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Gutting A Camera To Reduce Weight?


Max Field

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So I have a Sony F900 which is good for most situations, however when I try to get really specific handheld camera movements the weight makes things extremely tricky and shaky.

 

There camera has a major feature I personally never use with is the tape deck inside. Has anyone ever removed or modified certain parts from a camera to make it lighter?

 

If not, does anyone have any camera weight management tips which don't cost over $1000?

 

Thanks.

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I thought the weight would sort out stability as well however, which for the most part it has, but when it comes to having to make quick specific pans, or when the body needs to get low for a low angle, my right arm can't handle the weight in steady fashion.

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Ahh yeah; gotcha, there's a few positions I can get myself into which never really work as well (mostly due to my back). But back to the crux of the question, I wouldn't really want to start pulling electronics out of an electronic camera; least of all an older one at home. It possibly (probably?) is interconnected and interrelated to many of the internal circuity of the system and who knows what gremlins could be stirred up.

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Well I guess if your not using the tape mechanism at all.. you can at least take the Drum out.. and all the stuff around it.. but I wouldn't want to be doing it myself.. !.. unless you have a friendly Sony engineer at hand.. the cost to have it gutted would probably buy you a brand new Fs7.. or two !.. if you go the official Sony service route.. otherwise second hand easy rig.. probably the only way.. but they are more than $1K I would guess from the price new..

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You may want to add weight to the rear of these cameras so they balance, it becomes more noticeable when you put a wide angle zoom onto 2/3" camera. These lenses have become heaver over the years.

 

For low angle handheld shots, using the top handle as a "low mode bracket" may be the way to go.

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maybe have an HXC-P70 on standby for specialized setups at about a third of the mass (once you rig it up) and heck of a lot smaller. Also my experience with Sony is that there is usually a lot of internal diagnostics going on, so when things are not to spec, you'll get all types of system warnings - perhaps not an issue and can still function as a dumb head for a downstream recorder, but maybe not.

Edited by Tom Visser
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Now there are 2nd hand Fs7,s around very cheap.. and a million E mount lenses to choose from ..(you can use any lens in the universe on an E mount).. a 2nd hand body and 2 x MK Fujinon zooms.. is well under $20k.. dont think you even need to go the ⅔ road anymore ?

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Lots of arguments with that. Usable FS7 with all the upgrades, prores module, shoulder mint, better VF, etc, remains expensive and creates a flimsy rig rather than an integrated camera. Big chips don't suit every job. MK zooms still don't have the characteristics of most 2/3 zooms. Ursa Mini is probably the better base for that, not that anyone cares in most parts of the business.

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Sure if you actually want a ⅔ camera .. if its just for using affordable ENG ⅔ lenses .. I,d go 2nd hand fs7 or similar and the MK zooms.. I used my lovely and expensive Fujinon 4.6 zoom on my F5 the first few weeks I had the camera..with Abacus adaptor.. whilst it did actually work ,it really wasn't the answer for many reasons.. maybe I have the OP,s post mixed up..

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