Standardized mounting plate with 15mm rod system (60mm spacing) for camera accessories like follow focus and matte box. Enables quick transitions between tripod, handheld, and rig operation.
Standard baseplates follow the 15mm rod system with precise 60mm spaced holes, featuring M4-standard threaded inserts. Carbon variants weigh approximately 200-400g, while aluminum versions range from 300-600g with a thickness of 8-12mm. Modern plates integrate ARRI rosettes (54-tooth standard) and quick-release systems like Manfrotto 501PL or Sachtler Touch-and-Go. High-quality models from Arri, RED, or Wooden Camera offer additional threaded holes for accessory mounting and anti-twist flanges.
The 15mm rod system established itself as the standard for professional film cameras in the 1980s, originally developed by ARRI for their 16SR series. The first standardized baseplates emerged in the late 1990s with the advent of modular camera rigs. The breakthrough came in 2005 with the RED ONE, which also popularized the system for digital cinema cameras. Since 2010, quick-release systems have dominated the market, while additional 19mm rod systems were introduced in 2015 for heavier setups.
In "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), George Miller used modular baseplate systems for rapid camera configurations between vehicle mounts and handheld sequences. The typical workflow involves mounting follow focus, matte box, and monitors via the rod interface of the baseplate. Advantage: Standardized compatibility between manufacturers and quick switching between support modes. Disadvantage: Additional weight of 1-2kg when fully equipped and potential vibration transfer with insufficient damping.
The baseplate differs from a pure camera plate by its rod integration and from a cage system by its linear configuration. Modern alternatives include cage systems from SmallRig or Tilta, which offer all-around mounting but are less suited for quick release. For lightweight DSLR setups, simple top handle solutions suffice, while heavy cinema cameras prefer direct tripod mounting without a baseplate. The 19mm system replaces 15mm rods for setups exceeding 8kg.
Ich baue meine komplette Optik-Kette über die Basisplatte auf - Follow Focus, Mattebox, alles sitzt auf den 15mm-Rods mit exakt reproduzierbaren Abständen. Wenn ich zwischen Stativ und Steadicam wechsle, bleibt die gesamte Konfiguration erhalten und ich verliere keine Zeit beim Nachfokussieren der Mechanik.
Für mich bedeutet die Basisplatte Flexibilität bei spontanen Bildideen - der Kameramann kann binnen Sekunden von statisch zu handheld wechseln, ohne dass sich die Bildcharakteristik durch veränderte Filter- oder Fokus-Positionen ändert. Das gibt mir die Freiheit, auch im laufenden Take zwischen verschiedenen Kamera-Modi zu entscheiden.
Eine standardisierte Basisplatten-Konfiguration reduziert meine Rental-Kosten erheblich, da Equipment zwischen verschiedenen Kamera-Packages kompatibel bleibt. Der Quick-Release spart täglich 30-45 Minuten Setup-Zeit, was bei 60 Drehtagen einem ganzen Drehtag entspricht - das sind 8.000-12.000 Euro gesparte Produktionskosten.
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Basisplatte"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?
The Lexikon is part of the Filmfarm ecosystem — alongside budgeting (FilmBalance), an industry magazine (FilmCircus) and crew networking (FilmCall, CrewMesh). One shared vocabulary for the whole production.