The Ergorig features a robust shoulder rest that sits slightly elevated off your shoulder, and you place your camera rig right on top of it. At the same time, because the Ergorig belt secures above your hips, all the weight of the camera load is displaced to the hips, so there’s no pressure at all on your spine.
You do feel some contact with the shoulder rest, just a touch, especially as you move about, and this helps have optimal control of the camera. You can alternatively float the shoulder rest a bit higher so there’s no contact at all. The Ergorig was developed by a veteran camera operator over a period of about two years, with consultation from an orthopedic surgeon. It transfers all the weight from the thoracic/lumbar vertebrae to the hips.
