Hello fellow camera nerds!
As many of you know, I am obsessed with clean balanced camera builds. I'm always trying to find new innovative ways to rig accessories like Preston MDRs, Teradeks, and rangefinders to my cameras while maintaining a balanced build with a low profile. Here are a few items that I almost always use to keep things clean and organized:
Clean's Camera Support's 90 Degree MDR Paddle
Nite Ize Gear Ties & PV's Cable Clips (although I'm 3D printing my own now)
16x9 CineLocks for quick releasing Monitors and frequently adjusted accessories (Jim Candreva modifies them to include ARRI pins which is a game-changer)
Ultralight Arms
Anyone have any recommendations for other manufacturers and products that I should check out. Anything that you use to build your cameras, keep them clean, and neatly rig accessories to the cage. Always looking for more shit to buy! Clean build porn:
Here's a link to Clean's available products: https://cleanscamerasupport.com/product-category/products/ They are extremely well made, hold up under very intense shooting situations, and true to thier name - keep the camera clean.
Here's a link to Jim Candreva's shop, all sorts of rigging goodies available:
https://www.jccamerasystems.com/arri-compatible-accessories
Let's not forget Ed's Ratworks Engineering:
https://ratworksengineering.com/
Thanks Joshua for sharing! Love the clean builds. How do you solve the issue of sound?....who always seem to mess up the clean build. Any tips?
I try to talk them out of comtek devices for scratch audio and hope they have a small timecode generator like a denecke or tentacle. But this is always the saddest part of day 1.
I'm with Justin on this one. I normally try to speak with them at prep, and explain that I'm trying to keep the build light for whatever reason. I ask what they're looking to mount to the build and try to steer them towards only a small timecode box. I have been known to refuse mounting certain Sound devices if they're too big, especially on-camera rode mics. My priority is my Operator's comfort. Tentacles and Comteks are usually okay though, I plan ahead at prep a location on the build for those to live.
I’m a clean build freak myself. To the point where I’ve adopted the arri wvs system on the LF to clear up clutter. Every cable should be 90 degree and to length, rods to length, no splitter boxes. If using a cine tape use the serial cable that provides power which eliminates a cable. I’ve also had rencher make a custom power cable for the teradek that powers it from the EXT port on the back of full size alexas, which prevents cable from going across the top of the camera. The only cable I have going across the top are the onboard monitor loom. I'll typically loom all power/bnc combos and have backups. Ed’s 15-19 bars are great for avoiding using bushings and motors slipping off top rods. As you stated, everything on cinelocks if possible. This is before focus bug and top mounted motor times. Every job it gets better!
Yes!! Agreed about rods and cables being to length, and having pre-assembled back-up looms for those cable sets.
Some great builds! Personally I hate having the MDR on a paddle off the top handle. I’ve been in too many situations where I’ve had to pull the top handle quickly resulting in the MDR being 2” taped to the Side of the camera and flopping around like a dog's donger. I try to hard mount most things on the side or sometimes velcroed To a plate on a nano clamp that I can hinge up and down for access to menu etc...
I like the way you remove the BP9 for lighter, quicker transitions. It's generally the first thing I do in prep. I even have a build for using long zooms studio mode without having to re-screw the BP9 back on.
I also have made my own top handle from old bits that I can space to whatever threads are available.
Love this! Cool to see how other people are building these days. Want to give a shoutout to Backpack Rigs as well, they make some great ultralight plates & paddles. Also, regarding NiteIze cable ties -- it seems like they've discontinued their red/blue/yellow versions. Any leads on where to find these colors?
great builds. I love tight tolerances and strive for the most streamlined builds possible. Cleans products are top notch, love ratworks. I have been getting into mounting horns and what not with rods