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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

Dovetail Plate

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