Kessler has unveiled the KillShock vibration isolator, a highly modular system capable of small to large payloads at an affordable price. As we know, gimbals contain very sensitive electronics, vibration isolators are used prevent any interference with the sensors when mounting on a vehicle. If you want to hard mount a camera, they are also useful to stabilise the camera so don’t always need to have a gimbal mounted.
Kessler looked at the current offerings on the market and felt that there was no system that delivered high performance at an affordable price. With feedback and requests from shooters, Kessler went ahead to build a system that could be configured to take multiple payloads, have multiple mounting options and be easy to use.
The KillShock has a round top and bottom plate to have multiple isolation distribution points and to keep the camera and gimbal mass centred.
The Shock Modules
Depending on the payload configuration, you can use 3, 4, 6 or 8 Shock Modules to match the weight of the payload. For heavier setups, you will need to add more Shock Modules and for a lighter load, you can use less.
Each shock module has a double cable set screws per end to ensure cables cannot come loose. The cables in each shock module are also angled on each end to reduce rotational flattening often found with isolators that use only straight coils. Kessler chose to use plastic covered steel braided cables instead of surgical tubing or rubber products which can break down over time when exposed to heat or other substances.
Configuring the KillShock Modules
The KillShock comes standard with eight red Shock Modules. Kessler will also offer two other Shock Modules in blue and black.
Blue – Light:
For smaller digital cinema cameras, mirrorless or DSLRs
Red – Medium/Standard:
For packages like a RED, C300, heavy DLSRs with Cine primes with a gimbal like a MoVi M5/M10/M15/Pro, Ronin/Ronin M/Ronin MX
Black – Heavy Duty:
For RED, Alexa Mini, Ursa Mini Pro, Phantom Flex, etc package with cine zoom, heavy primes and a large gimbal like a MoVi XL or Ronin 2
To get the exact payload displacement and strengths, you can mix and match the different Shock Modules, e.g. alternating between blue and red Shock Modules to get something in between a full set of blue and red Shock Modules.
Further to this, you can also swap out the individual cables in the Shock Modules to create a custom Shock Module. With all three strengths, there are over 1000 combinations of Shock Modules & cable configurations.
KillShock Mounting Points
In Kessler fashion, there is a tonne of depth and versatility to how to KillShock can be used.
The top plate uses the same mounting system that is used in the Shuttle Dolly, Shuttle Pod & Shuttle Pod mini line of products so you can even use the KillShock as an isolating head on the Shuttle Dolly. It also features a native Mitchell mount integrated into the plate which works with the Ronin 2 & MōVI XL Mitchell Adaptor.
If you don’t want to go with the Mitchell mount, you can choose to add the flat cheese plate insert or 100mm bowl adaptor. From here, you can add your gimbal quick release, tripod head or anything else via the tapped holes.
For quick levelling, the Kessler HD Angle Plate is also compatible as shown below with a fixed C300
The bottom plate also features the same mounting system but also has points for a Boss Tie Down system with castle nuts.
To reduce the weight of the KillShock, the top and bottom plates have skeletonized holes which can be used as tethering points as well as multiple 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16 holes.
Inversion Kit
The four holes on the bottom plate are also used for the optional Inversion Kit to allow the system to be used in an underslung mode for use with a jib or crane.
Optional Accessories
A wide range of accessories are available for the KillShock.
Shock Modules – blue, red or black, sold in sets of 3, 4, 6 or 8
Air Bladder Insert – for extra fine tuning
Mitchell Boss with Castle Nut – for mounting KillShock to Michell based tripods, cranes, jibs, sliders and dolly systems
KillShock Flat Cheese-plate adapter – compatible with Freefly MoVi Toad In The Hole (TITH), Ronin 2 tapped pattern, and features built-in 3/8-16 & 1/4-20 tapped holes.
100mm bowl adapter top mount (for 100mm heads etc)
100mm bowl for inversion mounting on cranes, sliders, dollies, etc. Note: 100 bowl must be coupled with KillShock flat Cheese-plate adapter via 3/8-16 and set locking screw)
Kessler HD Angle Plate with swivel – for hard mount levelling camera with rotational adjustments or when using KillShock mounted to door in Hostess Tray mode
Kessler HD Angle Plate without Swivel – same as above minus rotation adjustment
Over the next few months, Kessler will also be releasing additional optional accessories like adjustable arms, suction cup mounts, magnet mounts with silicone boots, hostess tray (car door) mount and more.
How does it perform?
To show the KillShock in action, they took it out for a test shoot with DP Rob Ruscher and Kessler founder, Erik Kessler’s Audi R8 carbon edition. They used a standard KillShock with 8 red Shock Modules mounting the Freefly MoVI Pro gimbal holding a RED Scarlet-W package with Zeiss CP.2 lens & Bright Tangerine Misfit Atom. The footage is straight out of the camera with no additional image stabilisation.
Pricing & Availability
The KillShock with 8 medium standard Red shock modules (pre-installed with thread lock), top plate, bottom plate, center flat cheese plate mount adapter and 4 thumbscrews will have a special introductory price of USD $1,199.95 for the first batch which is expected to ship within 1-2 weeks. After that, the price will go back to the regular retail price of $1,274.95.
Pre-orders for the KillShock are available at the Kessler Store.
The inversion kit will retail for $724.95
For comparison, here are some other vibration isolators.
Rigwheels Cloud Mount – From $999 to $2000
GM Cine Movmax – $980
Flowcine Tranquilizer – $2000
CineMilled ActionArm – TBC
