Erwin Landau

Hi Jamie, Was looking for a transporter... they are called Eurovan in the US and were only available in windowed 5 seat set ups... were. They stopped import as they didn't sell very well because they were over priced and under powered. Starting 2008 VW will import the Crafter which is based on the Sprinter... again enormous in size... The US still has not learned a thing about environment... they introduced a fleet of XL and ginormous vehicles... for late 2007 and early 2008... and the Smart... but everybody is afraid they will be squished by monsters like the Lincoln XL or a Hummer... Also if you want to transport equipment and still have full coverage for theft... you have to have a panel van with no windows as well as a separation between the cargo and the passenger compartment... or the insurance might not pay for stolen items. The Quest continuous, Erwin

Something like that:

Yeah but look at the size... And they are all full size vans... which most of them will not fit into a downtown garage. Looking for a mini cargo van... not a 15 person mover. V8 power... you got to be kidding. All the "real" minivans like the odyssey, quest, caravan, sienna, etc. are designed for people and not cargo. They have a high loading lip and a low ceiling... The caddy would have space for my cart and then some and all on a platform not much bigger then a sedan... But thanks, Erwin

Thanks Charles and David, That was funny... that was the first time I've seen it in the full lengths... James Belushi has not changed a bit... It's amazing what you can do on set waiting around... I was waiting on Tuesday for 6 hours and yesterday they actually just put me on for the last shot of the day to not piss off the producer... But the down time was not as funny as Ted's... Great! Thanks guys, Erwin

I was looking around for a suitable van like vehicle... but anything that I like is not sold here in the US: Volkswagen T4 or the Caddy. GM stopped the production of minivan size vehicles like the Astro, Ford like the Aerostar, etc. The only van you can get currently here is a full-size V8 engined monster that gets 17 miles to the gallon. And no Diesel engines... I very much liked that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php?action=caddy.main http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...snotruf.Fzg.jpg What I also like is that one: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...sporter.gallery But look what they are actually going to import next year: http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/index.php...crafter.gallery Don't get it... Erwin

Hi Eric, That was for a Kristen Bell spec in March, you gave me all the pointers... but that was what the production ordered and Plus 8 wasn't very helpful either... We shot at her house... will see where it goes...

Check: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=333 But... Way to light. Had to be cabled for recording purposes... sucked.

Hi Matias, Have the same beef about the display... but on the set I'm using only the TWQ... no worries that the Smart charger could start to test the batteries ore some nonsense like that. Happened all the time with my 2702's. With the TWQ they just charge. I have a bunch of Trimpacs (12) and Proformers (20). They last forever. Charge them and let them sit, (they will self discharge over time, so charge them before each use) but there is not the same danger as with the Dionics, which will die anyway, if used or not. If they are new just put them on the shelf and use them when you want. Recelling is inexpensive (about $120.- per unit). Hope that helps. Erwin

Flicker-free 5600K daylight 1) Litepanel - 20-degree spot head 1) Battery adapter plate - Anton Bauer (one of, not sold by mfr.) 1) Noga Arm and extension 1) 8 pc. filter set 1) D-tap cable 1) 12V to Jumper 1) cable open ended SOLD Contact: Erwin Landau 818-448-2639 www.landaucamera.com

I finally had the chance to get to Preston to upgrade to the newest firmware... I have MAC... so no online upgrade unless you are running Windows... (Hell No!). Anyhow, If you haven't yet, get upgrade #9. Solves a lot of issues that came up and he implemented a bunch of new features. Larger size font for the Cinetape function. Easier access to commonly used features. Pulled to the front... other rarely used feature are now further down the menu. Light on/off and new auto. etc. If you haven't yet get the upgrade/software update. (it's free). Will use it tomorrow for the first time... Later, Erwin

I was just at Preston today... darn. I'll ask Howard tomorrow about the bandwidth on the 2.4 GHz. Later, Erwin

Hi Janice, I love the idea (As you can see in: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...amp;start=30)... I just started to get so lazy... that I like my set up to be always the same no matter where I am. And all my AC's know exactly were to look... I never have to explain my self... If Pelican would make something like the tool box... that would be perfect... with padded dividers or custom foam... perfect. My cart ended up 450 lbs. when build... I don't know about the solution... cellophane maybe? Yeah right. I'm looking into Airplane grade congregated plastic sheets and/or carbon fiber... as material. Dream on... I know. Erwin

Nice one... Thanks Janice. The only turn off, and that is what I'm battling in the moment, is the weight. It says shipping weight 50lbs.... With the new airlines restrictions on carry on weight, it will be another cargo ship only unit... Petty... Erwin

Hi Job, The Preston operates on 2.4 GHz (Microwave). It's good for about 1km (Kilometer). Line of sight. With about 60 usable channels if I'm not mistaken... (The dial goes up to 99) http://www.prestoncinema.com/index.html Erwin

Here a price comparison: http://www.wolfvid.com/datasheets/Transmitter_CAMWAVE.pdf Please check before you claim I over price the equipment... And again: The Anton Bauer Plates are not standard and are a hefty priced option. Enough said, Erwin

I have two DM-1 and two DM-2... http://www.prestoncinema.com/Dig_Motors.html Erwin

Condition New. Modified with Anton Bauer Plates... no that's not standard. Used once. New Lower Price: $2600.- No it's not mine but I'm selling it.

Hey David, Yes the CP/Tiffen Dock can be used to Dynamicly balance your rig... But you will wish you had spend a couple more bucks (on the Gorelock), the first time an AC pulls the mag and lets the Center Post take the hit... and there you have the first dig or scratch on your rig... or the first time you try to pull the stand over a set of cables... Do You need it? No, but I do. Erwin

I used to get that with my Preston MDR-1 and the bigger motor (DM-1). This combination was so powerful and had so much torque that I actually ripped a manual lens out of a XL-1 once... On the MDR-2 you have an external adjustment for torque and with the smaller DM-2 motor you can accommodate all lenses. Palomar saw the need for a motor with less torque... hens the M-0.5. You have to cover the whole spectrum. Erwin

Mark my friend... you are kidding, right? http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=262 http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=1695

My experience with the tier one contract so far is that the rates went down and on top the union wants there cut as well... I lost several jobs as I'm not union and the DP's that would like to hire me can't find decent ops for that money... Production is saying that you have several weeks of garantied work and the benefits, health insurance etc... which is a mood point because as a company I have all of that and then some... They are screwing with my business big time.

I thought they looked familiar...

So what you are saying is, that you are an experienced operator that used to fly an Ultra but that you just bought an Ultra 2 as your first rig right? And you got surprised and steamrolled by production... Then again... I can't stress enough for people, no matter how much experience they have or not, if you have a new piece of equipment that you are not familiar with, either the Camera or the rig, go to a Rental house and put it up and try it out... before you show up on set. That will give you the knowledge to tell the UPM or the Line Producer what you need to get your job done right. So you can say that you can't fly a certain Lens easily or that you need a clip on matt box or that you need a dedicated Low-mode bracket, 100% video or Steadimags... etc. There is no excuse for: Oh I never used that before... Be prepared. That's a part of your job description. Enjoy your Ultra 2 and fly safe. Erwin

I was talking about the Gold... as most of the work here in town is 35mm or HD and you need a certain pay load for that... But just for the sake of the argument... The Glidecam Gold System Includes: ($24'995.-) - Glidecam Gold Vest - Glidecam Gold Arm - Glidecam Gold Sled with NP-1 style Base - (with Anton Bauer Style Base at a $1000.-) - Glidecam L7-Pro LCD - L7-Pro LCD Video and Power Cable - Anton Bauer QR-7 LCD Battery Plate - Jerry Hill Docking Bracket with Gore Lock ($1095.- value) - 1 Camera Power cable with 3-pin Lemo Style to 4-pin XLR - 2 BNC to BNC video cables - 1 Gold Video Camera Plate - 1 Setup and Operations Guide (No batteries or charger included in that quote) Taken from recent Steadicam Classifieds: - D-Box 1 (Mint condition) - 3A Gimbal (New Condition) - PRO Super Post (about $400.- in labour to cut down to regular size) together $3900.- - Transvideo Monitor with Monitor Arm $3500.- - PRO 1 base with 9 batteries and charger $5000.- (need recelling, add $100.- per battery $900.-) - 3A arm $5500.- (needs work $2000.- but still) - Master Vest $2000.- (would never buy a used vest, just for the sakes of price) - 3 PRO camera plates $400.- - Misc power and video cables for PRO $1500.- - Used Gorelock fork $300.- (Add a new balancing beam $500.-) Just a quickie run down from equipment that I have seen or been offered since the beginning of the year. And you end up with a set up that will serve you very well... for a couple of years to come. Again that's the price for admission... don't forget that people are paying you rental for your gear as well, if you can't afford that, you can't play with the big guys in the sand box. Just my point of view... take it or ignore it, up to you. Erwin

Oh man... !?!?!?!?! Dancing Steadicam op... or an operating dancer? Or an attention grabbing Operator... or a bad B-camera op... he didn't frame out the Steadi... I thought I've seen it all... I guess I was wrong. Old Bear-Bel rig, Klassen Harness... who will fess up to it?