Shoulder mount for Z7

[Bob Ridge]

Just to add my two cents - I have really enjoyed the shoulder brace by Switronix. It seems to be under the radar - it took a LOT of research before I discovered it. You can slide the camera (I've used it with a V1U) up/down and left/right so the viewfinder or flipout screen is ideally situated for your eye. My version has a spot on the back to snap on my Sony brick battery (from my DSR-250) to power the camera extra long or power my Ultralight independently, while also giving me a slight counterweight on the back side. The mount comes further down your chest to take some pressure off the arms.

http://www.switronix.com/dvbrnv.htm

[Adam Folickman]

If I want some shooting stability but I don't want to go with a shoulder mount, has anybody used a monopod and had success using one ?

If yes, what do I look for in a monopod ?

Thanks.

[Gints Klimanis]

Originally Posted by Adam Folickman

If I want some shooting stability but I don't want to go with a shoulder mount, has anybody used a monopod and had success using one ?

If yes, what do I look for in a monopod ?

Thanks.

You want enough heft to hold your camera at the operating height. If you're panning, most monopods have a rubber foot that catches the surface and transmits vibrations. Microphone shockmounts help, but the sound can still be picked up by the microphone. Also, some of these vibrations travel into the body. I suspect that the OIS on the camcorder magnifies these vibrations. In any case, if you want smooth panning, get this monopod:

Bogen / Manfrotto | Fluid Video Monopod | 560B | B&H Photo Video

The only downsides to this monopod are that the three folding legs add the foldup mass and that repositioning the monopod while taping usually causes an obvious jolt. Other than that, this monopod is very nice even for smooth pans. You should still use your OIS.