I just got the XLR handle for my FX30. I like it. Plasticky but it works fine (dont care for external recorders and having to sync audio later)...but I can see that you put a lot of weight on the handle...I may use a lighter external LCD and a smaller battery...I will get the Smallrig extension soon. thanks for the video.
Hi Mariusz, SmallRig now do a top plate which fits onto their nato rail and provides anchor points (incl a cold shoe) to attach a more compact monitor mount to then attach something like a Ninja V. This top plate part fits over the top of the Sony xlr handle 'head' part. Useful and it sits a tad above plastic head, so affords some protection and passes the load strain to the other all metal SR parts. An effective solution IMO. It also means the monitor doesn't need to be as high as with the magic arm. Also, if configured with the right parts, can avoid any unwanted 'twist' in monitor as screws become loose with continued monitor readjustment ie locking pins (Arri style) or via small nato rails and/or a cage on monitor. Personally I have tried lots of options and there must be at least 10+ ways to mount a monitor with this xlr handle. Many better than a 'magic arm' IMO by virtue of getting monitor away from bumping mike, keeping set-up lower profile and away from where your right hand would sit. Probably a case of trial and error to find what suits any given user best.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing. I just got an FX3 myself, exploring ideas for most efficient usage. I also have an atomos shinobi arriving soon, have to get it all working well!! Thanks again for the video.
Way too tall for my liking, I couldn't imagine it being balanced well as it will be so top heavy and your center of gravity is so narrow now. But cool nonetheless, I love seeing people make things "their own". Kudos and happy shooting :)
Thanks, I know it’s not perfect, I just thought its the best idea I came up this far, I’m pretty sure I will be trying to figure it out to work out even better, that too handle with XLR it’s not perfectly designed for using it with the external monitor and mounting it in line with the lens how I like. Thanks for you comment 😊
Yes many do.... but key reason for a top handle is to help use gravity to suspend camera and minimise unwanted jitters if working hand-held without a gimbal. As you add more mass (eg v-mount) external recording etc, the stability is easier to control albeit extra mass can limit the duration one can retain smooth movements before muscle fatigue sets in. Separately, a field recorder (with later sync in post) can yield excellent results but lacks the speed of embedding audio right onto your track. The Zoom F3 is a fine compact recorder but it's only 2 track and has very limited timecode capability (only via Atamos Blue I think). Since the FX3 handles timecode pretty well, possibly the best of all solutions is to use a TC solution with much easier syncing in post. I'm still expementing on this, but there are multiple options. I just bought a dedicated Sony cable to attach a small Deity TC-1 box and force a timecode reference into FX3 recording (bypassing the inelegant audio version of TC on right channel). Another TC-1 attaches to my Sound Devices MixPre 6ii. This means multiple audio streams can later all precisely sync to video footage. Further TC-1 boxes can be attached to additional cameras for a mult-cam fully synced workforce in post. Tentacle Sync do similar boxes too. OK, I accept that a full TC workload is more kit, complexity to set-up, much more cost and probably overkill for many situations. But I mention as it's good to have options. There are multiple ways to rig an FX3, with or without a Sony top handle, with or without external (or any) sound recording. As one learns more then you can rig your kit as needed. I'm not knocking the Zoom F3 BTW, I bought one after my MixPre field recorder (for options/flexibility) etc it's good just not quite as capable as a MixPre, but considerably smaller and lighter. So pick the rigging to suit your own situation. There are potentially hundreds of different combinations one could choose, so it pays to research and understand a few of the different main approaches, so you can configure your camera appropriate to your specific needs on any given shoot.
I just got the XLR handle for my FX30. I like it. Plasticky but it works fine (dont care for external recorders and having to sync audio later)...but I can see that you put a lot of weight on the handle...I may use a lighter external LCD and a smaller battery...I will get the Smallrig extension soon. thanks for the video.
Yeah, I actually think I need to do an update on the rig, I now use different nato rail monitor mount from Smallrig and 5 inch monitor 😊
Hi Mariusz, SmallRig now do a top plate which fits onto their nato rail and provides anchor points (incl a cold shoe) to attach a more compact monitor mount to then attach something like a Ninja V. This top plate part fits over the top of the Sony xlr handle 'head' part. Useful and it sits a tad above plastic head, so affords some protection and passes the load strain to the other all metal SR parts. An effective solution IMO.
It also means the monitor doesn't need to be as high as with the magic arm. Also, if configured with the right parts, can avoid any unwanted 'twist' in monitor as screws become loose with continued monitor readjustment ie locking pins (Arri style) or via small nato rails and/or a cage on monitor.
Personally I have tried lots of options and there must be at least 10+ ways to mount a monitor with this xlr handle. Many better than a 'magic arm' IMO by virtue of getting monitor away from bumping mike, keeping set-up lower profile and away from where your right hand would sit. Probably a case of trial and error to find what suits any given user best.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing. I just got an FX3 myself, exploring ideas for most efficient usage. I also have an atomos shinobi arriving soon, have to get it all working well!! Thanks again for the video.
Awesome!
Thanks guys!
Way too tall for my liking, I couldn't imagine it being balanced well as it will be so top heavy and your center of gravity is so narrow now. But cool nonetheless, I love seeing people make things "their own". Kudos and happy shooting :)
Thanks, I know it’s not perfect, I just thought its the best idea I came up this far, I’m pretty sure I will be trying to figure it out to work out even better, that too handle with XLR it’s not perfectly designed for using it with the external monitor and mounting it in line with the lens how I like. Thanks for you comment 😊
@@MariuszGajdzik So true. I have yet to find a good solution for having good audio, an external monitor and keeping the rig balanced.
What about the smaller monitor mounts ? That sir directly on the XLR handle ?
Smallrig MD3990
Yup, got it since this video too, love this part 😊
Tbh this setup look bad, seriously. For me personally I would rather avoid this handle and have a more sleek setup than this gigantic setup
Yeah, time has validated that, I have different monitor mount but also using the Zoom F3 to record the audio most of the time now 😊
@@MariuszGajdzikthat defeats the whole purpose of having the XLR no ?
Yes many do.... but key reason for a top handle is to help use gravity to suspend camera and minimise unwanted jitters if working hand-held without a gimbal. As you add more mass (eg v-mount) external recording etc, the stability is easier to control albeit extra mass can limit the duration one can retain smooth movements before muscle fatigue sets in.
Separately, a field recorder (with later sync in post) can yield excellent results but lacks the speed of embedding audio right onto your track. The Zoom F3 is a fine compact recorder but it's only 2 track and has very limited timecode capability (only via Atamos Blue I think). Since the FX3 handles timecode pretty well, possibly the best of all solutions is to use a TC solution with much easier syncing in post.
I'm still expementing on this, but there are multiple options. I just bought a dedicated Sony cable to attach a small Deity TC-1 box and force a timecode reference into FX3 recording (bypassing the inelegant audio version of TC on right channel). Another TC-1 attaches to my Sound Devices MixPre 6ii. This means multiple audio streams can later all precisely sync to video footage. Further TC-1 boxes can be attached to additional cameras for a mult-cam fully synced workforce in post. Tentacle Sync do similar boxes too. OK, I accept that a full TC workload is more kit, complexity to set-up, much more cost and probably overkill for many situations. But I mention as it's good to have options.
There are multiple ways to rig an FX3, with or without a Sony top handle, with or without external (or any) sound recording. As one learns more then you can rig your kit as needed. I'm not knocking the Zoom F3 BTW, I bought one after my MixPre field recorder (for options/flexibility) etc it's good just not quite as capable as a MixPre, but considerably smaller and lighter. So pick the rigging to suit your own situation. There are potentially hundreds of different combinations one could choose, so it pays to research and understand a few of the different main approaches, so you can configure your camera appropriate to your specific needs on any given shoot.