How to build a Sony FS5 rig for ENG on a budget part 3

In the final part of this series, Craig Marshall looks at how to take all the parts and build a rig you can balance perfectly on your shoulder without it looking like a 'Frankenrig'.

Read Part 1 and Part 2.

As a retired Betacam television professional, I'd always scoffed at those silly looking DSLR 'Frankenrigs' with their alarming array of cables spiraling out to snare the unwary wristwatch whilst remembering the classic Sony tripod quick-release plates of old where your camera body was balanced amidships by lens in the bow and a recorder in taking up the stern. I needed something similar today so casting about, I discovered Smallrig again with their heavy-duty, two-piece docking solution: a nicely engineered tripod plate and a camera plate which includes an integrated shoulder rest. The latter attaches quickly and securely to the former in two places either side of the shoulder plate.

Quick release plate close-up with Zacuto loupe mount repositioned onto a Smallrig cheese-plate.

OK, so now we have a beautifully balanced and naturally stabilised affair, recording exquisite, almost uncompressed 10bit I-Frame codecs to low-cost SSDs. But have I completely defeated the whole purpose of Sony's Fs5?

"Buy an Fs7" I hear you scream! Maybe but the Smallrig quick-release plate has a unique party trick! Just like an escape pod departing the mother ship, another quick-release lever hides beside the plate to allow instant removal of the camera body, lens and matte box together, leaving the battery/recorder counterweight secured to the rear set of rails.

I only need to disconnect the SDI and power cable from the camera whilst unplugging the Handgrip's Lanc cable to allow the Fs5 to slide off the shoulder plate for any lightweight 'run & gun' style shooting. In this scenario, the Fs5 is of course powered by battery and records internally so perfect for any wide angle, slow motion or 4K acquisition. Even the camera's versatile handgrip can remain in place on its dog-bone arm & rosette because Sony cleverly thought to add both a Zoom Rocker and a Start button to the top-handle!

Smallrig’s quick release plate with integrated shoulder pad allows just the camera & lens to quickly slide off the tripod.

So, is there anything to miss about my old VG20/Ninja Star? Well, the Fs5/Blade 'ENG' rig weighs in at 7Kg but it is beautifully balanced yet still fits neatly into the same camera backpack that I use for international travel where it packs beside a lightweight alloy fluid tripod inside a cheap suitcase. However, I do miss being able to capture 6K 14bit RAW stills with just the press of a button and I miss the VG20’s wonderful on-board Stereo/5.1 spatial microphone (the Fs5’s on-board mic is only for slating scenes) and if I'm honest, some of my fast Zeiss primes too.

Complete Fs5 ENG rig packed neatly into my travelling backpack.

I chose not to sell my Distagon f/2.8 21mm wide angle and I also have a rare full frame Tokina 150-500mm telephoto lens for the 'long' end' which boasts a constant aperture of just f/5.6. The Distagon 21mm adapted to s35 using a Speed Booster delivers F/1.9 at the sensor with a distortion free, 90-degree angle of view on the Fs5 so whilst the Sony 18-110 mm zoom combined with the remarkable 'Clear Image' electronic zoom extender (2x) is a wonderful setup, my rare Zeiss Distagon 21mm still remains my favourite lens.