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Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) out of the box.

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) disassembled

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) with middle section extended.

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) with a swiveling plate. The plate can be adjusted around any axis.

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) - a swiveling plate with 1/4"-20 screw to attach lens collar or camera

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) has a wide rubberized base to place on your chest or against your shoulder.

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) has an adjustable neckstrap. This photo shows its plastic snap hook pulled out from its cover with the end of the strap detached.

Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) neckstrap is rather rough.

DSLR with Zacuto Gorilla plate mounted on Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod). The photo also shows Zacuto Z-Finder attached to the camera.

Another view of DSLR mounted on Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) with gear to shoot video.

Another view on Pistock-C (Novoflex Chestpod) in video shooting position.

This picture illustrates the
concept and typical usage
of Pistock-C (Novoflex
Chestpod).

What puzzles me sometimes is why some obvious things are ignored by many people. The same way I ignored a simple, inexpensive and at the same time effective solution for shooting video with DSLRs without tripods. Indeed, I was ready to pay almost $900 for Zacuto Striker, a hand-held support kit, but did not want to try more effective and cheaper support systems.

No doubt, something like Zacuto Striker (and for that matter any similar hand-held system from companies like indiSYSTEM, Cavision, etc. ) helps a lot with DSLR ergonomics that are not suitable at all for shooting video. But if you used them, you should have noticed that because most of the weight of the camera and rig is on your arms and shoulders, no matter how strong you are, muscles get tired rather quickly. As a result, camera shake increases despite all expensive toys.

An obvious solution to the problem is to shift most of the weight of your equipment from arms and shoulders to... your belly or chest. The idea is not new but largely ignored by many photographers and videographer. Anyway, my search of product implementing this concept did not take long. Voilà, here is Pistock-C Novoflex ( also known as Chestpod or Shoulder Pod) with the street price of $193.50 (price 2010)! By the way, Novoflex Chestpod was not developed for shooting video; it was created as a support system for taking pictures in places where using tripods (and monopods) either not possible (forbidden) and not practical.

There is not much to say about Novoflex Chestpod - it is really simple and obvious. But if you want some technical data I can tell you that its weight is about one pound (450 grams) and length is from 9.5" / 24 cm to 11.5" / 28 cm (in fully extended position). Perhaps I can add that Chestpod's plate can be rotated around all three axes to tune its position for a specific body size, usage and shooting situation. The swiveling plate has a 1/4"-20 screw and anti-rotation pin (can be removed). You can also adjust the length of the arm within the range of two inches. At this point I am going to stop feeding you with technical data and share with you my observations regarding pluses and minuses of Pistock-C design and its usage.

The focus of this review is on using Novoflex Chestpod for shooting video. Although many of my points can be also valid for photography, there are some differences.

Good Things

• By my observations, chest-shooting position, when used with Novoflex Chestpod, provides additional 2-3 stops in stability compared to hand holding. Since photographic terminology of "stops" does not translate very well with video shooting, I would also say that with the Chestpod I managed to get consistently stable clips without vibration and shaking using lenses with focal length up to 70 mm (full frame equivalent). This has nothing to do with the heavier weight of longer lenses but rather with the magnifying effect of zoom lenses where even smallest movement of the camera becomes exaggerated on the screen.
• Prolong shooting with Pistock-C does not result in any noticeable fatigue since most of the weight of equipment is supported by your body/chest instead of your arms. Note that shoulder-shooting position does not provide the same stability, and is not much different from hand-held support systems like Zacuto Target Shooter and Striker.
• In practical terms Novoflex Chestpod has replaced for me monopods. Since Chestpod is smaller and more lightweight than any of them, the net effect is the improved versatility and convenience.
• Broad and padded chest base is comfortable enough for prolong shooting. The Chestpod support system is very simple and easy to setup
• Although I an focusing on using the Chestpod for DSLR video shooting, I cannot but mention that it is really a multi-purpose device: for DSLR and camcorder video, DSLR and P&S photo.
• Zacuto Z-Finder is a good match to Novoflex Chestpod. Attached Zacuto Gorilla Plate with frame to the camera and you are good to go: you can have Z-Finder on its lanyard around your neck to attach and detach it quickly when needed.

Not So Good Things

• The Chestpod design assumes that the camera is supposed to be attached permanently to the plate. It makes some sense since the system is small and lightweight. However, a quick release adapter would not hurt and could only improve the versatility of the system. In its current default configuration, if you want to use any quick release system, it an extra item that should be purchased separately.
• In my observations, the weakest side of the Chestpod is its neckstrap and for a number of reasons:
  1. Contrary to how it is advertized, it is not comfortable at all. It is very rough and unpleasant to skin.
  2. The neckstrap adjustment range is not wide enough to cover all possible applications and body heights. For example, in most cases with my shooting style, I wish I could make it shorter by at least 4".
  3. Plastic material used for the strap adjustment locks (including the way both ends of the strap are fastened inside them are fastened inside them) does not give me any confidence with respect to the durability of the strap. I guess I will wait until they break and replace the whole neckstrap with something more comfortable.
• Additional problem with the Chestpod's mounting plate (not really relevant for video shooting) is that although it can be changed from portrait to landscape orientation, it cannot be done quickly. Again, additional piece of equipment is needed to solve this problem.