Product Review:
By: Derek J. Allen

This weekend I received a Spider Brace to use with my HVX200. It’s a simple shoulder mount, constructed of PVC plastic, that quickly attaches to you camera with a twist of a screw. The 1.5lbs of the brace is so minor it’s virtually a non issue. It only takes a couple of minutes to assemble the device. Just screw on the shoulder extension, position the handles, and lock everything in place with little locking pins and you ready to go.

The camera attaches to the brace with a single, finger tightened 1/4-20 screw. There isn’t a set pin to keep the camera from spinning on the mount but the rubber pad the squeezes between the camera and mounting bracket seems to make for a secure fit. The handles and shoulder extension are covered with a very soft foam rubber that seems comfortable enough. I just wonder how well it’s going to hold up over time in my sweaty hands.

While the light weight and plastic materials make the Spider Brace seem a little cheezy, it’s appears to be sturdy enough to support my HVX and similar cameras.The first thing you notice when you throw the camera and Spider Brace on your shoulder is that all the weight is still out front on your arms. In my mind the whole idea is shift the weight from your arms to your body. While your arms are still supporting the bulk of the weight, the handles put you arms in a position that allows you to lock you elbows into torso. This seems to provide stable support and reduces arm fatigue.

The design of this shoulder brace puts the eyepiece exactly where I need it. I tried it with both the HVX and my PD-150 and the results were positive with both. The should extension has enough length for me to comfortably operate using the eyepiece or by pushing the camera a few inches away, I could clearly view the flip out LCD. Depending on you eyesight, you may different results.

The next issue I faced is zoom, iris and focus. With neither hand touching the camera that can be bit of a problem. I found that I could easily remove my left hand and grab the camera’s controls with disturbing my composition much. The brace positions your right hand almost under the camera, so it’s easy to maintain firm control with you right hand. Your left hand is positioned further away form the camera. When you release the right hand grip, the camera’s weight wants to shift to the right a bit more. This is not impossible to control, it’s just not as easy as with the right hand.

One thought is to connect a mini lens controller like a ZOE and Varizoom to the right handle. You may find that you need to to trim way some of the hand grip foam to accommodate the controller. This would allow you to at least keep one hand on the Spider Brace.

The brace doesn’t really have any negative impact when shooting off the shoulder. Naturally, the rig makes everything a bit wider and longer so it’s not as easy to get the camera into tight spaces. I found that I could use the brace to help me steady the camera when shooting from the hip or even lower. When placed on the ground or a tabletop the brace also works as a tripod, of sorts. Panning may prove to be difficult but tilting works fairly well.

While it’s easy enough to screw the Spider Brace onto the bottom of the camera, I wish there was quick and easy way to go back and forth between tripod and handheld shooting. I’m sure with a little thought you can come up with a workable modification. With that all said, I still have to see what it’s like to run around all day with the rig. I’ll have to get back to you.

http://www.spiderbrace.com/

Posted by gearjones on Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 9:51 pm.