Cinematic rig for a DSLR

Post date: Feb 9, 2012 5:42:17 PM

My current project is designing a system for a cinematographer so that he can attach all of his various microphones, monitors, and possibly a follow focus mechanism. The design requirements continue to evolve, but so far we have decided on a handle geometry and extrusions to allow the camera operator to use the rig from his shoulder. As usual our overall goal is cost reduction so we are trying to make all plates and brackets as simple as possible and use aluminum extrusions where possible.

I think we are far enough along that I can share a very rough sketch of the geometry we are thinking of, stay tuned...

Very excited to be able to say that we have gotten 95% of the design finalized and just ordered all of the material.

10 days until we get to start fabricating!

After two days in the shop we just put the finishing touches on everything. Everything looks a little different than we planned in the beginning, but best laid plans and all that. The customer was onsite for the second day helping by tapping holes and filing everything to his satisfaction.

Coming to a film set near you!

Full disclosure: The customer is my brother who is a cinematographer in Toronto, ON Canada.

He does commercials and a little documentary work and it was fun to collaborate on the design of the handle system.

After making the Cinema handle mk1 my brother had some notes and other things that he wanted to change with the system to better incorporate all of his equipment. So another three days in the shop and we now have two examples of a mk2 Cinema handle system. We made the handle plate flush with the main camera plate, added slots to attach a cinema rail system block, and changed the handle geometry to accommodate his microphone.

Now it looks like he has a killer rig for doing documentary work and we were fortunate to be able to sell the mk1 rig and pay for all of our material!

I think the best part about the current iteration is that it disappears when you start adding all of the gear onto it.

We are going to take some time before we start on an mk3 design.

I think there are still a few changes in the works for usability and make it easier to manufacture, but some time for testing first!