William Demeritt
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Posts posted by William Demeritt
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Here's a concern: don't let the camera lose power while recording!
Not only does the camera draw 108 watts (so parallel mode for most people is a must), but also the SR-R4 recording deck really hates losing power while recording.
How much does it hate losing power? Well, here's a small snippet from the SR-R4 manual
After recording to an SRMemory card is complete, press the EJECT button to safely remove the card, or turn off the unit with the power switch. Should the power cord be disconnected while recording is in progress, the recording operation will not complete properly. In such cases, the file system will not be updated and as a result, video and audio data recorded in real time will not be recognized as files and the content of recorded files will be damaged.
The unit incorporates a salvage function that is designed to minimize data loss for such SRMemory cards. The salvage function restores files based on factors such as the maker information recorded on the SRMemory card. The salvaging process can take as little as a few seconds or up to 60 minutes, depending on the conditions at the time recording was interrupted.
NOTES
• The salvage function is intended to salvage as much recorded material as possible in the event of an unforeseen accident, but it does not guarantee 100% restoration of data.
• This function will not restore data recorded immediately preceding the recording interruption.
• The amount of data loss is as follows:
— F65RAW mode: About 2 seconds of data
• Whenever you insert an SRMemory card that requires salvaging or turn on the unit with such a card inserted, a popup message asking whether you want to perform salvaging will appear.
• Recording and playback are disabled for SRMemory cards that require salvaging.
• When you format an SRMemory card, the memory card will be ready for use immediately. However, any previously recorded data will be lost.
We worked with the SR-R1 deck back in December, and I'll assume for the time being that the SR-R4 behaves the same way, and no major software revisions have changed the "Data salvage" screen.
- SRMEMORY deck loses power while recording.
- When it boots back up with the same card, it asks "Data salvage?" If you press no, you cannot record to that card anymore. I believe you can do the salvage with the SRMEMORY deck? Otherwise, you need to use that deck to perform the salvage (another deck will not do).
- You select "yes", and it goes into data salvage mode. The manual even says "could take a few seconds or up to 60 minutes". The screen however gives you no indication of time remaining. Could be a few seconds. Could be a few minutes longer. Could be 30 minutes longer. You get no indication on screen. Eventually, it just completes and you're good to record more or eject the card.
The big concern: if the deck is data salvaging, and you pull power (the deck doesn't have a "cancel" option once salvaging... once it starts, you're waiting until it's done... no recording, no cancel and swap to another card and continue later, nada), you hit a dangerous, undocumented limbo state. I'll go ahead and assume that most likely the data will not be salvageable, so don't wind up in that spot.
Silver lining
The SR-R1 we had offered a voltage warning system, so you could custom set anything from 12 to 13 volts (in 0.1 volt intervals; 12.2, 12.5, 12.8, etc) as the warning threshold before the deck would start warning you. I believe it also had a voltage failsafe system (turn off at 12 volts no matter what), but ours didn't seem to work properly (or we got so worried about the data salvage issue, we were WAY more attentive to the voltage at all times).
Perhaps the F65 has a voltage warning for the whole system (F65+SR-R4), and therefore gives a nice obnoxious warning when the voltage gets too low?
Regardless, let the Y-cable ordering begin!
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I'm probably cross-referencing with the RED MX then, my bad. Yea, I've just flown it upside down and they flip it back in post. Sorry about the confusion, sometimes you just assume that the new version of a camera does what the previous version did, like flip the image, or do playback...
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I usually just rebalance my gimbal and let the camera shoot upside down. If they're worried about flipping the image in post (someone once complained, saying it added to editing cost), go into the camera settings and manually flip the image there. Client monitor should be correct now, and you just adjust your monitor accordingly.
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Yea, a few weeks and that much money? This is where rumors get started. Let's wait to hear directly from Tiffen with their press release tomorrow before things get (even more) out of hand.
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for the love of Zuess' butthole! Over a week and 8 pages into this thread and nobody has called Tiffen to ask wtf?
CALL THEM. It's bad enough that none of them will chime in here but what's even worse is all the drama and speculation.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
DIAL THEIR NUMBER.
OPEN THE DOOR
GET ON THE FLOOR
EVEYBODY WALK THE DINOSAUR WTF
Hey guys, I did a search for "Zeuss'' butthole" and found this thread. Most of the posts were from Ron.
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Sucks when these items just LINGER and LINGER in the marketplace for too long, right ?
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Matteo, I can see you're very passionate about this issue, as I'm sure other affected operators are. Have you spoken to Tiffen about what they can do, and at what cost, to upgrade your arm to the G-50X? I feel like a lot of this discussion will get back on track once somebody, anybody chimes in with what Tiffen is doing, rather than a tug-of-war over what they should do.
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This is kind of off the topic of this thread but, wouldn't it be an easy thing for you guys and gals who have a few years in the business to have a private forum?
Why have a separate, private forum when we have THIS forum? This community doesn't shun everyone who has any question about Steadicam; just the ones who show contempt and a complete lack of humility. That's not just this forum, that's the business.
The way questions in the Steadi-Newbies section are handled much more carefully and cum grano salis; when you reach a level of operating that you're no longer a newbie (and you know when you reach that point) you promote yourself.
Not everyone makes it that far.
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always stood by their products ever since I flew a rental Ultra1 (prototype) to my Ultra2
On a side note, I've got a(/the?) prototype Ultra 1 in my office right how, rewiring it for a fellow operator.
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Then don't buy one! Buy a PRO, or one of Hugo's or one of Luna's.... Nothing is forcing you to buy anything.
Respectfully, it's a piece of equipment that is the sine qua non of what we do, so as a Steadicam operator, we are forced to buy SOMETHING. Yes, nobody forced operators to buy the G-50 arm, or a G-70 arm; nobody made that purchase decision for anyone else, and we've all invested in a bum piece of gear before. However, few are the times we buy a piece of equipment that defines our operating, influences a client on our capability as an operator when looking at the monitor, etc.
Every operator does need to ask around, but how much asking do they need to do? Why is it up to the operator to investigate well beyond the due diligence expected of someone making an investment? Caveat emptor and all that stuff, I know.
I'm not siding with anyone, I'm really just curious about what happens next with this issue, because it's going to be very telling in the nature of our industry and the close relationships we have with the manufacturers of our equipment. Dean brings up an excellent point, which correlates to my original question of "How much for the upgrade? Is there a cost?"
Anyone selling their G-series arm may very likely see their going price negatively affected, along with questions of "Have you upgraded this arm yet? Does it still have the poor performance at slow speeds? Is that why you're selling it?" I concede that the manufacturers have no responsibility to protect the second-hand market, but we're looking at this equipment as investments, and part of any investment is the question of salvage value or resale.
With regards to an "air of shock and anger", I think it's because this discussion marks a delineation between a problem a few operators have heard about to a "new" product and how it's different from it's non-X family. Before this discussion, the G-series arms had a value. After this discussion, the G-50X/70X arms (which many operators own) have that value and the previous G-50/70 arms have less than "one generation old" arms due to a perceived flaw.
As a non-owner of either arm, I can appreciate the approach that newer revisions come out, more finesse, better quality. I'm at arm's length (pun intended) from the issue. However, the people who are shopping for used arms are taking notice. The operators who own a G-50/70 arm are now aware of a problem with their investment; they're unable to confidently deliver their skill to demanding clients.
I think everyone's curious to see what Tiffen's response is going to be to this grey area question. Is it an upgrade? Is it optional? Is it a flaw, a recall that needs to be addressed for free? Is it an electable fix, and priced for concerned owners for a short period? As the operators have shown, everyone has their own perspective. The only question left now is from the manufacturer? How do they perceive their product and what is the appropriate response?
I'm eager to see the answers, as I think it's the sort of thing that will invariably define or reinforce Tiffen's name in years to come.
Since everyone is into full disclosure: I own a second-hand PRO arm with my kit, learned on Tiffen sleds, also operated on a
2+ years ago with a G-50 arm where I covered about 40-50 feet over 75 seconds (double speed music, slowed down to "normal speed"), and every time I watch the video, I see my steps. Maybe I suck at slow moves? Maybe it was the arm? Understand the conflict: I SHOULD practice more to be fantastic at slow moves, but with that arm... how will I know if I am any good?People bought that arm, expecting to be limited by their ability, not some geometric flaws or poorly selected/implemented bearings.
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I've tried flying with only two canisters but live rig weight is just at that point where two blues are too weak and two blacks are too strong.
Have you tried a black canister in the back section and a blue in the fore section?
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Anyone who has done the upgrade care to chime in? What was the cost? Was there a cost?
G50X and G70X arm owners, can you weigh in as well? Have the concerns been addressed?
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Heeeeyyyyy Kevin.
Can I get your email? I'd like to show you my reel.
Can I buy you coffee? A drink? Backrub?
Sorry, your rate is a lot more than what we can afford. We have several offers from other steady-cam operators with DSLR's (so we don't even have to rent lights). Can you match their rate of $250/day?
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if im an ignorant newbie then just ignore me. If I ask a stupid question just dont waste your time and answer it
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"listen here youngin' youve got a thing or two to learn" as ive heard plenty of that from every conceivable veteran crew member ive met since starting out already....
Searching anxiously for a marlin...
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Itchy and Scratchy Land, open for business! Who are you to resist their charm??? Come oooonnn, my last check bounced!! MY KIDS NEED WINE!!
Anyway, bump.
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Appears to be just junction boxes, the specs don't seem to have any indication of power input to amplify the signal.
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Wait...your girlfriend has a husband and a two year old!?
My life is filled with girls named Rachel it seems. This one lives in New Haven, CT, and we've been friends since college. I've got a few more scattered around the country.
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Wasn't sure if this was acceptable or not, please feel free to remove if it's not cool... but it involves naked women dancing, so I think that places it fairly high on Steadicam Operator's interests...
http://helppam.chipin.com/mypages/view/id/ad4234d18b618c48
My friend Rachel is a burlesque dancer, and she was invited to compete at the World Burlesque Games in London in May, 2012. Not only is she a bad ass burlesque dancer (and former roller derby vixen), but she's also a trained opera singer. She's going to compete with her newly created act that she's coined "Operalesque", which is the reason why she was invited to compete.
She's awesome.
She could drink you all under the table.
She has one problem is: COST.
She has a nearly 2 year old daughter, Norah (who kicks all sorts of ass), so she and her husband can't really afford to just send Rachel to London on short notice, even for this once in a lifetime opportunity. So, if you can donate, please do! If you can't donate, then please share this with someone who can? Thanks!
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They want to hurt the costly investment of having a Steadicam operator because the editor doesn't want to pay $150 for a copy of PluralEyes? Makes perfect sense.
In the past, if a Comtex for camera isn't available, I put on my best grimace and when asked if I minded operating tethered, and respond "How about you give me your smallest, most compact microphone, mount it to the camera and run that into the camera's audio input? That way, you get a scratch track on the clips and the slate, and just use a cheap tool like 'PluralEyes' to sync it up for you."
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AJA HA5. HDMI to HD-SDI (yes the right direction for DSLR jobs). I have a buy it now for $425, and reserve for $400. New it's $495 plus $40 for the AC power adapter.
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You still wear pants while operating? Amateur...
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Was this question some kind of joke?
I'm finding it pretty funny.
I guess I'll just say:
1) he's not some ethereal historical figure, but rather a person many of us have the pleasure of knowing... so knowing the last name of the man who created the tool whose primary focus is the forum you're signing up for doesn't seem like a tall order?
and
2) As Nick is implying, you're on a website dedicated to Steadicam, and the hint is "Garrett's surname". So, here you go:
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Enjoy the process, read all the archives here and the current threads. It's rare that someone asks a question that has not been asked a few times before.
And quick, order some Lisigav as soon as possible.
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How about a monitor on the sled (like a return monitor) that shows a camera view in front of the wheels when going forward or reverse? Akin to the cameras in newer cars that help you back out of a parking space?
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