Support Setup

By Robert M. Goodman

Manfrotto’s Fig Rig ($315), a steering wheel-like contraption with a cross-brace mount, breaks with design tradition (and some may say body mechanics) to improve shooting stability while supporting mics, mixers, lights and controllers.

Named after its creator, English director Mike Figgis (whose credits include the Canon XL1-shot Timecode and HD-shot Hotel), the Fig Rig weighs about four pounds before you mount a camcorder on its quick-release plate. Loaded with a camera and an external microphone, the setup requires the operator to hold approximately 10-15 lb. of dead weight at arm’s length.

Will it help you stabilize a traveling shot? Yes, perhaps—but you’ll need to purchase a remote zoom and focus control. Because you must keep both of your hands on the device to maintain stability, you can’t adjust the lens manually.

The other challenge is what to do with a Fig Rig on set when you need a rest from holding it. Enter an accessory for the accessory: Sini-Vision’s Quick-Base QB-01 ($200), which purports to be a portable docking station, workstation and support for the Fig Rig. You can place the QB-01 on a flat surface or mount it on any stand that has a standard 5/8-inch stud. The QB-01 weighs about 8 lb. Designed for abuse, it’s stable enough to safely hold a Fig Rig-mounted camcorder.

Manfrotto also offers a small Fig Rig clamp, so you can mount the circular setup on a tripod, as well as a hook to hang the rig from a light stand. Each of these alternate options costs less than $70. The Fig Rig may work for some run-and-gunners, but I’d hate to be the operator who has to use it for more than three takes on one shot. Offering no counterbalance, the Fig Rig places the weight of the camera in a position that strains the elbows, arms and shoulders, rather than using the body’s natural structure to help stabilize a camera.

The Quick-Base works as advertised, but its functionality comes at a relatively high cost, given that it’s two-thirds the price of the device it’s designed to hold.

Robert M. Goodman has more than 20 years of experience in documentary, corporate and commercial production. He’s the author of the Goodman’s Guide series of field manuals for cinematographers (AMGMedia Publishers, www.goodmansguide.com).