 2003, 11:26 AM

I'd like to see a pic!

the_klenzer@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Rick Spilman · May 21st, 2003, 12:12 PM

Me too!

meridianm@comcast.net

Thanks.

Bryan Beasleigh · May 21st, 2003, 05:04 PM

Me as well, Thanks
beaser@eudoramail.com

Chris Hurd · May 22nd, 2003, 12:17 AM

Chris, sounds like this should be an article for the dvinfo.net website. If you can email pics to me, I'll post them along with your description, if you're up for it.

March 6th, 2003, 09:07 AM	#17
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	so i ordered a varizoom vz-1 from zotz to use at a dog show last weekend. here's my quick breakdown, keeping in mind that i only put the thing on for the last hour of a 4 hour shoot since prior to that my arms weren't too tired to keep the camera steady: pros: light, easy to adjust, kept the camera stable. cons: not enough pressure on your shoulder ( your arm still carries the weight ), must contort entire torso to change shot, i was too cheap to buy the zoom controller ( bad me ). conclusion: a good thing to have in the kit for when you need it, but not something i'm going to shoot with every time. also, did not replace need for steadicam. =) __________________ This is the way the world ends.

March 7th, 2003, 08:51 AM	#19
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	i got the shoulder brace for $99 at zotz, seemed reasonable. re: foam, the Home Depots here in LaLaLand don't carry foam anymore strangely enough. but there is a great place called Diamond Foam on La Brea, just south of Wilshire. i got foam cut for 2 cases for $40. they'll do from 1-6" thick and as much cutting as you want for that price. if you're not in LA, check upholstery supply stores ( if you can't get your foam at Home Depot ). __________________ This is the way the world ends.

March 9th, 2003, 09:11 PM	#21
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	no, but the thing is really light. i got that plus an ME66/K6 overnight and the shipping was $36. __________________ This is the way the world ends.

March 20th, 2003, 08:18 PM	#23
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	my favoured R&G support is the following a leather pouch style tool belt (from handiyman store) a manfrotto 434 monopod a ball head with QR plate connect camera to the ball head, then the ball head to the monopod then place the monopod in one of the tool belt pouches adjust the belt to have that pouch in the crotch area this way the camera weight is taken on the hips and is much easier to control and also allows for a more natural height of shooting from the chest area (I am over 6 foot tall and shoulder shots are too high) when finished the monopod can be stowed in the hammer bay of the tool belt tool belt is also used for filters, WA lens, tapes and batteries __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

May 21st, 2003, 11:26 AM	#27
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I'd like to see a pic! the_klenzer@hotmail.com Thanks! __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

February 20th, 2003, 09:33 AM	#16
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I have a knock-off of this model (MightywonderCam). I think they used to sell for $299, not $99. I got mine used for a bit less than that. I rarely use it anymore with my Canon XL1. $99 is about what it's worth, IMHO. If I had to do it again, I think I might have bought the other one. You can add more foam to the shoulder area. Go to Home Depot.

March 6th, 2003, 11:01 AM	#18
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	I agree completely with your assessment. What'd you think about the price? I removed the handle on my shoulder brace and started using the grips from my matte box instead, which extends to where the former handle used to be. I'd like to post a picture but the forums don't support this feature. Have to go to Home Depot for the foam suggestion, thanks Dylan.

March 9th, 2003, 08:14 AM	#20
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	Thanks for the tips, Brian. Was that $99 with shipping?

March 17th, 2003, 04:48 PM	#22
Marc Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Paris, France Posts: 80	Anyone try this? http://www.cullmann-foto.de/english/...zial/2702.html

May 20th, 2003, 06:06 AM	#24
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I have had the screws from the shoulder pad to the cam arm get loose. They're small. I carry a set of hex head wrenchs all the time and can tighten them up. The last time I did I used a bit of thread goop (I forget the real name) and haven't had a problem since. I use theshoulder brace lots and lots so I kinda expected it to loosen up but it's never hurt me on the job Don

May 20th, 2003, 07:01 AM	#25
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	I agree about the bolts on mine... they are harder to tighten than they should be, but overall, the thing is light, durable, and pretty darn comfy.

May 21st, 2003, 01:59 AM	#26
Chris Mah Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 34	I ended up making a very simple but effective shoulder brace for about $20 in parts from Home Depot. All prices are in Canadian. I already had a Manfrotto Super Clamp ($40) and a Varizoom VZ-Pro-L controller so I only needed to buy a few extra parts from Home Depot. 3 foot 1 inch square aluminum tubing with plastic end caps ($12) 3 inch C clamp ($4) 2 inch C clamp ($4) The 3" C clamp attaches to the front left of the tube and becomes your left hand grip. The 2" C clamp attaches to the front right of the tube and the Varizoom attaches to it. The Super Clamp can be attached anywhere along the tube. I have a Manfrotto 501 quick release plate that's attached to the Clamp so it's very easy to move the camera from tripod to shoulder brace. The camera can also "swivel" because of the way the QR plate attaches to the Clamp. It makes more sense when you see how a Super Clamp works. The tube can be cut to length anywhere you want. I just extended both my arms to what I thought would be a maximum comfortable length and left about 4" overhanging my shoulder. I purposely did not make a special shoulder rest but prefer the tube to rest anywhere on my shoulder. For a really stable shot, I can pull both my arms in close to my chest or if my arms start to get tired. Another way to hold the brace is with your left hand on the C clamp and your right in the normal hand grip of the camera. I don't know if this is possible with the design of some of the commercial shoulder braces that I've seen. Since everything clamps together in a few minutes, everything goes in my camera bag except for a 30" aluminum square tube. If anyone's interested, I can send them a picture.

May 21st, 2003, 12:12 PM	#28
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	Me too! meridianm@comcast.net Thanks.

May 21st, 2003, 05:04 PM	#29
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Me as well, Thanks beaser@eudoramail.com

May 22nd, 2003, 12:17 AM	#30
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Chris, sounds like this should be an article for the dvinfo.net website. If you can email pics to me, I'll post them along with your description, if you're up for it. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!