EX-3/Tripod base Plate--DM Plate vs.VFGagets

Alister Chapman · March 17th, 2009, 01:14 PM

Vincent, the EX3 Cheek plate will stop the camera wanting to tilt. That's why Sony provide it. It might not look pretty but it is effective.

Vincent Oliver · March 17th, 2009, 01:24 PM

I did actually fit the cheek pad, and although an improvement in as much that I didn't have to fight with my wrist to keep the camera from tipling over, but this was also the last straw for me.

Take a look at the mount from the side when the cheek pad is fitted and now you will see daylight between the mount and camera. The only point of contact is the front baseplate screw and the rear two screws. This is due to the thickness of the metal plate on the cheek pad. The mount appears to also distort the camera body slightly as now I have difficulty in making the battery click into place.

I have taken the whole Heath Robinson setup off from the EX3 and the battery clicks securely into place again.

I hope someone can come up with a better looking design, something that looks like it matches the camera at least.

Alister Chapman · March 17th, 2009, 03:04 PM

The cheek pad mounting plate should sit in a recess on the cameras base. Mine sits totally flush, I have no gap or daylight with the cheek pad fitted. My battery fits just fine. Is your plate distorted in some way, mine is a perfect fit.

Vincent Oliver · March 17th, 2009, 04:22 PM

No there is nothing wrong with the cheek pad that fits fine, it's the shoulder mount that shows the daylight through. The extra thickness of the Cheek pad means the shoulder mount doesn't make contact with the camera body at all points, especially when it follows the rear contour. Maybe it is distorted.

I am not complaining, I have just removed it from my camera and put it down to poor research on my behalf.

Are you attending the Sony Experience next week. I will be there on the Thursday afternoon session.

Alister Chapman · March 18th, 2009, 01:21 AM

Hi Vincent, I am running the workshops for the week so I'll see you there.

Steve Shovlar · March 18th, 2009, 02:21 AM

What's this Sony Experience?

Andy Wilkinson · March 18th, 2009, 04:09 AM

Sony recently offered (via the sonybiz website) 1 day hands on tutorials in London I think with the likes of Phil Bloom, Alister etc. to help EX1 and EX3 users get the most out of their cams. I have a mate who lives near me who is going to one of the sessions next week. I'd have liked to do it myself but have been very busy with work recently so, I guess, missed the chance this time! Should be a great event.

Brian Cassar · March 18th, 2009, 05:44 AM

Alister is there any chance for these meetings to be podcasted (or webcasted or whatever the terminology) please for the rest of the world?

Alister Chapman · March 18th, 2009, 01:45 PM

I am not sure whether it will be recorded. If it is I will let you all know.

James Dierx · July 7th, 2009, 11:54 AM

I just ordered the basic DM plate. I couldn't stand the way my EX3 sits on my tripod right now. I have a miller ds20 tripod. ( Miller | SOLO DV 20 Carbon Fiber Tripod System | 1514 | B&H ) I hope it works well with it.

I'll let you know what I think of it when it gets here.

David Herman · July 7th, 2009, 03:39 PM

As long as you live in Chicago you will love the DM plate. Got mine a few weeks ago and I love it, but as a UK resident I hate the Royal Mail and the VAT man for the add ons. They are shameless and we are getting screwed.

James Dierx · July 8th, 2009, 02:04 PM

I just got it! Super fast delivery.. Can't wait to slap it on my EX3. Thanks DM.

Vincent Oliver · July 8th, 2009, 02:18 PM

You may have read this on another post that I made earlier this year.

My EX3 camera took a nose dive whilst on a tripod (assistant didn't tighten the clamp) My lens snapped in two, a total write off. However the camera was mounted on the DM shoulder brace, and I am positive had I not had the DM mount fitted then the camera body would have also been severely damaged, especially the tripod socket.

You will be happy with the mount, I changed my shoulder brace to the same one as you now have. I am getting the mark II version of Jeff's shoulder mount and will report on it asap.

Allen Minor · July 23rd, 2009, 04:41 PM

If I get the base plate, do I need to even bother with the "supplied bottom plate to stabilize the camcorder" as noted on page 22 of the manual for EX3? Or, is this something I should do?

Vincent Oliver · July 24th, 2009, 02:37 AM

No, you can just use the baseplate on its own. The new version of the DM baseplate/shouldermount is a 100% improvement on the first model. I would recommend it as an essential purchase for any EX3 owner.

The new baseplate is now made from a single plate, rather than the two sections of version one. This gives it a much sturdier feel, although version one was very stable too. The actual shoulder section is also better shaped to your shoulder.

I will publish a full review on my new web site which will be launched in August.

March 17th, 2009, 01:14 PM	#31
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Vincent, the EX3 Cheek plate will stop the camera wanting to tilt. That's why Sony provide it. It might not look pretty but it is effective. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 17th, 2009, 01:24 PM	#32
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	I did actually fit the cheek pad, and although an improvement in as much that I didn't have to fight with my wrist to keep the camera from tipling over, but this was also the last straw for me. Take a look at the mount from the side when the cheek pad is fitted and now you will see daylight between the mount and camera. The only point of contact is the front baseplate screw and the rear two screws. This is due to the thickness of the metal plate on the cheek pad. The mount appears to also distort the camera body slightly as now I have difficulty in making the battery click into place. I have taken the whole Heath Robinson setup off from the EX3 and the battery clicks securely into place again. I hope someone can come up with a better looking design, something that looks like it matches the camera at least. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 17th, 2009, 03:04 PM	#33
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	The cheek pad mounting plate should sit in a recess on the cameras base. Mine sits totally flush, I have no gap or daylight with the cheek pad fitted. My battery fits just fine. Is your plate distorted in some way, mine is a perfect fit. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 17th, 2009, 04:22 PM	#34
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	No there is nothing wrong with the cheek pad that fits fine, it's the shoulder mount that shows the daylight through. The extra thickness of the Cheek pad means the shoulder mount doesn't make contact with the camera body at all points, especially when it follows the rear contour. Maybe it is distorted. I am not complaining, I have just removed it from my camera and put it down to poor research on my behalf. Are you attending the Sony Experience next week. I will be there on the Thursday afternoon session. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 18th, 2009, 01:21 AM	#35
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Hi Vincent, I am running the workshops for the week so I'll see you there. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 18th, 2009, 02:21 AM	#36
Steve Shovlar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 697	What's this Sony Experience?

March 18th, 2009, 04:09 AM	#37
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Sony recently offered (via the sonybiz website) 1 day hands on tutorials in London I think with the likes of Phil Bloom, Alister etc. to help EX1 and EX3 users get the most out of their cams. I have a mate who lives near me who is going to one of the sessions next week. I'd have liked to do it myself but have been very busy with work recently so, I guess, missed the chance this time! Should be a great event. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

March 18th, 2009, 05:44 AM	#38
Brian Cassar Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malta Posts: 306	Alister is there any chance for these meetings to be podcasted (or webcasted or whatever the terminology) please for the rest of the world?

March 18th, 2009, 01:45 PM	#39
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I am not sure whether it will be recorded. If it is I will let you all know. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

July 7th, 2009, 11:54 AM	#40
James Dierx Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: IL Posts: 43	I just ordered the basic DM plate. I couldn't stand the way my EX3 sits on my tripod right now. I have a miller ds20 tripod. ( Miller \| SOLO DV 20 Carbon Fiber Tripod System \| 1514 \| B&H ) I hope it works well with it. I'll let you know what I think of it when it gets here.

July 7th, 2009, 03:39 PM	#41
David Herman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: gloucestershire uk Posts: 93	As long as you live in Chicago you will love the DM plate. Got mine a few weeks ago and I love it, but as a UK resident I hate the Royal Mail and the VAT man for the add ons. They are shameless and we are getting screwed.

July 8th, 2009, 02:04 PM	#42
James Dierx Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: IL Posts: 43	I just got it! Super fast delivery.. Can't wait to slap it on my EX3. Thanks DM.

July 8th, 2009, 02:18 PM	#43
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	You may have read this on another post that I made earlier this year. My EX3 camera took a nose dive whilst on a tripod (assistant didn't tighten the clamp) My lens snapped in two, a total write off. However the camera was mounted on the DM shoulder brace, and I am positive had I not had the DM mount fitted then the camera body would have also been severely damaged, especially the tripod socket. You will be happy with the mount, I changed my shoulder brace to the same one as you now have. I am getting the mark II version of Jeff's shoulder mount and will report on it asap. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

July 23rd, 2009, 04:41 PM	#44
Allen Minor Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 50	bottom plate stabilizer If I get the base plate, do I need to even bother with the "supplied bottom plate to stabilize the camcorder" as noted on page 22 of the manual for EX3? Or, is this something I should do? __________________ tamerlane57

July 24th, 2009, 02:37 AM	#45
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	No, you can just use the baseplate on its own. The new version of the DM baseplate/shouldermount is a 100% improvement on the first model. I would recommend it as an essential purchase for any EX3 owner. The new baseplate is now made from a single plate, rather than the two sections of version one. This gives it a much sturdier feel, although version one was very stable too. The actual shoulder section is also better shaped to your shoulder. I will publish a full review on my new web site which will be launched in August. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes