What the thread found

• The manufacturer removed a tilting stage from one operator's M1 in approximately 1–2 hours of labor, with a typical turnaround of one week.
• The tilting stage adds roughly 1.5 inches of height; removing it allows more post extension above the gimbal, brings the lens closer to the tilt axis, and provides additional clearance in low mode.
• Switching to a smaller monitor, such as a SmallHD Cine 7 instead of a Transvideo unit, yields additional weight savings.
• A 5-inch monitor can be positioned under the stage to support low-mode operation without the tilting mechanism.
• One operator noted that the tilting stage is useful for many shooting configurations, suggesting removal may limit flexibility.

Depends on

• The decision depends on the operator's typical shooting modes and whether tilt adjustments during a take are required; rigs optimized for high mode benefit more from the removal than those relying on frequent tilt changes.

Parts

Top Stage, Low Mode

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