Anyone who has filmed with a small camera knows how the constant need to swap batteries can disrupt smooth work on a film set. For efficient filming, elaborate rigs with V-mount batteries are used. Such solutions do improve workflow, but on the other hand turn a small, handy camera into a multi-kilogram monster. We like to shoot "light", so we reconfigured our rig to enable long, comfortable, and enjoyable filming.
As a replacement for the original A7S battery we purchased the external battery Lanparte PB-600. It attaches directly to the right side of the Motion9 cage. Its capacity is 5–6 times greater than the standard battery. The Shogun recorder is powered separately by standard NPF batteries. The remaining rig parts are a Fotga base plate, two handles, and a Fotga Follow Focus DP 500IIS. At the rear of the rig, instead of a standard shoulder pad, we use the Lanparte CP-01 — a chest brace stabiliser. It serves us not only as a rig support during handheld shooting but also as a panning handle when working with a slider or on a tripod. Between the Fotga base plate and the cage we mounted a Manfrotto 577 Rapid Connect Adapter with a Sliding Mounting Plate (501PL) which allows the camera to be quickly detached from the rig when not needed. On the underside of the rig there is another 501 plate, which allows quick switching between tripod/monopod shooting and slider work.
Also arriving at our film equipment rental in January: the MVMXPRO monopod for easier filming with frequent position changes, and the discreet Rode SmartLAV+ lavalier microphone, which can be plugged directly into a smartphone, camera, or wireless system.