Turning the Sony a7siii into a Cinema Camera

[@chadwin]

The long awaited Sony a7siii is finally here, so of course I had to rig it out, just like the a7s and a7sii before it! What do you guys think, should you rig out a small mirrorless camera or is it overkill?

[@darkknightwithanidea1845]

It’s NOT overkill ... it’s really great . Please add Follow focus ... this rig is really great ... PS - will this built out rig fit in the 24 Tenba Cine Dr’s case ? That’s where I’m headed. Your rig is brilliant. Take it out. Turn it on - FILM !!!!

[@f0t0b0y]

It’s funny, I want to say it’s overkill but you make everything work/fit so well. 👏🏼

[@maguyvermedia]

I like the compactness, the first build was not really practical for the price as you could just buy another camera. The A7S iii can definitely produce the level of content of more expensive cameras of which the same distinction can be made for lenses hence in 2021 no one needs to spend ridiculous amounts of money to accomplish what can now be done on a smartphoneand that will only get better as a competent content creation tool like drones and soon robot drones and robotic cinematographers like Kira will completely take over. #practicality having said all that, I would love to see this rig as a budget build from Amazon stock for under a reasonable price point, if I had 7k to throw away I wouldn't spend it this way I don't need to own gear that can be rented where a little money can give me access to ridiculously priced top of the line gear that is icky marginally better than what the poor man can do, real cinematography is not about buying gear, it's about creativity in overcoming limitations to get the shots we need like 1917 and many other examples the simplistic approach is best then the state of the art has its place when needed like the #arritrinity 🤔

[@joshmcdzz6925]

I guess when you said "it's the most popular full frame camera many years to come" you meant to you and it's a subjective opinion and not statistically proven.

[@barrynerling5696]

Great set up. I use a lot of the same bits and I am fully rigged out. I wanted to comment on the battery door issue. I have the A7siii and I could not locate a replacement door but in my research I found the A7siii uses the same door as the A7RM4 which also has no rubber flap and notch out o use a dummy battery. So not wanting to leave the battery door off or tamper with it, I bought one of these A7RM4 battery doors and used a dremel tool to cut out a notch for the dummy battery cable. Worked like a charm and it is better than leaving the battery door completely off in my opinion. The door is real easy to remove and replace so I can put the original door back on if need be. I think I paid 40 bucks for the door.

[@chadwin]

that's awesome! sometimes when something doesn't exist you just gotta make it. I really think they're not adding the hole anymore cause they want us to power it from the USBC port on the side now. Glad you found a unique way to make it work!

[@honest_noise]

@@chadwin Would this usb-c solution still go to the v-mount? Essentially a usb-c to d-tap?

[@AndersBakfeldt]

@@honest_noise Did you find out?

[@Matt.Gillard]

Sick compact little rig! But there's a part of me that likes all the extras like rods, etc

[@chadwin]

thanks! yeah, i totally get that. the rods add a whole other layer of support and way to attach more accessories.

[@dantediego]

you can take off those peak design attachments and loop them through the cage and screw in the cage through the little hole where the triangle is on the right upper of the camera body. 2 points to secure the camera to the cage plus less stress on that one bottom screw

[@chadwin]

Okay good to know! Thanks for the tips!

[@pyrochillsolutions3128]

Wish you would post a detailed list . That'd be awsome.

[@chadwin]

it's all in the description! lemme know if there's anything i missed

[@gabrielameyerherrmann4642]

I came to your channel today looking for a camera rig for the sony a7s iii and it is exactly what I found! Amazing videos as always!

[@chadwin]

That's incredibly serendipitous!! I'm glad we could make that happen for you today! haha! Hope it helped.

[@henrytheturnip]

My A7S iii hasn't arrived yet, I ordered it two months ago! I have the rig and a big hole where the camera should be.

[@chadwin]

It sucks waiting for gear to arrive, especially when it’s on back order! I saw some in stock on B&H a few days ago, so hopefully it ships soon and you can build your rig haha

[@MattSteez]

Thanks for the informative video. Explained very well. Keep up the great work

[@chadwin]

Thanks!! Hopefully it all made sense. Appreciate the support 🤜

[@divil2273]

What a solid rig!

[@chadwin]

thanks!!

[@Red-Eas]

Could you please show us how to add Tilta side focus grip to this build with Nano motor?

[@chadwin]

My latest videos shows how to add the side focus grip. It’s about halfway through the video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6WakmmHr9qNecU Hope that helps.

[@doveshouse]

Great video. The only thing truly preventing this camera from being a great cinema camera is the fact that it does not have open gate 3:2... this camera is not a 12 megapixel video camera as people would believe. It is a 12 megapixel photography camera but unfortunately shooting raw video, you cannot get a full sensor readout 3:2... You can only get 16:9 which is a major issue for some. It limits vertical crop options in post and it prevents you from using a 2X anamorphic lens. It's a real bummer that Sony doesn't release firmware to address this issue. We paid for a 12 megapixel sensor but only using 85% of it.

[@patrickmeyer2802]

That camera exists already, it's called the S1H.

[@EverythingFilmmaking]

It is a 12 mega pixel video cam fool 😂😂😂

[@FabioPansera]

One of the most deserved subscriptions I've ever left since like... ever.

[@chadwin]

THANK YOU!!! welcome to the channel

[@FabioPansera]

@@chadwin May I ask you, if possible, to add the product code for the small rig stuff? I'm in Ukraine and I'm having trouble finding a lot of stuff as we don't have Amazon here :(((

[@silversulu]

Nicely done, Chadwin. I'm flipping back and forth between a run & gun with Sony native and full AF and a similar, albeit a little lighter dumb EF adapter setup for my full frame cine EF glass.

[@chadwin]

nice! sounds like you've got a great setup and similar lens theory as me.

[@FilmSpook]

🤩 Chadwin, you rigs are Legendary, my friend, hehe!!

[@chadwin]

hey thanks! I hope they help you with your own setups and inspire something even better

[@FilmSpook]

@@chadwin Very much so! Definitely giving me many practical ideas. Much appreciated

[@KenFrancisFilms]

it's so compact! might try this out 😱

[@chadwin]

You should!!

[@shzammpatapon9865]

dude how bout the ef adapter that have the internal nd, seems like a missed opportunity

[@chadwin]

Yeah, you could definitely use the internal ND adapter with this. I’ve made a whole video about it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHO1qayJfsiIes0 I didn’t with this setup though because the polar pro Nd filter adds less vignetting and color shifts.

[@TheOrlandoGuy]

Your rigs are pretty much genius-level, Chad. You got mad ninja rigging skillz! 😀

[@chadwin]

😂 thanks man! Building rigs is like playing with legos again for me. Also, love the Santa hat in your new profile pic 👍🏻 🎅

[@jtapia1123]

Yo this video is super helpful and addressed questions I have with another non-Sony camera, great tips

[@chadwin]

awesome, glad to hear it answered some questions. hopefully it helps with your own camera setup!

[@gwm-btdbattlesagar.ioandmo9988]

Yes I been waiting for this

[@chadwin]

Heck yeah! A lot of people have been asking for it, it just took forever to finally get my hands on the a7siii!

[@MoonlightSocial]

Nice setup! Still can't help think the thing about rigging a camera like the a7s iii like this is it kind of defeats the primary reasons you'd go with one of these over a more genuine cinema camera alternative (like a Blackmagic Pocket 4k/6k or Z-Cam). With $3,500 you could put together this entire rig with a Pocket 6k and get superior cinema camera results. The a7s iii is obviously a fantastic camera and can be super versatile if you also need a lot of stills and/or autofocus work. Can see this being huge in the real estate videography market, as well as maybe like high key commercial work, BTS stuff etc., and possible some B cam in a situation where you need a suuuper compact or very run-and-gun setup. Also if you've already invested in a lot of Sony lenses lol. But if you're already committed to carrying around a bigger rig in an effort to get more cinematic results, it feels like you're ultimately better suited shooting on a 12-bit cinema camera where things like shooting raw and grading in a HDR post workflow are minimum expectations. Thoughts?

[@rattoh]

You already answered why someone would rig out their a7siii. Some days you wanna shoot with minimal setup with internal codec, and some days you wanna rig it out and shoot raw with a heavier more stable rig all with AF.

[@MoonlightSocial]

@@rattoh I'm not saying don't rig it out! I'm just saying that if your goal is to have a cinema camera setup, you can do it for less than the price of the a7s iii body alone, and with better results. The a7s iii is obviously a fantastic camera, but many of the pros and best functions lie within what you can do with it more or less out of the box. But this video isn't about that - it's about creating a cinema camera. Which will ultimately lead you to lose a lot of the best functions of the a7s iii without introducing all of the pros of a true cinema camera. So for instance, you'd lose the autofocus features in this setup (and most cinema setups tend to prefer manual focus anyways). I think what Chadwin does in this video is an EXCELLENT solution for people who need to rig an a7s iii out. But my overall point is that if you're looking primarily for a cinema camera, you probably shouldn't be looking at the a7s iii in the first place. To me it seems more like the camera for the run-n-gun shooter who needs great video and the ability to shoot great stills. But that's a lot different than the shooter who needs to functions of a cinema camera, particularly when it comes to long shoots that require a lot of technical nuance and a Raw-first post workflow.

[@rattoh]

@@MoonlightSocial You don't lose anything except a bigger and heavier setup when rigging out, something that is beneficial to hand hold shooting and getting stable or low shots. This setup is overkill unless you plan to shoot all day and don't want to change your batter more than once a day or you hate the flaring of screw on filters. A cage, external recorder monitor and handle or not is all most people need if they want to shoot raw and get the best picture quality possible from the camera. I agree there are better cinema cameras with better picture quality and features catered to cinematographers at a cheaper price, but they also lack some features some shooters may want in their video cameras. It's a tradeoff. Most a7siii users are most likely sony shooters so they already have sony lenses that can take advantage of the AF system, so buying into another system and set of lenses could cost even more. The a7siii is a good jack of all trade camera that can be an excellent rsmall FF run and gun setup with minimal effort that is to use for a 1 man or small team, that is also capable of cinematic quality footage with an external recorder. Pricey yes, but you gotta pay if you want to utilize top notch AF, the option to use IBIS, FF 4k60fps & 120fps (no raw tho), good battery life etc. Yes I know those are not important for good cinematography, but it is what it is.

[@MoonlightSocial]

@@rattoh all totally valid points - but the title of the video is turning the a7s iii into a cinema camera; my point is that if you want a cinema camera first and foremost, you probably don't want to go with the a7s iii. And that this setup - which Chadwin put together very well - compromises some of the pros of the camera without adding the TRUE benefits of a cinema camera. I'm not saying the a7s iii isn't a great camera. From my limited experience (and the general consumer reaction), it might be best in class. But its class is not "cinema cameras." It's a video-first mirrorless stills camera. All the pros you mentioned (AF, IBIS, battery life etc.) are not typically things we're concerned about when looking to get filmic footage with cinema cameras. We're concerned about color bit depth, color science, Raw codecs, supported memory solutions, resolution (particularly for crop-ins), durability, compatibility with various rigs, lens mount options etc. (as Chadwin points out, this camera doesn't handle external power particularly well). I'm just making my comments based on the subject matter of the video, not making a value judgment of the a7s iii for what it's intended and designed for.

[@rattoh]

@@MoonlightSocial I wouldn't look too much into the title. Sounds more like clickbait or misuse of the term of what a cinema camera is. The term cinema is way overused that it has lost its meaning on parts of youtube

[@mikestechy]

Amazing video man! You got my sub for sure! Look forward to seeing more!

[@chadwin]

Thank you man! I really appreciate the support. I’m still learning HDR, so hopefully my next one will be better. Haha 😂

[@RayMarzFilms]

legend has it, if you rig out your a7siii it will produce BRAW...

[@chadwin]

hahahaha! that would be dope. ProRes RAW is pretty dope too tho

[@firstandlastproductionsllc]

Sweeeetttt setup, man. Love it!

[@chadwin]

Thanks!

[@bahiaproductions125]

That rig looks sooo good

[@chadwin]

Thank you! It's taken a while, but I'm slowly perfecting my rigs.

[@TylerLeeKenyon]

What!! You got the a7sIII! Gotta come check it out

[@chadwin]

Sort of....I have it for a few weeks to review and test out. But I'm really liking it and may end up buying one eventually, i'd just have to sell off another camera, or sell a kidney first! lol!

[@trukach]

Thanks! Very useful setup!

[@chadwin]

Thanks for watching! Hope it helps with your own setup.

[@Mauzafiq]

Wooow amazing gear set... I like it and I wanna have this one

[@chadwin]

Thank you 🤗

[@TightLoops]

Wait, how are you adapting that canon glass? Are you shooting in 1080? Without the 6k downsampling to allow for 4k crop mode, it's impossible to adapt canon glass to the a7siii without massive vignetting, no? Does that lens have a larger than full frame image circle? Are you using clear image zoom?

[@chadwin]

As long as you use Full Frame glass, you can adapt EF glass without any vignetting or issues. I’ve been adapting full frame canon glass for years to Sony full frame with no issues. You don’t have to use any crop modes or anything. 👍🏻

[@OneManFilmProductionNY]

Thanks for the video! Could you do another video explaining how to set the Atomos ninja v with the video transmitter?

[@RichStudios]

Great video and very informative! Keep it up!

[@chadwin]

hey thanks so much! hope it was helpful for your own rig.

[@sdeestar]

Great video! will this set up work with the sony a6400?

[@asadnama]

I just wanted to know everything that needed to built a cine dslr camera and now I know❤️❤️ thank

[@chadwin]

haha awesome! hope it helps you build out your own rig

[@terencedesilva2403]

Great video, Can't you do rig for Red Komo do like this!

[@chadwin]

thanks! I'd love to but first i gotta get my hands on a komodo! they're so expensive and on back order for months.

[@juscianoguimaraes9033]

Good morning I loved your video , could you pass all the material to a camera sonny apha 1 I really appreciate it

[@chadwin]

hahaha! I wish I could, but I need it for my FX3 now 😂

[@RafickBottse]

Is it possible to use a powerbank via usb c instead of a vmount via dtap to dummy?

[@chadwin]

yes, absolutely! I've done a full powerbank solution for the X-T4 and you can do the same thing with the a7siii. kzbin.info/www/bejne/joO9np2lndCUb9E

[@50450720]

Love the A7siii. For low light recording, But Panasonic offer 5.9k raw output to the atomos ninja which makes the S1h or S5 a better buy, The S5 is also half the price of the A7siii

[@chadwin]

Yeah, the a7siii is definitely still the lowlight king. But wow, I didn’t realize they added 6k ProRes raw (w/ ninja) to the S5, that’s pretty incredible, especially at only $2,000. My struggle is the lens mount, I don’t have any lenses for it, so I’d need to adapt everything and if I need autofocus, I’ve heard it’s not great on Panasonic.

[@50450720]

@@chadwin tbf, AF has never been Panasonic’s strongest suit, but since the latest firmware upgrade its massively improved, still not as good as cannon or Sony , but definitely useable in all but the most demanding situations. The colour science on Panasonic is better than Sony too (imho). But the 5.9k raw output images it a colour gradists dream. As for the lens mount, you can use a fantastic range of lenses, even old canon FL and FD lenses. With more L mount lenses from sigma coming out next year. (God, I sound like a salesman)

[@chadwin]

@@50450720 yeah I have the fujifilm X-T4 and it’s AF isn’t nearly as good as Sony or canon, so I imagine Panasonic is similar to that. The S5 seems like incredible value for money though with 6k and very color grade able. Haha I feel like a salesman half the time too, but we just really love our gear and wanna tell others I guess!

[@AshleySutherland]

Please make one for the A1 🙏

[@mirkocalija]

Great setup. I watched most of yours videos about camera rigs, also use Ninja V in rig setup, but did you have problem with microphone-did microphone collecting noise from Ninja V monitor?

[@chadwin]

thanks! hm...im not sure what you mean exactly but you can plug a mic into the cam or ninja v directly and it records clean audio just fine for me.

[@sugotosaha3374]

LOVE YOU BRO. I needed this video very much. From where to buy the matt box ? What is the total cost of this rig ?

[@chadwin]

thanks man!! Link the desc. for mattebox and other parts, its $699. Matte Box geni.us/BaseCampVND Here's the site as well: www.polarprofilters.com/products/basecamp-ultralight-matte-box-system Idk that exact cost of the whole rig, I'm gonna have to add it up and get back to you...

[@tsinchansue]

for the alvin’s cable D-tap dummy battery, does it converts voltage from v mount battery 14.8v to npz100 which is 7.2v? cause it looks like just a direct cable

[@kucinematography5271]

Awesome stuff. Something about rigs just make it extra.

[@chadwin]

😆 yeah, rigs always make the camera look way more substantial and intense than they actually are.

[@encoremultimedia3511]

Nice rig. While I love the look of a Black Pro Mist filter, when you shoot with that on, it's baked into the video permanently. Better to add that in post these days.

[@chadwin]

that's true. you should really only use a BPM if you're totally committed to the look and know it's what you want in post. Adding it in editing is definitely a safe option.

[@ronbackal]

The only thing I think I someone who didn't yet buy either FX3 or 6, is that with all the extras with FX3 you get to 5000$, so it might be better for new people to buy the FX6 and have more easy set up

[@colemanmediagroupnetwork8369]

I thought about doing this,but I picked up the FS6,and don't have to worry about shut down.

[@chadwin]

Nice! Do you mean the FX6 or FS5? Either way both are great cameras that don’t overheat and can be left on all day. Very cool!

[@colemanmediagroupnetwork8369]

@@chadwin sorry my bad, FX6.

[@Hangs4Fun]

@@colemanmediagroupnetwork8369 worry about shutdown? Can you explain? Thanks

[@colemanmediagroupnetwork8369]

@@Hangs4Fun if you live in the US,you only have around 12to 29 minutes of shooting videos,the camera will shut down,but can start shooting videos again after everything re-boots.the reason for this is the camera companies don't want to pay the very high taxes.so for my work I don't need any types of shut downs.so only ciemea cameras will work.

[@Hangs4Fun]

@@colemanmediagroupnetwork8369 that is not true with the A7SIII, I have personally recorded events for longer than an hour with mine.

[@Alex_Parker]

Hey Chadwin, nice build! With that hinge mount for the battery on the back is it even possible to use 15mm rods if needed? And also can you link the cage That is shown at 07:29? Looks like it has a build in Arca Swiss plate but I cannot find anything like that for the a7S III.

[@chadwin]

yes, you can use a 15mm rod extension adapter. it allows you to add another 15mm rod to the front side for a follow focus, matte box, etc. The cage is linked down below for the a7siii. I haven't used the arca swiss feature, but I think the bottom of the cage is yes.

[@davidbrooks1118]

confused why added weight with the sony L battery - maybe you could run another dtap to barrel outta the vmount to run the atomos?

[@chadwin]

yes, you can definitely power the monitor and other accessories with a d-tap cable instead. . the main reason i've been powering them separetly is cause some people have had issues with frying some equipment when they're all powered off of the same battery and power surges/grounds through the HDMI cable. however, if you properly power/plug everything in, you shouldn't have that problem.

[@FloNick]

Cool rig! My only concern would be that the V-mount battery blocks the camera controls and display quite a bit. Flipping out the display is good but somewhat awkward in that position. Is there any way to output the on screen display to the Ninja V including all the setting options and so on?

[@chadwin]

thanks! Yeah, so you can mount the v-mount battery flat and further back on 15mm rods instead to give better access to the screen. Yes, you can get all of your camera settings on an external monitor, however if you're recording on the ninja v, it will also bake the settings right into your image.

[@wxpeeters]

What dummy battery brands do you suggest to be of high quality?

[@chadwin]

I’ve been impressed with the quality from Alvins Cables and Fotga for dummy batteries

[@gamilytrading]

Awesome gear

[@chadwin]

haha thanks!

[@TheRealHarrypm]

Should have made use of Sonys XLR system via the hot shoe as it gives you 4 audio inputs in grand total.

[@chadwin]

Oh that would actually be really nice so I can get embedded audio instead of recording separately all the time. I'll look into that accessory soon!

[@TheRealHarrypm]

@@chadwin Its a great bit of kit but with how much it costs people are mostly spending the extra on a MixPre-Ii for that 32bit audio

[@weedeeohguy]

So let’s make it big and cumbersome. Clients will be impressed.

[@chadwin]

Have you ever used a Cinema camera? They're all big and clunky. Especially once they're also rigged out. I don't care what the client thinks. I've used a tiny Sony a6500 cam on set and massive rigged out RED's. The client rarely says a thing about the cam, they just care about the end result.

[@tylerjslattery]

It's not about the clients or looking impressive. Everything on this has a function. Is it unnecessary for some things, yes. But it is also very necessary for some serious video productions.

[@TheAntibyte]

Can you use the V mount battery to power both the monitor and the camera at the same time?

[@chadwin]

Yep, you can power both at the same time. Just make sure your hdmi cable and everything else is plugged in before powering anything on. And powered off before unplugging anything

[@dmnfilms6040]

Awesome rig. Have you thought abt hosting another subscribers rig showcase stream?

[@chadwin]

Thanks dude! Yeah, I actually did a gimbal rig livestream last week. Maybe I’ll do another camera rig livestream again in the next month or so.

[@Rohol64]

Great video thanks. Can't find the link for the original Manfrotto plate...

[@chadwin]

thanks. search amazon for manfrotto 502 QR plate, should be a bunch of options there.

[@chiribimchiribim]

Hi! great video! Do u know any alternative to that v-mount battery? I cannot find it in Germany. What specs do I need to look for? Also, did you make a video on how to power through USB-C like u said? It would be great! Thanks a lot

[@chadwin]

yeah, try this one that has USB-C PD geni.us/FXLion or one of the Bebob Mico vmount batteries! either should work well

[@kolyatirado1298]

Love the rig man. But I was wondering if there isn’t too much weight on the front of the camera. Wouldn’t it be better to had the v mount battery laying down so there’s more weight on the back?

[@chadwin]

Depending on the lens you use, it could definitely be front heavy, to be honest it’s pretty well balanced with this setup, but you could absolutely lay the battery flat. That’s what’s so great about having it on the hinge, you can quickly adjust it.

[@kolyatirado1298]

@@chadwin yeah true, and if you need more weight on the back you could also just mount a bigger battery. Thanks for the reply.

[@CaseyHardman]

Man this is such a sick build. As much as I’d like to do one, I use my Ronin-M way too often and would find myself more annoyed than anything having to disassemble the rig every time. lol

[@chadwin]

haha thanks! yep, you definitely have to break it down significantly before you can mount it on a gimbal. I usually use a second cam for gimbal shots if I'm able to.

[@messyartTV]

small right half cage with quick release

[@Vlogtravelinchina]

Very interesting set up looks a pro.

[@chadwin]

thanks! it works well too.

[@nealhope8922]

Don’t forget to add the SDI and time code tentacle 😁

[@chadwin]

Heck yeah! I could def do an HDMI to SDI Conversion if ever needed. I still need to try out tentacle tho

[@thomasnguyen2993]

Hi Chadwin: The external power pack has 14.5vdc and the sony battery only 7.2 vdc, is it OK to power the sony at 14.5 vdc from power pack?

[@oleschreiterdopac696]

Thought the same. Without a voltage regulator this is the most stupidest thing to do.

[@robpaustian7955]

Dummy batteries have the voltage conversion circuitry inside them in order to step down the supply voltage and meet the camera’s voltage requirement.

[@gerrypi51]

How to use a variable ND-Filter and a frenchflag (no matte-box)?

[@blendragon28]

Should I plug the d-taps into the battery plate or the battery itself? I’ve seen you do it both ways in some videos. I don’t want to fry anything

[@chadwin]

you can do it either way, i do both yes! just depends on the placement of the port on my rig and such. shouldnt fry anything as long as the device can handle the dtap output.

[@Digi20]

If you have a battery that has enough d-taps (or add those small 3 or 4 way splitters) you can use those and dont need a big heavy plate. the plate makes sense for higher powered equipment (real cine cam, big monitors, etc.) to distribute the load over several ports. or if you want to have different voltage outputs directly from the plate. but a mirrorless camera, follow focus motor and a ninja v can safely be powered from the batterys dtap alone.

[@avdpost]

Any reason you didn't power the Monitor off the V-Lock too? If you had a vmount plate you could power everything off 1 battery, less to manage.

[@kinzdarell5447]

He want something he can still use when he wanted to take off the camera

[@chadwin]

I didn’t power the monitor off the vmount for 2 reasons. I didn’t have enough open dtap ports (I could us a splitter though) and I’ve heard of people frying their camera when they power cam and monitor off the same battery.

[@avdpost]

@@chadwin good point, but I think a voltage regulated v lock plate with a few dtaps would keep you away from overvoltage. You could also set it up with a USB C adapter which is even more controlled over the voltage. And keep a battery inside the camera so you can do hot swaps and keep the camera on while protecting the camera.

[@Hangs4Fun]

@@chadwin the problem isn't overcharge it's floating ground when having both camera and monitor being powered by the same battery AND both camera and monitor are connected via HDMI. There is a very specific sequence when cabling up or down that keeps the ground safe. Do it wrong and ground for power of the whole system is found through the hdmi

[@chadwin]

@@Hangs4Fun hmmm.....I just wish I could figure out what the right sequence or safe setup for that is. I’ve powered my cam and monitor with the same v mount battery for a long time, but once it did something crazy and my BMPCC6K wouldn’t power on for a day and I thought it was fried. So I stopped powering my monitor from the same source ever since.

[@blotto300]

Is there a version of the 15mm hinge so that the rods go into it and not into the base plate?

[@chadwin]

I wish, that would be a great design. What I do instead is add the little 15mm adapter threads so i can attach rods to the front side for my follow focus, matte box or other accessories.

[@devinpadaveedan6492]

Hi, can we use external ssd on Sony A7iii instead of using memory cards ? If yes where need to be connected ! Micro USB port or C port ? Please help

[@jpsamora]

You could use an external monitor/recorder like the Átomos Ninja V and record to that SSD. In that case you would use an hdmi cable for the connection.

[@chadwin]

sadly no. can only record internally on SD cards or externally with an external recorder such as ninja v

[@devinpadaveedan6492]

@@chadwin ok

[@devinpadaveedan6492]

@@jpsamora Thankyou

[@RobertAdventures]

Great! Is there any way to change that handheld ring to gimbal faster? Because It is true that handheld movements become more real , without vibrations ,besides customers would think is a better camera (bigger = better xd) however if I want gimbal movements it would be a different process that could slow down the filming

[@chadwin]

check out one of my old vids on the channel called the "camera rig that can do it all" it shows how i switch quickly from handheld to a gimbal on set.

[@pablorivas3963]

Great video! Thanks a lot! Which lens mount adapter do you use? Cheers.

[@chadwin]

Hey thanks! It's just a basic lens mount adapter I believe from Fotasy. I also have one from Fotodiox that I use when I need electronic aperture control and autofocus.

[@Alxposure]

Hi Chadwin! Loved your video! I have the exact same baseplate and battery hing. I'm looking to add 15 mm rods to this plate. You mentioned in the video that this is possible if you get the correct threadings for the baseplate. Do you have a suggestion for what I would need here?

[@chadwin]

nice! sounds like you're building a good rig! Yes, watch this video and it shows the exact threads and how i used them to add the 15mm rods. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKqUhGB7fMmSmNE here's a link to them on Amazon as well. geni.us/thread15mm hope that helps!

[@Alxposure]

@@chadwin awesome exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much! Excited to get it finally built out. :)

[@chadwin]

@@Alxposure awesome, glad I could help! good luck on your new rig build!

[@laurencegrant2882]

Good one! Dont use Sony but rig looks good. I have only Hollyland 400s :( but with Ninja V I can record 4k in Pro Res AND send out hdmi to Mars 400s and get up addition monitor working. So a work round on Mars limitation of 1080.

[@chadwin]

Yeah that’s perfect! I like the Mars 400s, works really well! ProRes is so nice to have, especially if you edit in FCPX. What cam are you shooting on mostly?

[@laurencegrant2882]

@@chadwin I have a couple of Fuji xt-3’s but have recently bought a Canon C70. Spend a month learning about so only done a few videos with it. Never had a Sony Camera.

[@iwhu2010]

Can you make the rig like this with canon m50 mirror less??

[@chadwin]

Yeah, I imagine you could do something pretty similar! If I ever get my hands on the m50 I’ll make a vid

[@jimmybajwa2944]

Were you able to balance this setup onto Dji RS2?

[@chadwin]

definitely not. way to bulky and heavy! but if your broke off the main items like v-mount battery, handle and monitor, it would probably work! haha

[@mateogonzalez9270]

Hello!!! Pleaseee turning the Fujifilm xt-4 into the cinema camera. thxs!!!!

[@chadwin]

Done and done! I’ve actually already done a few of them for the X-T4 kzbin.info/www/bejne/joO9np2lndCUb9E

[@saifalnaqbi2819]

would I be better off rigging out the fx3?

[@chadwin]

I just rigged out the FX3! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml7TamWcrbuDhaM

[@alexforestier1722]

How long will the battery for this YINCHEM battery will last??>

[@chadwin]

battery life varies depending on how many other accessories you have plugged in of course, but just running the camera its 3-4+ hours.

[@LolitaRibeiro]

Is the wireless transmitter causing any delays for wireless focus pulling?

[@chadwin]

not for me now. the delay is a few milliseconds at most, so pulling focus is still doable.

[@PHOTO-AESTHETICS]

Do you mind sending me the list of parts you used to make this rig? Thanks

[@paulmatulavich7321]

Question? - is it possible to build a rig build for a Sony AX700 camcorder?

[@chadwin]

little bit harder to do because of the form factor, but i bet you could find a way yes!

[@ifeanyiisitor7929]

Looks good. Quick question. How are you securing the top of the batter to the back of the camera when it's touching the camera (so that it doesn't move when you shake it). Looks like you fastened something but couldn't see what it was.

[@carltonmamo5308]

Haha I had to still watch even though the A7SIII is out of my price range 😫 pretty much set on the Fujifilm XT4!

[@chadwin]

Yeah, I’m still rocking my XT4 and full rig, luckily most of these parts I can use with the XT4. A7siii is out of my budget right now too, they were nice enough to lend me the camera for a week to test out though! Haha

[@tagreview5076]

Good joob man!

[@chadwin]

thank you man!

[@byronchang4330]

how long does the atomos ninja sustain with a sony npf 970?

[@chadwin]

good question! it just depends on how much continuous recording you're doing or on and off-ing it through out a day of filming. I'd day from my experience its about 2 hours of total run time

[@adamtemple9417]

So you made a $9,500 rig not including the lens. I feel like you should have bought a fx6 and put $2.5k of parts on it then you would actually have a cinema camera.

[@NeonPixels81]

I think this is more just to show that it can be done. Not everyone can drop $6,000 all at once, but some people might be able to buy the A7S iii and get started, then build the kit over time.

[@marksamson1726]

What do you use to charge the vmount battery?

[@chadwin]

i use this dual mount charger from d&o geni.us/vmounts

[@alesko5]

Two things - Sony's autofocus is one of the best, not sure why you would nix that feature with this setup. It seems like a lot of filmmakers are adopting autofocus cameras these days - especially for solo shooters. Unless you have a 1st AC, it can be a challenge concentrating on framing and balance all while keeping the subject in focus. Also, the battery performance of this camera with its native battery is excellent - 2 hours at 4k 120p: why the v-mount? Seems like a lot of extra weight for little return for most use cases.

[@alesko5]

...on reflection, I realize cine lenses provide more flexibility and can be better quality (although I'm not sure the Rokinon cine lenses are better than native Sony lenses).

[@etiennelacroix-videoproduc4382]

Nice build, but i would definitely put the matte box on rods, just in case your director wants you to change lens every 5 minutes! ;-)

[@chadwin]

That’s true. If you have a ton of lens swaps to do on a shoot, unscrewing the clamp adapter and switching to other lenses can be tedious. Luckily polar pro does make a 15mm mount adapter if you wanna use that instead

[@DesignedByMaejor]

incredible... question: when you build a rig like that, do you expect to have to take it apart often or is it meant to stay put for awhile?

[@chadwin]

thanks! I keep it put together for as long as i can, but sadly yes i usually have to break it down for long distance travel or to use the parts on another setup. you can get bags from Tenba and other companies that are made for fully rigged out cams

[@Trevisol16]

Great vid!! What do you think about the Nikon Z6 ii?

[@chadwin]

thanks! it def looks like a nice cam, but i personally won't ever shoot nikon for a host of reasons. mostly cause all of my glass is canon ef

[@isedmedia]

Quick question, I dont want to fry my camera. Is it always safe to follow these steps in order? - Connect dummy battery to camera and to battery (with both off) - Turn on v-mount plate - Turn on camera

[@chadwin]

Yes, I would connect everything first. Put the v-mount battery on. Then power the camera, then a monitor if you’re using one. I’d then power off in reverse.

[@isedmedia]

@@chadwin thank you for responding I use a Miady 154 with a Camvate v-mount plate with a 7.2V Dtap. I fried my A7iii recently (might make a video about it) I think what happened was I actually had the dtap plug into the actual battery and not the Camvate plate. And I also didn’t follow the steps. I’m pretty sure I turned on the camera then the v-mount and boom I lost $600 in repairs

[@isedmedia]

@@chadwin also I really want to hear your take on using v-mount plate to USB-C to camera. Does this act different than a D-tap battery?

[@darrenwong9413]

I'm new to cinematic cameras and this may be a stupid question, but how do you get to the camera control buttons and switches with all that rigging??

[@chadwin]

it can def get in the way, but for the most part, all of the buttons and dials are still accessible. as far as the lcd goes though, i just flip it out out or tilt the v mount battery back to see the screen.

[@LazarSoljaga]

Question: If balanced on a gimbal. Would the battery stay in place or would it move on panning shots? Im planing on using the Fxlion NANO ONE 50Wh. It sould be small enough not to move right?

[@aim_qat]

Great! But but you need stablizer by the way.. and it is heavy with this all acc 😄

[@chadwin]

yeah, it would be great to use this setup with an Easy Rig for help holding the weight when all hand held.

[@joshdiditt]

Can you do a Panasonic S5 Rig? I just bought one and am lost, lol

[@chadwin]

I'd love to get my hands on the S5 sometimes and do a build. you can apply most of the same principles from this video to your S5 though, just a different camera cage.

[@tonyzecchinelli]

Very good video and 887 Thum up is mine and I subscribed to your channel - but to use this camera this way may be we need 3 hands

[@chadwin]

thanks for the sub! haha! yeah, it def takes at Least two hands to operate it safely.

[@jimmybajwa2944]

Which adapter did you use to mount EF lenses?

[@chadwin]

it's a super basic and cheap adapter. no electronics in it. geni.us/CheapAdapter

[@jimmybajwa2944]

@@chadwin Thank you

I'm pretty intrigued by the screw multitool that you use to screw everything together. Under what name can you find that?

[@chadwin]

It’s a SmallRig multi tool. I use it constantly!! Seriously so much better than dozens of loose Allen keys. geni.us/ToolSet

[@Igzia.B]

Amazing ! 10 000+ dollars rig system here and .. whatf ! way a minute ! howbout the screw multitool - is it possible to mount a 9w single or twin engine motorization on it ? Prespective.

Thanks a lot Chadwin!

[@americanpools6300]

Hey! Just had a quick question, i have a 13400 mAh with 190Wh v mount battery, i just wanted to ask to see if i can use this v battery safely with sony fx3 with dummy to d tap cable??? It's a 14.8V

[@HillPluviose]

Love it

[@chadwin]

Thanks!! 🤘🏻

[@Sondre.K.Jensen]

Cool video! How much does this weigh?

[@chadwin]

thanks man! honestly, I haven't weighed it, but I'd say between 5-8lbs.

[@Sondre.K.Jensen]

@@chadwin thanks for the answer. Do you recon it could go onto the ronin rs2 considering size and weight? DJI advertises 10lbs

[@chadwin]

@@Sondre.K.Jensen honestly no, it’s way too bulky and awkwardly shaped when fully rigged like this to go on any gimbal. You’d def have to pair it down quite a bit to get it to balance and have clearance, even if it could handle the payload

[@wildpatagoniafilms16]

awesome video mate! have you tried this set up on a gimbal... Ronin S2 or something similar...? Thank you!

[@chadwin]

Not yet! I think i'd have to take off quite a few parts to actually get it to balance sadly.

[@NatashaZimin]

Hey Chadwin, thanks for the really informative video! Quick question about the short HDMI cable that you're using. I checked it out on Amazon and I'm concerned that it isn't rated for 4K output. Have you experienced any issues with this / quality? Big fan of Gerald Undone's and usually go with his HDMI suggestions but love how short yours is. Thanks!

[@chadwin]

Thanks for watching! Yeah it should work totally fine for 4k. I used it to record 4k ProRes raw on the a7siii and ninja v with no issues. Amazon listing says it’s rated for 4k as well. Hope that helps

[@NatashaZimin]

@@chadwin Awesome, thanks for the follow up - appreciate it!