The new Zacuto EVF Gorilla plate system

I’ve been using the Zacuto EVF for a while now and find it to be a very welcome addition to my regular shooting kit with the Canon 5DmkII. Originally I had it mounted on top of the camera with the supplied hotshoe adapter but very quickly found this to be an inconvienient location because there was then nowhere to place my microphones when running and gunning. I have since constructed a bracket using some parts from Really Right Stuff and an Ultralight arm that allowed me to place the EVF on the side of the 5DmkII. This frees up the hotshoe again and places the EVF in a good position on the side of the camera to allow for a more ENG style of shooting – better balanced with the camera offset when mounted on a chest or shoulder support rig. Crucially for me this setup allows me to keep the EVF as part of the camera as I move from Redrockmicro running man rig chest rig, to full shoulder rig, to tripod and to my camera bag – all without needing to dissassemble the EVF setup. My solution is fine but a bit expensive, somewhat of a cludge and a little heavy.

Enter Zacuto with their own custom solution which looks to be lighter and more flexible than my setup. The EVF mount is based on the company’s Gorilla plate system for DSLRs. It too offsets the EVF to the optimal position without adding too much bulk to the camera. There is also a quick release to allow rapid detachment of the EVF.

The Zacuto EVF Gorilla plate in use with a Striker rig

For me I could see myself using this setup almost without a support rig at all for some shoots, just holding the EVF to my face and gripping the camera in the other hand. Also launching soon is the Zacuto’s universal cable Pincher which will neatly hold HDMI cables in place and provide strain relief.

The EVF Gorilla plate bracket

The EVF Gorilla plate bracket is $240 US and available now from Zacuto’s web store, it requires the use of a $69 Gorilla plate if you do not own one already.

Disclosure – This website recently joined the Zacuto affliate sales program but this in no way affects this website’s many and diverse bloggers who are free to talk about any gear they use.

Jens Bogehegn of Zacuto demonstrates a working Z-EVF and then drop test it during setup day at NAB 2011. Check out the full specs here.

The high resolution display of the EVF

Steve Weiss of Zacuto with a Z-EVF

Jens said it will ship in May. Pricing is below.

DSLR Video on Assignment combines two of my greatest passions – DSLR video and real world storytelling. I’ve been shooting DSLR video since day one, I made a short video the day the Canon 5DmkII came out and I’ve not looked back. I’m constantly being asked about how to achieve the best results and it’s impossible to answer everyone’s questions. So when training professional Den Lennie of the F-Stop academy asked me to make the ‘DSLR Video on Assignment’ DVD download I jumped at the chance. He had previously shot and produced Phil Bloom’s excellent 5DmkII and 7D DVD guides.

Den and Dan making the DVD in Malaysia

I wanted to create a one-stop shop for shooters looking to up their game, explaining not just the technical stuff but my whole approach to shooting. I believe this practical information to be the key to great DSLR video and even though there are a lot of DSLR websites out there (including this one), this download offers the sum total of the knowledge that I’ve accumulated about how to shoot DSLR video during live events.

To give you an idea of what it’s really like to be on assignment it was shot during the real events surrounding the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, held annually in Malaysia’s Batu caves.

Thaipusam Trailer from Den Lennie on Vimeo.

It’s for news photographers and photojournalists who can’t afford to miss the action, but it’s also for documentary makers, event videographers or keen amateurs; anyone who ever needs to film with a DSLR in a real world environment.
Whilst I mainly use Canon DSLRs in the DVD I believe the majority of the techniques apply whatever brand of DSLR you are using.

As I say in the DVD, I think photographers owe it to themselves to give DSLR video a go, to find out if they are any good at it or not. This will make your life much easier when you do so.

On assignment - with the kit in a Malaysia hotel room

Chapter 1  Understanding D-SLR Functions
We look at the core differences and similarities to photography and we spend some time setting up the a Canon to shoot in Video Mode.

Chapter 2 Lenses, Focal Length & Crop Factor
Understanding the effect of crop factor has on effective focal length.

Chapter 3 Light control, Picture Styles and using Filters
The optimum set ups to give you the most control visually.

Chapter 4 Camera Movement And support for Video
Moving the Camera.  All the techniques that are largely specific to shooting video.  This is a steep learning curve for photographers but I walk you though clearly and concisely.

Chapter 5 Shooting in Low Light
Low light shooting on the 1D Mark IV- This section covers working at night in a Hawker market, demonstrating the incredible low light and resolving capability of the Canon 1D Mark IV

Chapter 6 Basic Audio recording techniques 
In a busy restaurant I demonstrate 3 separate ‘simple’ audio recording techniques.

Chapter 7 How to record advanced audio for DSLR
Recording Advanced Audio, we return to the Hawker market but this time I share an advanced ‘Dual Sound system’ for recording audio that gives me more control.

Chapter 8  The Pre Assignment Recce
I spend 4 hrs scouting the location in advance of the assignment.  I will walk you through my thought processes and how the shoot will differ from a straight stills only shoot.

Chapter 9 Pre Assignment Final Kit Check
Working solo in movie mode requires some extra kit, I explain how the kit breaks down and what to carry without compromising on quality.

Chapter 10 The Assignment 
This is a very intimate journey, working side by side with me in the thick of a festival with over 1 million devotees, body piercing, rituals and stunning images make this the climax of the training documentary.

A festival worshipper goes through his rituals

Some of the estimated 1 million festival goers at the caves

You can read a review by videographer Jon Mckee here. Jon says

Without hesitation I recommend this training video to anyone who shoots or desires to shoot documentary style DSLR video, or even someone simply interested in following a pro in the field as he crafts his story.

To be in with a chance of winning one of these marvellous pieces of kit you need to register for the site, if you haven’t already, and then post below so I know which one of the three items you want. After one month the names will be put into a hat and the lucky winners drawn out. But you can only choose one item and you can only enter once – multiple entries will be disqualified and as in all good competitions the judge’s decision is final.

Your entry should look something like this:

Yourname – I would like to win a Redrockmicro DSLR baseplate…..

It’s as simple as that. Humorous comments are allowed after the item of your choice but will make no difference when it comes to the draw.

First up is a Redrockmicro DSLR baseplate that forms the basis of the Redrock DSLR system and can be added to any 15mm support rods. The giveaway is Redrockmicro’s demo unit from NAB so is not brand new, but it’s a great piece of kit which I use myself. For more info look here

Redrockmicro DSLR baseplate (demo kit)

Next up is a very cute Zacuto Point and Shoot grip for improving your video with a compact camera like the Lumix LX-3 or the HD Flip. I put one of these in my day off kit with my IXUS. More info here

The Zacuto Point and Shoot pro handgrip

And last but by no means least is the Genus GAP plate which when attached to your DSLR rig or camcorder allows you to mount your system on a professional Sony VCT-14 tripod quick release plate. If you are used to shooting ENG you know what I’m talking about. A great prize for any serious newshound. More about it here.

The Genus GAP plate to mount a rig on a Sony VCT14 tripod quick release plate

I’d like to thank all the manufacturers for donating the prizes and taking the time to talk to me at NAB – it was a great show and hopefully DSLRnewsshooter will be back there next year for more. I’d also like to give a special thank you to Scott Karlins and Den Lennie of F-Stop academy for helping at NAB.

Products from Canon, Redrockmicro, Genus, Zacuto, Zoom, Sony and Pinknoise systems.

Canon 7D – TV cameraman Matt Jasper unboxes and rigs up his new 7D from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

You can see more about Matt and his work covering the Chinese earthquake on the Channel 4 news website here