Matthews highlights two rugged and versatile camera support tools that individually solve a world of everyday busy set needs and together form a dynamic camera support duo.
The Dovetail Cross Plate (patent-pending) expands orientation versatility when mounting a camera to a fluid or gear head. It also simplifies working with prime and zoom lenses where minimal balancing is required. A quick addition to existing camera supports, the 2-layer swiveling plate design provides both traditional camera mounting, as well as additional 90-degree and 45-degree angles.
Each rotating Plate has a different finish for easy identification and features a spring-loaded post and stationary stop to prevent the bridge plate or sled from sliding off. Other safety features include a special angle lock design and an internal positioning safety spring. In addition, twenty 3/8”-16 and 1/4”-20 threaded holes on the plate bottom with Heli-coil wire inserts secure the connection. The Dovetail Cross Plate is compatible with the quick release on most fluid heads and other supports including the Matthews CAM Tank.
Proven for over a decade, CAM Tank now sports a new sleek black finish and red trim. This hefty support accepts all standard large format camera plates or can direct mount to any large or medium format camera equipped with 3/8″-16 mounting threads. It is designed for extremely low shots, while maintaining the ability to pan 360 degrees and tilt 30 degrees in each direction. It is commonly used to achieve dutch angles when mounted to a fluid head, or can be pointed straight down off a fluid head on a tripod or jib.
The rugged system is CNC machined out of 6061 T6 aluminum and utilizes the finest stainless-steel hardware, including premium NSK deep grooved ball bearings for the tilt mechanism. The pan bearing uses a machined polyoxymethyline, delrin disk, which self-lubricates and has an endurance rating 100x more than any plastic. Pan and tilt functions offer premium brakes for solid lock-off shots and camera safety. Weighing 180-lbs/82kg it is ready to support any camera measuring 10″x7″ /264mm x 177mm with a minimum height as low as 4″/101mm.
The Dovetail Cross Plate is an easy companion for the CAM Tank. Thanks to industry standard threads, they mate together securely and safely support the camera in almost any position to help produce routine shots or seemingly impossible angles, on schedule.
Dovetail Cross Plate and CAM Tank are available individually from Matthews dealers worldwide. Both will be on display at BSC Expo Booth 237.
For more information on Matthews’ full line of studio grip gear, please visit MSEGrip.com.
All photos provided by Matthews.
