By site editor Dan Chung
Olof Ekbergh is a shooter with a passion for designing new and interesting camera rigs. His company Westside AV has been manufacturing custom supports mainly for regular video camera for several years. Perhaps his most famous product to date is the wooden handle for Panasonic cameras. Several TV news shooters I know use Olof’s gear.
With the introduction of newer large sensor camcorders Olof has re-invented the camera rig by almost doing away with 15mm rods commonly used by other manufacturers. Instead he has created a lightweight and quickly assembled system that has multiple configurations – some of which emulate the design of a proper ENG camera but for a large sensor camcorder or DSLR. His new products can be found on the UniCamRail website.
He sent me this explanation of the system:
“Here is my expanding new kit for any camera. It is lightweight, compact and sturdy. The parts assemble quickly and are easy to reconfigure.
It can be ordered in many different configurations, and I am adding more parts to the kit as I develop them.
I use this kit myself on the Panasonic AF100 and on my Sony EX1R and I have also used it on the Canon XF305. The nice thing about it is that it will fit any camera in the future as well as the one you have now. It also fits DSLRs and the new Canon C300 and Sony FS700.
The kit works in conjunction with my AF100 wooden handle and AJA KiPro Mini/NanoFlash/Ninja/Samurai external recorder brackets.
Alternatively here is an AF100 with complete straight kit, using IDX batteries for counter balance. This is perfectly balanced and the new 3″ wide shoulder pad with 3/4″ thick foam is very comfortable, this is my wife Sharyn’s favourite setup.
An adjustable EVF bracket can be mounted to the front of the rail with a 4″ extension. Like any other part of this system it can be quickly installed, adjusted and removed.
Above is a Sony EX1R with a wooden handle and a remote controller. I will have the remote control wood handle available for many different cameras soon. For some cameras like the AF100 the start/stop button is built into the handle, but LANC-controlled cameras can use any controller mounted to the top of the wooden handle. Some controllers like those for Sony EX are unique to those cameras and they attach the same way.
The next configuration is a 5D mkII with a Zacuto EVF and IDX battery for balance. The battery can be used to power lights or external audio recorders etc attached to the cheese plate.
Above is a family portrait of some of the kit components.
Lastly, the straight kit without camera. This picture shows the components. On the left is the adjustable height 15mm rail adapter allowing you to use an existing follow focus or mattebox. Soon I will have mattebox and follow focus options which attach to the system without the need for rails.”
