DSLR Rig Review - Canon 5D Mark II and 7D Camera Rigs

In this review we you will learn more about DSLR Camera rigs. Canon DSLRs offer every photographer an affordable way to shoot HD videos. Has HD videos in DSLR cameras are becoming more and more popular among amateur and professional photographers, there's come a need for special equipment like DSLR Rigs, which will offer a better and more comfortable way to shoot long and blur-resistant videos. If you are not familiar with the HD video features in Canon (and Nikon) DSLR cameras, I recommend reading Canon DSLR HD Video Shootout review that we've written previously to this blog post.

What is a "DSLR Camera Rig" and What is it Good For?

Lets start with the most common question: "What is a DSLR Rig and what its purpose?".  Whether you shoot DH videos with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, Canon 550D, Nikon D300s and other Video ready DSLR cameras, you would probably want to take a look at DSLR rigs. DSLR rigs are important for any type of cinematographer who want to take videos with its DSLR camera. DSLR rigs help cinematographes get a more convenient way to hold the their DSLR camera while shooting handheld (without a tripod) videos for a long period of time. Shooting long videos hand-held without a DSLR camera rig, especially if you use a heavy camera (like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II) and a heavy lens, can be very hard, even if you are Arnold Schwarzenegger (ok, I exaggerated, but you get my point). Add an external DSLR microphone to it, a battery grip with an extra battery, and you find yourself holding a pretty heavy stuff in your hands.

Some photographers call it a "Shoulder Tripod/Monopod", and it helps you carry heavy camera, lens and other accessories on one shoulder. DSLR rigs will also ofer you the advantage of more convenient focusing while shooting video and can help to minimize camera shake at the same way that camera tripods do. There are many other cinematic accessories/products out there, but DSLR rigs are the basic for every film-maker, whether it is in the professional film industry or at the backyard of an amateur photographer.

One of the main problems that you might encounter while shooting videos with your 5D Mark II, 7D or Canon 550D DSLR cameras, is that when you zoom in and out, the camera shake is very noticeable in many videos and that creates an unprofessional look to your videos, even though that sometimes it is done deliberately to create a special effect like in horror movies for example. When you rotate you camera from side to side (panning) handheld without a DSLR rig, you will have trouble keeping the camera in a straight horizontal line. Of course it is not perfect with a DSLR camera rig either, but it is miles better than without. Some DSLR video photographers rely on the lens optical stabilization features to help steady the image while shooting handheld, but between us, you know the difference in shooting handheld pictures against shooting them with a tripod, especially if held for a long period of time, where the your hands are getting shaky.

Shouldmount vs. Handheld DSLR Camera Rigs

There are two types of DSLR rigs: handheld and shouldermount.

Handheld DSLR Rigs - As their name implies, handheld DSLR rigs are made to be held in your hands and many of them have a special part that leans on your upper front body area to prevent camera shake and ease the use of carrying and shooting with the camera for a long period of time.

Shoulder DSLR Rigs - Shouldermount DSLR rigs are more popular, and they are used to carry on the photographer's shoulder. They are usually bigger and are meant to carry more heavy accessories and feature better functionality for professional DSLR film makers, and they are in many cases are more expensive compared to Handheld DSLR support rigs.

Professional vs. Cheap DSLR Rigs

As any other photographic gear, you can find companies who manufacture professional camera DSLR rigs and other companies that will sell you affordable/cheap DSLR rigs. I've seen some online video guide that instruct you how to build your DSLR rigs right at home, using cheap materials. That sometimes work, but if you are getting more serious and taking into consideration the fact that you are putting an expensive photographic equipment on the DSLR rig, I am sure that you don't want to see your camera on the floor, crashed, after falling from the rig because you have done not a great job in building an amateurish camera rig yourself at home.

There are some known companies who have created advanced, professional and comfortable DSLR rigs for Canon DSLR cameras, here are some:

• Cinevate DSLR Rigs - On Cinevate DSLR rigs section, you can find very unique and useful DSLR rigs and other add-on accessories to go with it: Proteus Shoulder Mount "Monstor Grip" Kit ($261), Uno DSLR Rig ($720), DSLR Ultimate Uno Package ($2398), Uno DSLR Rig - Heavy Support ($875), DSLR Deluxe Package ($3168). You can also find complementary products like grips, proteus cage, mounts and focus rings. Check Cinevate's YouTube Theater channel for more product video reviews.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Redrock Micro Handheld DSLR Support Rigs - Redrock is specialized in cinema accessories for digital Filmmakers. You can find both handheld DSLR support rigs and shouldermount (cinema-style) rigs. the are ultra light weight rigs. Their patent-pending DSLR baseplate and special materials, create a small footprint video DSLR rig. They are also 66% lighter than comparable stainless steel camera rods from other companies. You can choose from their handheld DSLR rigs: UltraPort, Captain Stubling and theEvent rigs, or choose from their Souldermount rigs: eyeSpy bundles, DSLR field cinema bundle or DSLR cinema bundle for the most demanding SLR video photographer. Highly recommend rigs for Canon 5D Mark II. The eyeSpy range rigs allows you to shoot through the camera viewfinder using a special adapter the locks onto the camera's viewfinder.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Dragon Image DSLR Camera Rigs - An Australian company who also manufactures DSLR rigs and other special photographic equipment. Starting with their UltraCompact shoulder mount rig, indiRAILSpro DSLRsm and other dedicated DSLR video rig accessories, which are highly adjustable, light weight and made from carbon fiber rods, focus control kobs instead of focusing with the lens barrel. Everything is professionally made and suited for both the amateur and professional DSLR movie maker. It is a modular rig system that can help you start with a small investment and build up when you want a more professional rig system in the future. Whether you shoot with Canon 5D Mark II, 7D or 550D, you'll find solution for your HD video film making needs.
  
• Spiderbrace 2 Rig - Spiderbrace has a cheap yet comfortable DSLR rig for both camcorders and DSLR cameras like the Canon T2i, 5D Mark II, Panasonic GH1, Nikon D90, Nikon D5000 and virtually all available DSLR cameras according to their website.
  
• Mauromedia Tech Canon Rig - Two guys at Mauromedia have decided to built their affordable camera rig. It is a shoulder-mount camera rig for Canon 5D Mark II. It seems that those guys at Mauromedia understand video filmaking production. This rig is dedicated (I think) for the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR camera and for the new Canon EOS-1D Mark IV.
  
• Cavision Camera Rig for Canon DSLRs - I didn't like the website design, but I found many photographers buying their rigs so I've decided to add them to my DSLR rigs review. They have Single Handgrip, Dual handgrip, Shoulder Pad rigs. It is dedicated for Canon 5D Mark II SLRs, but you can also use the Canon 7D and the T2i (550D) with additional spacer plate (RPC4566) to fit those DSLRs on their rigs.

This is just a bunch of known companies that sell DSLR rigs on the Internet. The most popular are Redrockand Cinevate, which has professional modular DSLR video photographic equipment, and those companies are in my top list for purchasing DSLR rigs. I also recommend checking Zacuto DSLR Kits , which offer popular modular handheld rigs and jag35 affordable full shoulder rig and also Genus camera rigs.

Homemade DSLR Rigs

Spending hundreds of dollars on a DSLR rig is probably the safest, easiest and fast way to jump into the HD DSLR movie shooting field. But some people want to try building a homemade dSLR soulder rig themselves, using wood, yes, Wood. Jonathan Clifford Berqvist from Shutterbug have decided that he want to shoot videos with its Canon EOS 7D camera, but finds the prices to high. He finally decided to take action and build a wooden DIY dSLR rig by himself as seen on engadget, Athan.se and PetaPixel websites. Enough talking, watch this video to learn more about Berqvist Innovation.

Half Inch Rails Story

Some people like Sam Morgan Moore (a UK photographer), took it to a more professional level, and start learning how to design a rig by themselves and even sell it world wide. The company is now called Half Inch Rails and it became a popular dSLR rig and was adopted by many video photographers worldwide. You can purchase the RnG Pro Rig and enjoy an affordable, light weight and a revolutionary focusing system dSLR rig. Sam Morgan Moore have built a prosumer DSLR rig which found itself in many photographers bags (can it get into a bag?).

See how Sam in its workshop and shows how strong the equipment (the Series 1 rig):

Here's a movie, which have be shot with Sam's Half Inch Rails DSLR rig and with the Canon 5D with 24-105mm Lens:

You can find more videos on this page.

Aerial Photography Camera Rig

You ask yourself how creative can people be, right? - Well, look at Scott Haefner Kite Aerial photography rig & camera combination, which weights 400g. There is not limit on how creative photographers can be and after seeing this Aerial rig, I am asking myself what more I can find by searching the web for DSLR camera rigs (LOL).

Let's Sum It Up!

As you can probably see by reading this review, you can choose between a shoulder or handheld DSLR rig, but can also find several solutions for different video photography shooting styles.  The DSLR rigs prices vary depend on your video photography needs, and you can find cheap camera rigs starting from around $100 and go up to thousands of dollars profesisonal DSLR rigs. Most of them are made by tough yet light materials. The most recommended rigs are from Cinevate and Redrock HD DSLR camera rigs.  Redrock really got me interested in professional digital filmmakers rigs and accessories, because they offer very high quality cinema accessories for DSLR cameras in very competitive prices.

If you need a DSLR camera rig for Canon 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 7D, 550D, you should probably check Cinevate and Redrock products before making a purchase. Those high grade professional rigs will help you take much better HD videos with your Canon camera, make focusing and other adjustments easy and fast, without compromising on video quality and ease of use.


As more and more stills photographers start to take advantage the HD movies feature found on current entrly level and professional level DSLR cameras, we will probably see more camera rigs which are dedicated for DSLR cameras from Canon and Nikon. Because a DSLR camera is smaller than professional high-end video camcorders, there came a need for small footprint, light weight and modular system rigs.

Whatever camera rig you decide to buy (or make at home), take the safety of your photography equipment into consideration. you don't want to break expensive lenses or you camera while shooting with unprofessional DSLR rig. Hope this DSLR rig review helped for some of you and gave you a kick start for learning more about video photographic equipment. Good luck and see you soon on my next review. Oh, and don't forget to share it if you like it.