On paper the handgrip package has a lot going for it: it is compact and the handle folds down, has an integrated swing away viewfinder which offers 6x magnification, is lightweight and best of all, is priced at $199. So I ordered one from a local retailer.
The stabilizer delivered all that it promised. It is lightweight, easy to get in my bag with the camera attached or detached, and nicely finished. No instructions are required as it is obvious that the camera is mounted by screwing it to the mounting plate. It also takes about two seconds or less to figure out how to engage and disengage and lock the hinged viewfinder. In terms of stability, with the camera mounted to the rig, there are three points of stability: One point at the hand grip, a second point at the eyecup and a third point can be established by the free hand, should you choose to place it on the camera.
In real world shooting, it works quite well with my collection of normal zooms and sub-200mm primes. But mounting the 70-200 zoom on it was challenging for me after a few minutes because the lens weight and length makes the rig front heavy. The viewfinder is a mixed blessing. I love the magnification; but it does not have a diopter adjustment which some users might prefer, nor is the viewfinder focusable. There is a price that one pays for the 6x magnification factor: There is some visible pincushion distortion (the corners bowing inward) when you view the LCD through the viewfinder. I mention this because some people may be disturbed by the visual effect of viewing the LCD where the corners lose their flat perspective and it potentially could affect critical manual focus of off-center subjects. I gave the rig to a couple of other photographers and they only became aware of the effect after I pointed it out. I did confirm that representatives of Cavision are aware that there is some pin-cushioning as a result of the higher magnification factor of their viewfinder. If you are using autofocus prior to the commencement of motion capture, the pincushioning if you notice it, is only a visual annoyance.
According to Bernie Koth-Kappus of the Vancouver based company, “We do have a wide variety of products for DSLR cameras, both at varying price points and for various different functions. One of Cavision’s primary goals is to create products that are universal and can fit a large variety of cameras. Because most of our systems are customizable and we already have many different types of components available, we can usually come up with a configuration for almost any camera.” As the HDSLR market continues to develop and mature, the ability to deliver products for various camera bodies and configurations is going to become increasingly important. In addition to the spacer plate to allow the 5D MarkII and the 7D to use the same stabilizer solutions, Koth-Kappus cites the development of a setup that would be suitable for the 5D MarkII with battery grip or Beachtek adapter (shown below on a shoulder mount stabilizer with extra accessories)
as examples of the ability and commitment Cavision has to crafting solutions. The company has an impressive lineup of attractively priced HDSLR related products from handheld stabilizers to shoulder mounts with follow focus ranging from $75 to around $900USD. Click here to visit Cavision’s website.
Disclosure: No consideration has been received in connection with this blog entry, nor has any manufacturer and/or retailer offered any consideration.
As always we invite you to look through the current issue of "Outfitting Your HDSLR" by clicking on the pages on the embedded magazine below:
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