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On some video cameras, it
seems that the operator shoulderpad wasn't exactly
designed to be ergonomic. In fact, sometimes they seem
like they were the last thing
to be slapped on the camera. They're not that comfortable.
Even worse, the DV500 shoulderpad tends to tilt the
camera into the user's face.
The best shoulderpad I've
seen come with the higher-end Sony camcorders with "memory-foam" shoulderpads
on the DSR-570 and the like.
So here's the alternative
- make your own. The steps outlined here are for my JVC GY-DV500,
so this procedure may or may not work. It may take some additional
work for camcorders with adjustable shoulderpads. I got a foam pad
with velcro from Portabrace.
This pad is from a long-discontinued Betacam shoulder case. But lucky
for them, they kept it sold it to me. I'm sure you can make one if
you're handy, got some fabric and know some basic sewing techniques.
Note: Be
very particular of the vent holes on your camera. The vent holes on
the DV500 are lower than most cameras', most of the time is a disadvantage,
because a foam pad would block the vents! In this instance, the DV500
vent holes are perfect. I don't think this will work for the Panasonic
cameras unless you can somehow find/make a rigid frame for the foam
to be lifted off the vent holes.
This project took me about
30 minutes to complete. That's with taking pictures and scrambling
around the house for two washers and a foam block to cut up.
| 1. |
Two
#1 Philips screws hold the bottom of the shoulderpad
to the bottom of the camera. Remove them and store
them in safe place. |
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| 2. |
The
shoulderpad should then fall out quite easily. |
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| 3. |
Optional:
Cut a small piece of styrofoam, about 4" x
2 1/2" and 1/4" thick. It's not critical,
as long as it fits in the "groove" where
the screw posts protrude.
Use
a sharp utility knife for this, or else you'll
get foam bits all over the place. I just "rescued" some
foam destined for garbage.
Mark
off the screw post postions, and poke two small
holes through the foam.
This
foam block is really for support and to reduce
strain on the velcro pad as there is some empty
space between the velcro pad and the camera body,
left by the screw posts.
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| 4. |
Taper
off the sides of the foam block so that the block
fits nicely, formed to the curved sides underneath
the camera. |
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| 5. |
I
wrapped the foam block using packing tape, so the
foam doesn't disintegrate and turn into foamy bits.
Might be annoying! |
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| 6. |
Poke
two holes in the tape where the holes for the screw
posts are, and the block should fit nicely onto
the bottom of the camera, and cover the screw posts. |
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| 7. |
Put
the velcro pad over the foam, and mark off the
position of the two screws.
Poke
two small holes using a sharp object.
Retrieve
the two screws from the shoulderpad disassembly,
and screw them through the velcro pad. You may
opt to use some washers to reduce strain which
may prevent ripping of the velcro pad in the
long term. I found two metal washers, so I used
them.
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| 8. |
I
glued the sides of the velcro pad onto the bottom
of the camera and gaffer taped the the long sides
for slightly reinforcement. It doesn't really matter
how ugly it looks for me, because my Portabrace
shoulder case covers this part. |
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| 9. |
Align
the foam block and slap it on the velcro!
With
so much velcro, removal does become tougher and
quite noisy.
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| 10. |
Aaah...
Now you don't have rubber digging into your shoulder!
One
primary concern of mine about this self-made
pad (mine, at least) is that because the pad
protrudes past the bottom of the camera, the
pad does get scuffed and marked when placed
or dragged on a surface. Therefore, I don't
know how long the vinyl-like material on the
Portabrace foam pad will last with that type
of abuse.
Also, I have a Portabrace shouldercase that compresses this pad somewhat,
and also keeps it in place during my shooting so I don’t worry
about the pad getting moved out of place.
And
with the shoulder case on, you almost don't
see the shoulderpad.
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