New Shoulder Brace for Canon 305

Here are Olof's notes on the new shoulder brace for the Canon 305. I've tried it and I think it is the most comfortable yet. The EVF (this is a Zacuto in the photos) is completely adjustable which will help with neck and shoulder strain. The camera weight is right on your shoulder and is well balanced. You can add a battery plate to the back and put a wireless receiver in the bag. The first beta kit has gone out and we should be putting these into production soon. There will also be a way to mount rails.

This style brace should soon be available for the Panasonic Af100 and the Sony EX1/1R.

An AB goldmount plate or an IDX plate can also be added in the back plate to power the camera and accessories. The back plate will hold wireless mics and/or an external recorder or other accessories.

The EVF shoe mount: $150.00

The shaped shoulder bracket with foam: $150.00

The "Cheese Plate" in the back of the Shoulder Brace: $45.00

The Bag in the back is $15.00 it can hold spare batteries , wireless mics etc, and acts as balancing counterweight.

IDX battery plates with 7.4v power cable for the camera: $280.00

AB battery plate with 7.4v power cable for the camera: $250.00

You can order any part separately at any point.

Shoulder Brace Development, new Model

I will have a more finished version ready for my beta testers this week.

The shoulder pad is adjustable back and forth as is the entire brace. The optional battery/wireless mic holder is also adjustable back/forth as well as right/left.

With the battery back there the rig is perfectly balanced for my 17-40 Canon lens with MB and FF. For larger lenses the whole rig can slide forward more, for smaller lenses it can slide back.

The arm that holds the EVF will actually be curved (an Arch) to allow more access to FF and camera controls, you will be able to flip it either way, it will always be aligned with the camera horizon, and has drag adjustments to make it easy to position w/o having to loosen/tighten anything.

The actual shipping kit will be all black and "rounded off" to be more pleasant and it will be lighter by milling away all unnecessary aluminum.

This kit will fit any camera in the small and medium class, and turn it into a balanced shoulder cam. And it will fit on any VCT-14 or TA-100 plate. Other quick release plates may be possible as well, but the old VCT-14 is a nice standard.

PS. Please excuse my messy wires. This is only a quick testing version, proper length cables will make the rig much neater. My Wood handle works very nicely with this kit.

The Lighting Rod

Olof's notes on a product under development for hanging lights.

The clamp can be used in many different modes.

For Pipes, Rod Joist, Wooden Joist, bolted direct etc

In vertical or horizontal position.

The rod can be any length with as many "groves" and cotter pin holes as needed.

The State of the Shoulder Rig

Olof's notes on the progress of a new shoulder brace below.

Here are some Photos of the current Beta version of the "Uni Bracket", It still need some tweaking and I am working on using lighter materials. This is on an AF100.

This is only a test version, not the final that will be all black anodized and will have an option for a "tail hook" for the VCT-14 plate. It works well with just the front wedge though on the TA-100.

The balance is very good, according to Sharyn, I find it needs a bit more tweaking of the shoulder pad, final version may be optional wood, but I will have a lighter formed aluminum version as well.

I am using IDX batts to run the camera NanoFlash and on cam eyelight etc. The bracket in the back can hold all those and is adjustable L-R to balance the rig.

The wooden handle in these shots is mounted on my body mount version. I have a very adjustable version that mounts to the rails as well and this allows for low mounting as well.

I am using IDX batts to run the camera NanoFlash and on cam eyelight etc. The bracket in the back can hold all those and is adjustable L-R to balance the rig.

The wooden handle in these shots is mounted on my body mount version it has a start/stop record button for your thumb. I have a very adjustable version that mounts to the rails as well and this allows for low mounting as well.