[Bruce Schultz]

I bought a PAG Orbiter shoulder mount and I’m quite happy with the way it works with the EX1. I also bought a zoom control and attached it to the right hand grip so that the camera could be zoomed without letting go of either grip. When focusing is required, it’s easy to let go of the left grip to grasp and turn the focus ring. I use this rig when the shot requires an eye-level shot similar to a normal shoulder height shot you would get with a larger F900 or DigiBeta camcorder.

At around $700 it’s not the cheapest one out there, but the range of motion it allows is better than any of the less expensive units I’ve tried and eliminated as either too cumbersome or restrictive.

I also occaisionally use a unit called CamHandle for camera stability. This unit gives you one grip on the left side of the camera which helps stabilize and level the camera since it notoriously likes to drift downward on the right. Removing your hand from this grip to focus is problematic though – so I only use it when the shot does not require any re-focusing as I’ve found that with the 1/2 inch chips giving you less depth of field – the autofocus feature is nearly useless as it constantly searches and therefore changes focus during a shot.

Bruce Schultz
Primetime Digital, Inc.
F900R / EX-1
IATSE 600 – Los Angeles based