Zacuto just has introduced a new baseplate, called the VCT Pro, which replaces their existing universal baseplate. They’ve managed to reduce the weight even more and have added some interesting features also. Zacuto VCT Pro Baseplate Let’s start with a quote here. With the introduction of their universal VCT basplate a few years ago, Steve Weiss claimed: This will be the last baseplate you’ll ever need. Well, here we are at IBC 2016 with a new baseplate, probably the last one you’ll ever need! There are some nice upgrades, though, so let’s have a close look. new Zacuto VCT Pro baseplate with the top plate in red Features of the VCT Pro Zacuto have managed to reduce the weight of this baseplate by getting rid of every ounce possible. The soft gel pad is still in place, it just has been moved a little bit to one side in order to achieve perfect balance of the whole rig. The real improvement is the now detachable top plate which can be slid back and forth for about 12″. The idea is to get one of these top plates for every camera you’ll be using on a given shoot. With these attached you can be really at lightning speed when it come to switch camera from tripod to shoulder operation. The one feature that made the original universal VCT baseplate special, namely the expanded space on the rods for mounting things like follow focuses and other things is still in place, as well. And they’ve added the ability of fastening and unfastening both, the rods in the front and the ones in the back with just one thumb screw respectively. No more screw-in rods in the back, which is a nice upgrade, I think. the gel pad of the VCT Pro So in the end this is really an evolution rather a revolution but it’s nice to see that Zacuto is improving and polishing existing products until they are perfect for what they were made for. What do you think? Is this something worth upgrading to? The price is set to $650.  

Universal camera support continues with the Zacuto FS5 Recoil. Based around the VCT baseplate, the FS5 Recoil kit adds grip relocation, viewfinder stability as well as a loupe for the native screen for what Zacuto bill to be a perfectly balanced FS5 shoulder rig. The Ultimate FS5 Shoulder Rig It’s nice to see the FS5 Recoil officially announced, Zacuto has been teasing via social media for some time. Like all “recoiled” camera packages, Zacuto has addressed a handful of ergonomic challenges set by camera manufacture and refined them to add stability and universal support. There are a few package options for the FS5 Recoil (mostly surrounding your choice of monitoring). Here’s a list of the separate items. Zacuto VCT Universal Baseplate The heart of every Recoil system. As the name suggests it offers a VCT tripod plate mount on the bottom, as well as a soft shoulder pad and a short distance between camera mounting and rail support to ensure universal camera support. FS5 Top Plate Secures around the existing top handle, offering a few threads for mounting as well as a 15mm receiver on the front to mount the native FS5 monitor rod or Zacuto Axis Mini. FS5 Z-Finder Pro Usual Z-Finder feature list. Adjustable diopter, anti-fog coating, optics cap, however, this is slightly different to other Z-Finders in that it has an x2 magnification to account for the larger screen. It will flip up, and utilizes a very sturdy mount that attaches to the native FS5 rod or Zacuto Axis Mini. FS5 Grip Relocator This attaches to the baseplate via 15mm rod and relocates the native hand grip further down for perfect balance. Adjustment can be made to the length, as well as the twist of the rod—and full 360-degree rotation of the grip can be made via a ball joint. Sony FS5 Recoil Packages: Sony FS5 Z-Finder – $565.25 Free Top Plate ($125 value) Sony FS5 Recoil – $1282.50 Free VCT Tripod Plate ($300 Value) Includes VCT Baseplate, Grip Relocator, Top Plate, and Axis Mini. (Need to add Z-Finder or EVF like Gratical HD) Sony FS5 Z-Finder Recoil – $1425 Free VCT Tripod Plate ($300 Value) Includes VCT Baseplate, Grip Relocator, Top Plate, and Z-Finder

Zacuto has added the C300 Mark II to its list of Recoil compatible cameras, most notably is the bespoke Top Helmet Kit that in time will no doubt become a must buy component for C300 Mark II owners. I’m sure you’re familiar with the Zacutos Recoil philosophy by now; a system made up of mostly universal parts providing a perfectly balanced rig for your shoulder. It’s achieved by having a wide adjusting fore and aft motion on the top and bottom of the camera setup to ensure you can distribute the weight of the camera correctly on your shoulder. This differs from most shoulder rigs in the fact that the camera sits a lot further back on your frame, requiring no counter weight but at the same time requiring additional components for camera control (cameras often sit far enough back that as a single user it can be difficult to operate the native buttons). For the Canon EOS Cinema systems this is simply a case of relocating the native handgrip further forward, and along with the usual VCT Universal Baseplate and rod extender this is easily achieved on the C300 Mark II. The main talking point for this package is the Top Helmet and Quick Release Handle. Canon boasts a big improvement on the C300 Mark II top handle. Users of the original C300 and C100 will confirm this was/is a big weak spot of the cameras. The new camera actually has a helmet and the top handle has two solid points of contact to ensure much sturdier mount than previous. The drawback, it’s no longer quick release! It now requires an allen key with bolts in a difficult spot to remove the handle. Here’s where I can see alternatives like the Zacuto C300 Mark II Helmet Kit fitting into every C300 Mark II users camera bag. No one is going to faff around attaching/removing that handle every time they want to shoot. The Helmet is really the only bespoke part to the C300 Mark II Recoil. All other parts rely on the universal nature of the system (VCT Universal Baseplate, Canon Grip Relocator, Axis Mini, Top Handle). Zacutos offering goes a step further than the native helmet, mounting via 4 points of contact to ensure solidity. If you want to see the C300 Mark II Recoil in action, check out the below video where Jon Sagud from Canon catches up with Steve and Jens from Zacuto.

Zacuto has added compatibility for the Canon C100 Mark II to its next generation Recoil rig. The Zacuto C100 Mark II Recoil utilizes the existing VCT baseplate, Grip Relocator, Axis Mini, Gratical HD and finally a new C100 Mark II Helmet. Many will be well acquainted with the existing Zacuto Recoil components. The Universal VCT Baseplate offering a wide level of adjustment, Axis Mini arm that holds tension yet still offering adjustment, Canon Grip Relocator that re-assigns the Canon side handle to position of your choice. However, I want to talk about the new addition; the Canon C100 Mark II Helmet. This builds on the C300/C500 Helmet Zacuto designed a couple of years ago, mounting to the existing hot shoe mount of the camera and grabbing additional stability from the thread of the film plane screw (whilst offering another thread port for the film plane screw thus preserving its function). Mounted to that is a rail with 15mm rod mount on the end for attaching adjacent accessories (perfect for EVFs) and on top a double dovetail join that connects the Canon handle whilst offering plenty of fore and aft movement to refine balance of your handle and rig. Canon C100 users will all tell you, the connection between the handle and camera body is pretty poor. Even at maximum tension there is a large amount of play in the joint. Zacuto solve this issue by reversing the mate. The ratchet lever compresses into the cold shoe of the handle (rather than the pin screwing down) which full firms it all up. With full adjustment of both the handle location and the camera on the VCT Baseplate you are able to achieve perfect over the shoulder balance with most lens configurations (large lens setups may require rear counter balance). As a C100 user myself, I like the look of this. The Helmet as a stand-alone product is great for mounting EVF or recorders like a Ninja Blade to the side of the camera. I have a similar solution from Wooden Camera that also works great. However it does not solve the frustrating loose handle to camera body issue. Additionally you can purchase a Mount Bracket for the C100 Mark II that acts as a spine to the existing handle, offering 1/4″ and 3/8″ threads plus another 15mm connector. The Zacuto C100 Mark II Recoil comes in few configurations, you can buy all parts separately, or as the EVF Recoil (Baseplate, Grip and Helmet) or Gratical HD Recoil (same but with Gratical HD and Axis Mini). Speaking of the Gratical, the HD EVF has just received a firmware update. Here’s what you can find in firmware 2.0: New peaking feature has been added to the menu overlays->focus assist->reg peaking Activating red line peaking will no longer make the image lose sharpness Image flip will now stay active after a power cycle Fixed a bug where the image would appear to jump or change positions Fixed a bug where the image’s contrast or brightness appeared to change Changed the FS7 Slog3 to Rec709 preset LUT Added compatibility for Nikon D800/D810 cameras Added compatibility for Wooden Camera C-Box Converter Fixed a bug that would not allow a user to create a custom DSLR scaling Decreased the audio meter latency The Gratical HD really is a fantastic bit of kit; if you get a chance at any up coming shows it’s really worth checking out to see for yourself. Further more was Zacutos announcement earlier in the month at Cinegear to offer a “Gratical-X” package, this is basically a selectable package with a price based purely one the features you want it to include. The results mean you can the introductory price of the Gractical HD drops dramatically from $3100 to around $1600. Software packages ranging from $300 to $700 then spec up your EVF according to your required features. via/ Zacuto & NewsShooter

Zacuto has released its line of accessories that complete the C100 Recoil package. A new top bracket solidifies the handle and body connection, as well as offering a base for the new Z-finder arm and Axis Mini for EVF options. We got a preview of all of this at IBC, but it’s only until now that these products have been itemised and available for purchase. C100 Z-Finder Plus The hinge on the C100 screen is fine for normal use, but as soon as you add any strain in the form of third party loupes and shades, it flops. The Original C100 Z-Finder got around this by offering up two bungee chords that mounted to the focus marker on the side of the camera. These offer more tension and enable you to position the Z-Finder in any position without the hinge giving way. I have this setup, and whilst it works it is a little fiddly. Zacuto acknowledged this, and decide to fix it along with tackling another problem that C100 users all face, the play you get from the handle even when fixed at its maximum tension. The C100 Z-Finder Plus utilizes a top bracket that works as a spine to the camera. It connects to an existing thread on the handle, and provides a solid base for the Z-Finder to mount to. The C100 Bracket is the heart of this system, and is available to purchase separately as it also adds a wide selection of mounting points via 1/4″ and 3/8″ threads. C100 Axis Mini Mount If you wanted an EVF solution over the existing screen and loupe, you can bolt on to the Top Bracket with the C100 Axis Mini Mount. This resides over the existing shoe, retaining its mount and providing an additional 15mm rod mount. Zacuto Axis Mini With the Axis mini mount in place, you can then attach Zacutos slimmed down Axis Mini for EVF or small monitors. Not just for the C100, the arm is half the size of the existing Axis Arm, but providing a similar reach as it benefits from a slide function to perfect positioning of your viewing aid. This lot coupled with the Zacuto Universal VCT Baseplate completes the Zacuto C100 Recoil package, but like everything Zacuto it’s modular, you can add a Grip Relocator to bring the original handle further down for shoulder mounting, along with a Tornado and Z-Drive grip for focus. Zacuto are gradually bringing out Recoil options for all popular cameras, unfortunately we’ll have to wait a little longer for solutions for the C100 Mark II, the larger and useable viewfinder means this current package won’t compatible.

Last month we covered the next generation of Recoil Rigs, a line that Zacuto stated was compatible with nearly every camera on the market with few components. Here’s their options for the Sony FS7 proving that theory: Zacuto continue their balanced-rig-with-no-counter-balance philosophy on the Sony FS7 by concreting their findings that a cameras centre of balance is more or less where the body meets the lens. On the FS7, they’ve achieved this by adding their VCT Universal Baseplate that moves the shoulder position forward. Tapping into an existing 1/4″ thread and utilizing the 15mm mic/EVF rail they’ve simply added a ZicroMount and Axis Mini to achieve this balance rig with second monitor at the rear for focus puller etc.. The latter product gives more flexibility to the EVF position; Zacuto state the native fixture resides too far forward and in turn, gets in wider framed shots. This rig can be simplified by switching out their Gratical EVF for the native screen; Zacuto recommend this setup with a Z-Finder to reduce the EVF footprint. To simplify further you can switch out the Baseplate for a QR Shoulder Pad, removing the immediate access to a 15mm rod setup. Due to the much more ergonomic approach Sony has taken with the FS7, few third party components are needed to get this camera up to spec. The separate handle and industry standard rods & thread up top alleviate the need for a cage, spine and relocated grip handle. The Zacuto VCT Universal Baseplate and Axis Mini are available now. So is a compatible Z-Finder (for now seek the Z-Finder Jr), but a mentioned flip frame design is yet to come.

Zacuto has been working hard with a new line of products this year, a line we’ve seen snippets of throughout expo shows as earlier as NAB in April. All starting with their single universal baseplate, the next generation of recoil rigs caters for every camera from a Sony A7S to an Arri Amira. The DSLR revolution brought us many things and to avoid going out on a tangent I’ll only touch on one – choice. The abundant choice of lenses, the plethora of choice with shoulder rigs, choice of monitoring, focus, cases, grip. There was no longer a single formula for a cameraman’s kit. Making cameras that were much less setup for video as well as far cheaper meant people needed, and had money to spend on accessories. Zacuto excelled at being one of the go-to companies for camera ergonomics. But has almost been a victim of its own success at times with the sheer amount of choice available. With cameras becoming almost a disposable component in terms of price and shelf life, it was hard to justify paying 3 times more for a sparkly shoulder rig. Zacuto has looked to change that, developing their new recoil rigs from single universal items; it all starts with their baseplate. The baseplate is the heart to all the Recoil line, with a low profile and over 7″ of forward and aft adjustment, Zacuto state its compatible with every baseplate-able (flat based) camera on the market (sorry Barbie cam). The immediate positioning of dual 15mm rods at the front also ensures that the centre of gravity is kept on the shoulders of the operator, whilst retaining full compatibility with zoom, focus and matte box setups. All Recoil rigs then build from this. All use the same top handle, with a slightly different method of mounting according to your setup; for mirrorless and DSLR cameras there’s the half cage, and more specific lines (EOS C, Sony F etc..) most stem from a nato rail. We’ve touched on pretty much each of these items individually as they’ve surfaced this year, the newest example perhaps being the C100, which is a spine stretching over the existing handle to ensure a full bond with the camera body. Every Recoil rig uses the same handgrips that can be switched out for camera and/or focus control. the Zacuto hand grip allows full control of a huge range of cameras native menu control, as well as offering a separate one for DSLRs and a grip relocator for Canon C cameras with existing side handle. The Recoil grip for focus is a combination of the Tornado grip and Z-Drive to provide full control of focus without deterring the function of a handgrip for camera stability. Last is the option to add optics to your setup. Based on the Axis mount, you could add a Zacuto EVF, native camera monitor with loupe or the new Gratical EVF to ensure perfect eye positioning. Every part of the Recoil system is quick to add/detract, easy to adjust and is stable. Alleviating where ever possible the need for mounting via screw and thread, replacing with 15mm rods & twist levers. There’s no beating around the bush here, a fully rigged recoil rig is an investment, but the consolidation & streamlining of products means only a small amount of components are required to ensure the same rig is used between different cameras setups. This is great news for the modern day filmmaker that replaces camera setups faster than any other component, and also hire companies as it becomes a tangible package to hire out without the risk of the investment being too niche.

This is one of Zacuto’s extremely useful inventions this year. A cable and mount to relocate all that camera control for the Canon EOS C300 We’ve been given an introduction to Zacuto’s new Recoil Rig, the Tornado handgrip follow focus & the C300 grip relocator in April (LINK) While we still don’t know when the cool Tornado Follow Focus will be out we have just received a release date for the new C300 grip relocator: It will start shipping on July 5th and take another 7-10 days from there. Grip Relocator only is $337.25 and can be ordered here: Grip Relocator with Zgrip Handle is $565.95 and can be ordered here: Europeans can get it at the Zacuto store. Well that is certainly not cheap for a cable and plug, but probably very worthwhile for C300 shooters. This also works for the Canon EOS C500 by the way.