If you shoot – especially for documentary production – you know just how unnatural it is to support your video camera for hours on end. During a recent documentary shoot, I also worked as the handheld "B" camera operator to get an extra angle during a day-long production. While we all captured some amazing footage, for days afterwards I walked around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Even if you’re used to shooting every day, you will reach a point where your back, arms and shoulders will wish that you’d get a nice desk job. Fortunately, there are a number of camera support systems available right now that can fit both your style and budget. While each support product has specific uses, if you’re creative, you’ll find out that each one can be used in multiple ways to increase your production stamina.

The Easyrig camera support system from Swedish company Easyrig AB is truly unique: it essentially combines the principles of a backpack and a crane. The latest version on the market fits over one shoulder and side of your chest like a backpack, providing a back pad and waistband. The key to the support is Easyrig’s metal support arm, which runs from the waistband, through the back pad, and then curves just over your head. You attach the camera by a cable to the top of the support arm, where it is suspended just slightly over your shoulder.

The end result is that all of the weight of the camera is balanced between your hips and shoulders, with most of the weight removed from your arms. While not designed to be a stabilizer, the Easyrig can help you pan, tilt or hold on a shot with nearly the same stability you’d have if the camera were on a tripod.

The Easyrig, which is primarily designed for broadcast and film cameras that weigh up to 55 pounds, costs $2,650. For smaller DV cameras, the company puts out the Tà¶rtlerig ($1,626), which provides similar support and also fits nicely inside a backpack.

VariZoom offers a variety of camera support options, but the DV RigPro and the DV Sportster are two that you should know about. Both of these products offer serious muscle relief, especially if you work with smaller DV-sized cameras.

The DV RigPro ($599) has one shoulder support, with a waist support that attaches to a camera platform using a telescoping rod. Two handles on the bottom of the platform let you move the camera to adjust pan and tilt. The end result is that the camera is primarily supported with your abdominal muscles, and not your arms or shoulders. The height and tilt of the DV RigPro can move smoothly, or can be locked down to a specific angle.

The DV RigPro is not a camera stabilizer, so you are likely to get "shaky cam" shots when moving. However, if you need to keep the camera stable while standing for long periods, the DV RigPro is a great low-cost tool.

Fans of low-cost camera stabilizers such as the Tiffen Steadicam Pro Jr, the Glidecam 4000, or VariZoom Flowpod can also get some relief with the DV Sportster. The DV Sportster provides these systems with a vest and articulated arm so that you can use your shoulders and back to support your Glidecam, et al. While not a cheap upgrade at $799, the DV Sportster will let you use your stabilizer for longer periods with less pain.

Nothing says professional in a production more than the use of moving shots. The downside to using a traditional dolly is setup time and transportation; laying down track and moving the dolly to different locations eats up crucial production time. Two impressive new alternatives to this are the P+S Technik Skater Mini Camera Dolly and the Warren Rufus Innovators CamTramSystem, both of which were designed and developed by broadcast professionals.

Resembling a triangular skateboard, the 8-pound Skater Mini Dolly uses three tracking wheels that you can quickly and very precisely adjust to make curved or straight tracking paths. Don’t worry about laying tracks for this dolly- all you need is a flat surface, such as a table, door or floor. Just place your camera on the Skater Mini using the integrated dovetail mount, dial in the angle of movement on each wheel and then move the camera by the base of the Skater Mini.

Setup on the Skater Mini is fast, especially when you use the laser pointer to set the exact spot that you want to target with your move. The only downside to this brilliantly engineered product is its price: at $6,225 for the Skater Mini alone, this is definitely a product to rent unless you are shooting every day.

The CamTramSystem ($3,395) is a portable dolly and camera mounting system that can use just about any material as tracks- including aluminum ladders, PVC pipe and metal park rails. I know, I’ve tried them all. The entire CamTramSystem fits into a medium-sized suitcase, and weighs in at around 35 pounds. The camera is mounted to a high/low hat with a 100-millimeter bowl, which rests on a metal platform above four sets of wheels. This is standard dolly technology – until you get to the bottom clamp wheels, which you can adjust to any size of "track." The huge benefit here is that you can use a variety of materials on site as track, so the only thing you need to pack is the CamTramSystem. You could fly in, buy a 12-foot metal ladder as a dolly track, get your dolly shots with the CamTramSystem and then just leave the ladder when you fly back. Like the Skater Mini, the CamTramSystem is not cheap, so you should check to see if it is also available at your local rental house.

Two products that have to be mentioned when you talk about innovative grip equipment are the Bogen/Manfrotto FigRig and Cinekinetic’s Cinesaddle. Both provide very different camera support options, yet can be invaluable in many situations.

Manfrotto developed the FigRig ($550) in conjunction with famed director Mike Figgis as a way of both stabilizing smaller DV cameras and wrangling their accessories. The FigRig looks like a large steering wheel, with the camera attached to a support in the middle and all of its accessories- including microphones and lighting- attached to the outside. Remote controls near the handgrips on the side of the wheel let you control zoom and record start, so you never have to touch the camera. By controlling the camera without holding it directly, shots are smoother, you have more options of angles and greater ability to move in tight spaces.

The FigRig is not for everyone, though. It does require a lot of practice and no small amount of upper arm strength to successfully use it on a shoot. However, the Fig-Rig is great for tightly controlling the look and feel of a production, especially if you need to follow characters through narrow confines.

The Cinekinetic Cinesaddle is not new, but it remains on my list of the top 10 brilliant camera grip tools of all time. The Cinesaddle is simply a bag that conforms to the shape of your camera and just about any surface, giving you a solid tripod-like base for your shot. Inside the Cinesaddle are tiny beads, which conform to the camera, reduce all movement and allow you to shoot just about anywhere. You could use the Cinesaddle on a tree branch, boulder or even attach it to a car hood using bungee cords. Just put your camera in the middle of the saddle, and then move the saddle as needed to set up your shot. The Cinesaddle comes in three sizes (regular size, DV size and MiniDV size), and can even house some gear inside the bag. If you do any shooting in unusual locations where tripods might not work, then you need a Cinesaddle. At $350, it’s one of the best grip investments I’ve ever made.

Camera support systems are like tripods (or even shoes) – what fits one person well may not necessarily fit another as well. Before investing in any of these systems, make a point of trying them out at a local dealer or rental house. You may find that it makes more sense to simply rent one of these systems when you need it for a day-long shoot. However, be warned: once you’ve had a taste of pain-free camera operation, it’s very hard to go back.

Easyrig AB Easyrig and Tà¶rtlerig
www.easyrig.com

Manfrotto FigRig
www.manfrotto.com/figrig/

VariZoom DV RigPro and DVSportster
www.varizoom.com

P+S Technik Skater Mini Camera Dolly
www.pstechnik.de

Cinekinetic Cinesaddle
www.cinekinetic.com

Warren-Rufus Innovators CamTramSystem
www.camtramsystem.com