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The first lightweight rigs for Scarlet-X and C300 are here

March 8^th, 2012

by Sebastian WöberMarch 8^th, 2012

Some time has passed since we’ve started looking for a useful Scarlet-X rig. If you’re serious about working with a camera like the RED Scarlet-X or the Canon C300 you’re in need of a rig that will fully support and make use of the ergonomics of the short form factor that you know from HDSLR.

If you’ve been working with these cameras you might have come to the conclusion that not any rig will fit them. In fact it’s pretty hard to find a configuration that would put the camera’s weight on the shoulder instead of the front of your body. Even RED thinks that in front is ok (link).

Most HDSLR rigs are built in a way that the camera body is at your front. One reason for this is probably that there was a time when you had to get that LCD screen in front of your face, that was the time before EVF’s, another reason could be that a lightweight HDSLR doesn’t pose that much of a weight burden.
When the camera setup gets heavier it becomes necessary to balance that weight on the shoulder and extend the handles back to your hips. Of course eventually that’s all a matter of preference, but in theory this is what we’d need and so far we haven’t seen much of it.

If you’re looking for lightweight and affordable Zacuto now brings a solution that is looking really good. They’re selling their new “Recoil” handheld rig package for $1375 (excluding the viewfinder and viewfinder mount). link

The good thing about it is not only its lightweight and simple design, but also that it can be used for the Scarlet-X AND the C300 and of course HDSLR as well (with a riser), and if the trend continues we will see more cameras with the HDSLR form factor coming along.

I have seen very few rigs that abandon the HDSLR typical “in front of your face design” and go back to how cameras should be shouldered and I think this development is a very good thing.

Keep in mind that the RED Scarlet-X does not incorporate the 15mm rail standard as described here. You will need a LWS adapter such as this one which is currently the best affordable one I know or use a 19mm rig.