Follow-up to my previous blog post, “Review: Cowboy Studio Shoulder Rig“. This time showing a new piece to the shoulder rig, the Express.35.com “Rig X“. I am located in San Antonio, TX, if you are in the Central Texas area and would like a demo, just let me know!
Parts List:
Cowboy Studio Shoulder Support
Express35.com Rig-X (includes rail system, offset adapter, and (1) HD Handle)
Sescom 3.5mm Line to Mic with 25dB Attenuator for Zoom H4N/H1 with Headphone Monitoring Jack
**Cool Fact** A variant of the Cowboy Studio Rig was used by Gareth Edwards in his low-budget hit, “Monsters”. Check out this VIDEO of it in action.
video shot by: Ismael Rodriguez
I have received a lot of questions regarding attaching monitors and handles. Here is a quick photo with both of these items. 7″ Lilliput monitor attached with Articulating Arm from Express35.com. Also 10″ HD Carry Handle added, also from Express35.com. I will putting together a Part 3 video soon and go over how each of these items, and a couple other things, work with the CBS Rig.
5d
550D
adobe
Alamo
antonio
Ask Rod
Canon
contest
cowboy
CS5
daily
dslr
D|Focus
D|Gear
film
focus
follow
follow focus
gear
glenn
guajardo
HDSLR
jag35
josh
josh glenn
magic
music
Premiere Pro
Rebel
Rebel T2i
review
rig
riverwalk
rod
Rod Guajardo
SA
san
San Antonio
studio
T2i
texas
tripod
Velbon
video
Zacuto AWARDS & RECOGNITION (19)
BLOG (47)
REVIEWS/TIPS/Q&A (26)
VIDEOS (39)
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
Design by Graph Paper Press
Subscribe to entries
Subscribe to comments
All content © 2013 by Rod Guajardo - San Antonio based Director/DP/Editor
Hey man,
really loved the Rig
Do you know a website where i can get the parts in europe?
tnks and keep it going.
Hi Fabio,
Thanks for the compliment, I am really liking it! Unfortunetly I do not know of any vendors in Europe, however, email Chris at Express35.com and he may be able to work with you.
express35.com@gmail.com
Good Luck,
Rod
Thnks for the reply Rod,
Nice to know that it doesn’t look just good, but also work well.
Keep us updated
cheers
Looks like Express35 packaged everything up already as their “Rig X” (less the shoulder support):
http://express35.com/rigs/rig-x/
That doesn’t include the focus system though right.
Josh,
You are correct, it does not include the Follow Focus system from D|Focus. I talk about it in this short REVIEW.
Thanks,
Rod
Awesome to see this thing take shape from when I first saw it!
Thanks Alan! Yeah it has been a process, purchasing each piece as I had the funds. But I think it’s finally where I want it and I am extremely pleased with the outcome.
Thanks for the review. Just got my self the shoulder rig and a viewfinder. Will look into getting the rail system, handle, and offset adapter next pay check lol.
Awesome vid.
Welcome for the review, I hope it works out for you!
Hey Rod, amazing stuff! Very clever and I am stoked on the price. I am waiting on my rails from express and in the near future a D Follow Focus. But will I be able to use my 7D with a battery grip on this rig?
Awesome. You have answered so many question that I had about shoulder supports. I can’t say thank you enough. I just have a couple more questions about other items like adding a monitor and using different follow focus with your setup. Can I add a monitor and any follow focus will be compatible?
Again thanks for your blog.
Scott
Got my self the rail system and the offset adapter. Any new gadgets you have found?
How are you do to add a monitor?
Would counter weight be needed in this cowboy should rig?
Hi,
what are you using to hold your H1?
Hi Sam, I use the Pearstone Universal Shock Mount, I love it!
@Josue – I did get a couple new things, first up is the Express35.com 10″ HD Carry Handle. Essential for low angle shots. Also, I have added a 7″ Lilliput monitor attached to the rig with an Articulating Arm.
To answer you last question, nope, I have not found ANY need to add any counterweight.
Hope this helps and hope the rig works out for you. -Rod
@Scott – Yup, I believe you can. Be on the lookout for a new video from me showing a monitor attached.
@Mike – Thanks for stopping by! Yup, 7D with battery grip will not be a problem. However, if you are going to use the battery grip with the follow focus, depending on the lens, you may have to purchase the D|Mount separately to get it up higher.
Hey Rod, what did you use to connect the offset to your cowboy studio?
Hey Rod. Express35 doesn’t have anymore of the offset adapters, have you or anyone else seen any alternatives around?
Express 35 is out of stock of the rig x adapters.. i guess its hard to get those also.. Yeah I am on the newsletter. thats the hard to find part.
Sorry Chris, I have not found any other company making anything close to these. Which is weird, especially after seeing the response this type of rig is getting.
@Pao – It screws directly to the shoulder support.
Jag35.com has this DSLR baseplate:
http://jag35.com/store.php/products/dslrproducts/baseplate.html
With that said, was gonna order it but a guy who reviewed it said it wobbles(?)
Dunno what to do, need a rail system by May 15th.
Any other company out there selling a somewhat decent rail system w/ base/cheeseplate and perhaps an offset adapter all mounted and ready to ship?
Hey Rod! any new upgrades with the cowboy rig?
yo yo yo..new video shot with the Cowboy Studio Shoulder Rig! http://vimeo.com/23373361
Hi all, part 3 has been posted! http://foursandyfeet.com/reviews/cbs-w-zacuto-evf/
Hey man, just wondering if there is a handle available for underneath just the support without attaching a rig?
Hi Joshua, I have not found a handle yet that will go under just the support. Has anyone else had any success with a DIY solution?
Rod,
This whole setup is genius and is going to save me and my team a ton of money. Thank you so much for all the info, I went from thinking I was going to have to spend $1000 to now only needing to spend $500 or so. You are a godsend my friend.
The only question I have is a newbie one. You mentioned to Josue that the reason for the 10″ HD Carry Handle that you added to the external LCD mount setup was that it was essential for low angle shots. Is there any other reason to get one? We will be doing a lot of in studio work that requires the LCD display, but I am trying to figure out if we even need the handle that you added for any future shots. Any thoughts you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Hello
So i have the cowboy shoulder rig, rail support with a 2 stop fallow focus standard 15mm rods and a matte box, do i only need the offset adopter to get this set up?? can you please post the direct link, i tried fallowing some of the links you shared with others but the page i got showed a complete rig for hundreds of dollars.
thanks and btw love your videos
Hi Gabriel! Thanks for the question. I believe this is what you are looking for: http://express35.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=offset&product_id=94
thank you very much for the help, this is a great set up, cant wait to get my hands on this
Hey Rod, is it possible for you to create a full list with links to your setup?
Hey guys, i found similar pieces to make an offset as well as add arms with hand grips like in the video and all via ebay,
The cowboy shoulder rig is a very promising invention, i have two of them now and i can even attach two together so they balance out on my shoulder so i dont accumulate pain in i shoot for hours,
i also found other rigs with a double shoulder support tehse are tacky http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_camcorder_twin_shoulder_support_tss.htm,
or this http://cheesycam.com/handy-filmtools-base-x-revisited/
but over in numeriphot in france they have several new double shoulder pad models with the same type of shoulder pieces like the cowboy rig, then way nicer rails etc, samme idea though