Cody's stabilizer rig with a 35mm adapter?

[Justin Snodgrass]

I finally started building mine and was just curious if anybody has used Cody's rig with a 35mm adapter such as the M2, letus, brevis, etc.

[Charles King]

Hi Justin. May I ask what version of cody's rig are you building?

[Justin Snodgrass]

Hey Charles. I'm building the "low-budget rig".

[Charles King]

I forgot. Can you tell me what is the maximmum weight for that particular rig?

[Justin Snodgrass]

I don't see a specific weight limit in the plans.

Looking at the spring chart though, I see that the highest fully-loaded sled weight listed is 26-37 pounds. According to the plans, the sled alone weighs 6.5 lbs. This leaves me 19.5 - 30.5 lbs for the rest. My DVX weighs about 5 lbs. An adapter + support rods + follow focus shouldn't weigh more than 5 lbs. So that puts me at 10 lbs for the stage weight. Guessing that the battery and monitor will weigh no more than 6 lbs, I would need to add about 3 lbs of weight to the base (I think). So, 10 lbs for the sled, 9 lbs for the base, and 6.5 lbs for the empty sled... puts me at 25.5 lbs. Even if I am off a little in my guess work, it looks like it will work as far as the weight issue goes.... But, I wonder if the 35mm adapter, rods, and follow focus will off-set the weight too much and make it hard to balance.

Keep in mind that I have never laid a hand on a rull rig let alone built or ballanced one. 

[Charles King]

I think it would be possible but a little difficult to get it right. If I remember right cody's plan doesn't offer adjustable base settings. So it will be challanging. One tip I had given someone with a glidecam V-16 was to use two Manfrotto .357 sliding plates at both ends of the lower base. One for the battery mount and the other for the monitor mount. Or another tip is to just make an adjustable monitor mount and attach it to the sled itself.  If you look at some of the rigs on this forum and on the HBS website you will get an idea of how the monitor rods should be built.

[Justin Snodgrass]

Doesn't sound too bad. Just to make sure I get what you are saying... I would be adjusting the battery and/or monitor position to counter any off-set weight caused by goods on top?

Thanks Charles.

[Charles King]

Doesn't sound too bad. Just to make sure I get what you are saying... I would be adjusting the battery and/or monitor position to counter any off-set weight caused by goods on top?

Thanks Charles.

To a point, yes. The idea is that if the stage adjustments doesn't allow for the correct balance of the addition of the 35mm adapter, which can make the camera front heavy, you could adjust the lower weight to compensate for the extra weight. Also you can can get some dynamic balance functions as well. But it all depends on how you balance your rig form the beginning. Finding the dynamic balance of the camera first should also be done. I'll do  write up on this shortly.

[Justin Snodgrass]

Okay, I get it. A write up would be great. You the man.

[Brett A. Noe]

I have. I use the M2 on mine. Works great!

[Justin Snodgrass]

Excellent to hear. Thanks Brett!

EDIT: by the way. What do you use for a follow focus when using the rig... a remote focus? Thanks.