A couple of handy arrivals last thing Friday ad I am almost on top of the rig thing, that as it turned out is now rigs plural.
The thing missing it seems was a proper handle on the left side (my bad). The camera can now be operated with either hand as the Camvate handle feels as solid and secure as the cameras own grip. Cables and focussing are also fine. The soft-rounded handle shape and width from the camera have sorted that.
In its first form, the monitor sits well and the two handles give this camera a solid and stable feel. For extended hand holding and pan follows, I think this will work well. This takes the 35cm HDMI cable.
In its next shape, the top handle extends the run-and-gun options. There is room for a shotgun mic, even with a Zoom H1n as pre-amp, or a light.
Moving on, basically the same as above with monitor front and low. This takes the 55cm HDMI cable.
Finally, “Interview configuration”. This allows the H5 on its shock mount to sit under the monitor with either the Shotgun capsule for interviews or the XY for performances. For this one I would use my heavy duty HDMI.
Now for the support act or the camera that was not even an idea until a few days ago.
Deciding to use an Olympus (not sure which one yet*) has allowed me to do another full rig out of the left-overs. The fast and low, hand held movement rig. This has reduced the pressure on the primary rig to be all things all the time. When I find it, a left over cold shoe adapter will go on the top cheese plate. Notice the Camvate name printed upside down on the cheese plate extension. Odd.
*I have a longer bar coming, so it could end up being the EM1x, the camera best suited to hand held video and usually reserved for sports, but even my oldest EM1 with a firmware update will do.
My goofy idea of re-purposing the mini side handle is ideal here as it allows my left hand (aka touch focus control) somewhere to rest, even a stabilising point if using the top handle and the screen gains a protective bumper. The whole thing is well balanced and sturdy. Not the neatest looking cage, but it is well thought out. The top plate has an optional cold shoe foot slide-in connector, meaning the whole thing is double contacted (or you can just secure the top plate down tight).
So after two rigs, all I have left to use is a Smallrig switch-out cheese plate and some screws.
As over the top as it sounds, a second camera, purpose built to do a different job with a different lens is so much faster and more convenient than trying to set up the Lumix differently in the field. Faster even than just changing lenses.
The way I want to use it is as different as the brands are, so having a rig that is just like donning a different hat for a different job makes as much sense as trying to re-think the use of the same camera and change it on the fly. I have enough filters and mics to set each up on its own also. The reality is also, the EM1’s are just better at some things.