2013Steadi-Newbies forum
Selecting camera plates and rod mounts for small steadicam rigs
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Adding multiple dovetails in series between the rig and camera increases vibration and raises the center of gravity, so minimizing intermediate components improves performance.
- The Manfrotto 501/502 system works for small cameras and offers fore-aft adjustment with safety pins, multiple screws for stability, and affordability for owning several interchangeable plates.
- The Manfrotto 357 plate is sturdier and longer than the 577, mounts bidirectionally in its base, but the 357 and 501/577 systems are intentionally incompatible despite appearing similar.
- The ArcaSwiss dovetail system provides a more expensive alternative for quick camera swaps on small rigs.
- Rod adapters can be made inexpensively by drilling and tapping holes in a Redrock clamp to attach 15mm rods to a dovetail plate.
Depends on
- Advice on larger camera systems was not detailed in the discussion.
- The specific compatibility between the Provid II dovetail and aftermarket systems was not fully explored.
- No information was provided about 19mm rod mounting solutions.
Parts
Same gear or parts
- 2026Eliminating vibration with the ARRI ALEXA 35 on Steadicam®: rigid mounting plate options to bypass the dovetail systemFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Swapping the camera between tripod and rig: the cheapest upgrade most operators never makeOperator practice
- 2026Tightening a loose quick-release lever on the Top Stage dovetail plate, and preventing camera slip during shoulder operation.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Managing weight constraints when flying large-format film cameras with heavy anamorphic lenses on a Steadicam rigGeneral Discussion