Video Tips - Holding the Camera Steady, featuring Indisystem AIRsupport & Steady Freddy

[tysonboh]

would you be able to move the bit that touches your shoulder on the rig, to move the camera so its up higher near your face for use with an LCD viewfinder?

[GrahamAJones]

@tysonboh It's designed so that the back rail for the shoulder is parallel and on the same plane as the front rails of the camera. That said, these are all standard rails, so it would be quite easy to adapt it to what you need w/ extra parts. Indisysytem may even do it for you -- just give them a call.

[GrahamAJones]

Thanks!

Everything that appears in the video comes with the rig as purchased by Indisystem.

Hope this helps,

Gray.

[BjerkeveienStudios]

Nice video!

But where can i get the shoulder pad for the airsupport rig?

[taki143]

why not get a second follow focus for the zoom as well and rig it to the other thumb?

Wouldn't that work to?

D

[GrahamAJones]

@taki143 Thanks for your comment! It would certainly work, though might be tricky if you switch lenses, because different lenses have their zoom & focus rings in different places.

To be honest, coming from a video background, it baffles me why there is so little interest in follow zooms, compared to tons of follow focus options.

At least w/ rail systems it's very easy to custom modify. Indisystem has great support -- give them a call to see what they say.

Cheers,

Gray.

[DrRickDaglessMD]

Thanks for posting this video - I've been looking for information on the IndiSYSTEM Air Support with little luck. My primary concern is whether the rig's light weight mitigates some of the stability/shake reduction you'd expect from other shoulder/shotgun rigs. Is this a problem for the Air Support? Also, how convenient is lens-mount matte box design?

Thanks again!

[GrahamAJones]

@DrRickDaglessMD Thanks for your kind comments!

How much the Air Support helps will depend a little on the weight of your camera, and your experience. A DSLR with a good lens already has a fair amount of weight to it, so you don't need to add a whole lot else to the front part oft he rig. If anything, I might add a counterbalance to the rear of the shoulder, as you see on some much more expensive rigs. This could be done pretty easily, as there is a screw hole at the back of the shoulder.

[GrahamAJones]

@DrRickDaglessMD The lens mount matte box design is not bad, and allows different lens lengths without adjusting the rig, but I would add the optional side flags too. The only gotchas might be if you use a lens with a rotating front, or if you switch lenses often. That said, typically when hand-holding with a rig, you'll have one go-to lens. For me, I'll stick with my 18-200 kit lens, for example.

[DrRickDaglessMD]

@GrahamAJones Thanks for the reply, it's really helpful!

Adding a counter balance weight sounds promising, do you happen to know what counterweight bracket/thread the AirSupport uses?

How does the mattebox attach to the lens? I assume it attaches to the filter mount on your lens? Does it support different filter thread diameters? Similarly, what size snap-gears come with the rig for the follow-focus?

Really appreciate the info!

Jim

[GrahamAJones]

@DrRickDaglessMD It looks like all the screws use standard 1/4-20, like you would find at the bottom of your camera. So-- it should be quite easy to find or adapt a counterbalance.

It comes with three filter mounts -- unfortunately they're not marked, but one is 72mm, one is 62mm, and one appears to be 52 or 55mm. I'd check with Indisystem -- they would be able to give you that info, and likely supply you with different diameters if needed.

Hope this helps,

Gray.