I received the LockPort UNIVERSAL two days ago and can’t believe I survived without one! As much as I enjoy my Zacuto Pro EVF and Cineroid, essential add-ons for video shooters, I don’t trust the flimsy mini HDMI connection on the camera. Actually, I hate it. The slightest touch to the HDMI cable might interrupt the signal to the EVF. Read on after the break

On my last photo shoot we fooled around with video again, 95% was shot handheld and we changed locations a lot, I lost signal on about 50% of takes! and had to ask the models to do it again, not a big deal since video wasn’t part of the assignment, we had a great time and no one noticed or cared. Now just imagine this happens on a job, a challenging focus pull, suddenly no signal and you have to ask the talent to redo the scene because there was a technical problem with your equipment. No one will hold it against you if this happens once, but if this keeps happening over and over, you will most certainly loose the client and your name as DOP will be tarnished. Luckily my recent jobs required a tripod and it never happened since I gaffa taped everything to ensure a rigid connection to the camera. See photo below(tape around the cable then tape it to the camera, minor improvement, works on tripod if you stay stationary,certainly not rock solid and kinda ugly)
But after my last handheld shoot I was ready to give up on my beloved Canon 5D2 because if this keeps happening, I can’t trust it on real assignments. And shooting without an EVF? Unimaginable, esp for wide open, shallow depth of field scenes. So, this is IT! Get one! Problem solved.

1) The base plate is only about 1mm thick and fits between the camera and the quick release, beautifully machined, and there is an additional benefit, the slick surface and straight (not rounded like on the camera) edges make for a much better contact surface. It is now impossible to twist my Manfrotto QR plate accidentally, the connection between the QR plate and the base plate is rock solid.

I ran into a minor problem, the supplied knobby screw (photo above) which attaches the clamp to the base plate was too tall and interfered with the manfrotto 394 plate, replaced with a Phillips head type screw (photo below) from the local hardware store, problem solved. cost: 10cents.
UPDATE: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: THE LockPort UNIVERSAL ships with an additional flat head screw to accommodate large quick release plates. Its great to see a company react and fix a minor oversight like this right away, thanks guys!

2) The Clamp slides over the 90deg HDMI adapter and onto the base plate, just tighten it with the supplied allen wrench and that’s it, you just saved yourself a lot of hassle in the future, quite possibly a few clients and the expense to have the fragile mini HDMI outlet repaired.
It can be mounted for front or rear use, I prefer the rear since mounting it forward will cover your mic input.


This little life saver easily qualifies as the most useful video accessory in 2011 for the 5D2 and 7D! I will update this post once I find out where you can purchase this in the USA, for now check out their website and contact them directly.
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