RobinThwaites

The next Tiffen-Europe Three Day Steadicam Workshop has been scheduled for the 6th-8th May 2009 at the BBC Wood Norton Training Centre (near Evesham, 2 hours from London).

All the latest gear, Ultra 2, Clipper 3, Archer, etc. plus probably Flyer and Pilot.

Please contact me by e-mail to robin.thwaites@tiffen.com or James Elias (jelias@tiffen.com) or phone at +44 1869 34 38 35.

I have already sold some places on this workshop so if you are interested please do get in contact as soon as possible.

Robin

Hi Bart

Where are you in the world. Please e-mail me direct to my desk at robin.thwaites@tiffen.com.

Robin

Hey Mike

How are you?

What you need for your U2 is the neat little angled CRB bracket, it inverts the arm post to drop the gimbal lower leaving you space for your hands but without a big extension because you can do that on the post.

Best

Robin

Hi Ed

If it is tripping out the battery then the problem is with the battery and not the wiring. The fact that it is tripping the battery means that you must be drawing excess current up the post so the wiring must be capable of passing that much current.

One word, PowerCubes - or is that two words? If you can get the setup together again I will lend you one to do a test.

Robin

No, not a Tiffen Workshop. As mentioned, we have too many other committments at that time.

Robin

Hi Michael

Erik is correct, the cable you mention will have the 3 pin Lemo of the current Flyer range and you will need the 2 pin. If you can wait the best place to get it is the factory but I am pretty sure they will have to make it as it is not a common request....................unless you know someone who can rewire one that is available.

Robin

Hey Amando! Have fun with it, shame it doesn't work on my Blackberry.

Robin

That is the question....

Hello Juan

Unfortunately we are committed to the NAB exhibition shortly after and would not be able to move the equipment around in time.

Robin

Hi Amando

It would be great to have a beer (or two) with you if you are around.

Robin

Hi All

Here are the details in English, I was at Sitges with Juan last year and it is a wonderful location with a beach and many local facilities, anyone who goes will definitely have a good time. Please contact Juan Fernandez at aFilm for information or to make bookings.

STEADICAM OPERATOR’S WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Steadicam, this is a 3 day comprehensive workshop in the art of

steadicam techniques and operation.

This course is for film and video professionals with camera operating experience who

wish to learn how to operate the steadicam. Through demonstrations, lectures and

exercises, students learn the necessary esthetic technical and physical skills needed

to operate the steadicam. The class covers set-up, balance, vest and arm

adjustments, walking and running, panning, booming tilting, point of views and more.

DURATION: 3 Days, • March 31, April 1, 2, 2009

Saturday- Monday 10:00-2:00pm & 3:00-8:00pm

Total: 27 hours

LANGUAGE: Spanish and English

INSTRUCTORS: Juan A. Fernandez,

Director of Photography & Steadicam Operator

Robin Thwaites

Steadicam (Tiffen Europe) London U.K.

COST: 860 euros + v.a.t. (997 euros total)

RESERVATION: Contact info@afilm.es www.afilm.es

Full payment of tuition must be received by March 6, 2009

LOCATION: Sitges (Barcelona) Spain

WWW.COMEANDSHOOTAFILM.COM

Hi Olly

Why not call our office for a chat and maybe we can point you somewhere? 01869 343835

Robin

Hi Sam

We do a lot of work on DB at the workshop and playing with a bigger rig is visually easier than the Merlin HOWEVER is easily translated back down to the Merlin after.

One word of caution when you are playing, the spin only needs to be at the fasted you are likely to pan, if you spin the rig faster the inbalance may be masked.

Robin

Hi Themis

Charles has very kindly covered most of the points on the Pilot however just to clarify a couple of areas the Pilot is available with either an AA battery box or a V-Lock mount, both versions carry the 5.8" monitor and are the same price. The Co-Pilot is no longer in the price list as most ops like the 16x9 option.

The vest may appear insubstantial but that is deceptive as Garrett specifically designed it to be able to be worn under a jacket for wedding/event videographers similar to the Merlin Arm and Vest. It is certainly fine for Pilot type loads whereas the Flyer vest necessarily is designed to take a greater camera/sled weight.

The Pilot will fly your JVC with no problem, I have flown the JVC 251 with plate and a PowerCube battery on the back, if you opt for the V-lock Pilot you can power the camera from the sled and not use the camera battery which will save weight anyway.

The Pilot arm IS smaller than the Flyer arm so will afford less travel but then the system is half the price so it does depend on budget. If you can afford the Flyer is will give you more options for the future and that greater travel.

Robin

The next Tiffen-Europe Three Day Steadicam Workshop has been scheduled for the 4th February 2009 at the BBC Wood Norton Training Centre (near Evesham, 2 hours from London).

All the latest gear, Ultra 2, Clipper 3, Archer, etc. plus probably Flyer and Pilot.

Please contact me by e-mail to robin.thwaites@tiffen.com or phone at +44 1869 34 38 35.

Robin

Hi Andre

Could you have a bent adjuster screw?

Robin

Hi, why dont you contact Video Cine Import in Madrid who are our local distributor, they should be able to help.

Robin

Hi Jeff

You should probably call the factory in Glendale on Monday (closed for thanksgiving today) however just as a couple of pointers

"there is virtually no drift of the balance from the camera mount" ANY movement of the camera or anything attached will have a huge result on the Merlin balance because it is a lightweight system.

" It's almost like there is play in the trimming mechanism. I thought it might be the gimbal, " Can you detect any slack in the gimbal or trim mechanism?

"Sennheiser MKE-400 mic. " I have seen the little bit of flex in the microphone shockmount cause unusual balance problems; microphones are often on the top of the camera which means that any movement will cause a great effect. Also make sure that the cable cannot move as this will affect the balance.

Robin Thwaites

Tiffen Europe, Oxford, England.

Hi Mike

Did you get your vest? Any problems do feel free to e-mail me at robin.thwaites@tiffen.com.

Robin

Hi Chris

Welcome back, were the stills shot on your little Leica?

Robin

More than once, "Can we put an underwater housing on it?".

Robin

Hi Fadi

It's a bit difficult to make an objective assessment without seeing the vest. Where are you in the world?

Robin

Hello Fadi

Check that the screws on the back of the assembly are tight, also it sounds as if the spring on the pin may have lost it's strength - I have not heard of either of these before.

Robin

Hello Fadi

Whereabouts are you? Do you mean the pin on the vest spar comes loose and the vest extends itself? Are you tightening the locking screw (usually maroon coloured knob) as well?

Robin

Hi Pascal

"Robin, your comment makes sense, but i'd rather use a longer arm post than having the arm's mounting point too high. It comes down to comfort I guess..."

The longer arm post won't help, the problem is that if the vest bridge is low you cannot reach your arm hand down far enough to reach the bottom travel of the springs so you loose some of the benefit of the long travel. As I said everything is a compromise and if you prefer the lower bridge and don't mind loosing some of the extra travel in exchange then that is a choice you can make.

Best

Robin

Greetings to my Spanish friends and their families from India and many thanks for your kind words.

Happy tomatoes!

Robin