This is a dual video rig that I built using components from Thunder Bay, Ontario manufacturer Cinevate. My main interest in videography is wildlife, which by its very nature frequently demands the use of powerful telephoto lenses in order to capture good detail of the subject. At the same time, however, it's also desirable to show the animal subject in its natural environment. As a one-man camera team, this means juggling cameras, lenses, tripods, etc. with all the disadvantages inherent:

1. timing (wildlife seldom waits around 'til YOU'RE ready!),
2. commotion (wild animals are usually very aware of any movement near them and are flighty), and
3. simple logistics (everything has to be carried in and out of often isolated locales over difficult terrain - double kit including tripods is problematic).

I noticed on Robin Schmidt's "El Skid" a feature on his Red Rock Micro "Beastmaster" fig which incorporated two dslrs with two different wide angle lenses that he used as a handheld to get simultaneous but slightly different perspectives of the subject. This is what I determined I could build, although the rig construction would need to be more a more robust cage design for tripod use to handle a large (and heavy) telephoto lens on a Canon 7D with battery grip. Above it is possible to easily snap a Canon 5D Mark 2 with a wide angle lens to simultaneously shoot the same subject, but including much more of its environment at the same time.

This unit is quite heavy - 24.6 lbs with cameras and lenses, but without any external monitor(s), sound recorders, or microphones. I use a Manfrotto 504HD head on a Manfrotto 536 carbon fibre tripod - a sturdy unit but barely able to the task.

Why Cinevate? Their equipment is ultra heavy duty, highly configurable, use of carbon rods, composite materials, and aluminum make it weight-efficient but very strong. At the Henry's Cameras trade show last September in Toronto the Cinevate booth was very busy, but nonetheless both staff and their president, Dennis Woods, spent an inordinate length of time with me explaining the features & advantages of their equipment -- a major factor in my decision-making process.

These are some quick pics I snapped on Christmas night with my G11 after I made my initial assembly of the rig which arrived two days before. I've since done some tweaking (ie. camera harmonization) which I will blog about shortly at http://rilstone-naturephoto.blogspot.com/