Jason Torbitt

Thanks Chris Fawcett for this great workshop and to Pete at Optical Support for organising it all. Fantastic.

Thanks Erik!

In addition to all the great stuff mentioned above, I still like the 'backpack' option. As just about everything can be powered (in a pinch) by a standard power cable to a standard block battery which in the scheme of things weights nothing on your back.............

Yep - it's not ideal! But works when it has to - for example the other day when I was at the top of a mountain shooting the last shot at 3am. Backpack was with us - my PAGs weren't - job done.

Nice, just ordered one 2 weeks ago, paid for it, didnt recieved it yet, and now there is this discount. GREAT

Same here - I think Erik manufactures them to order as per our specification, I don't think he carries stock. So there is a bit of a wait. I'm sure it will be worth the wait!

I will get round to doing a review in the next few days - sorry!

...and also take care to get the one with the latest software, so it can handle all the frame rates...

I agree with Eric with his statement - why add dead weight to the base of the rig? Add stuff to your sled that will be useful and do something - i.e. larger batteries, more accessories etc. Make the weight functional. The latest sleds out there are as lightweight as they can possibly be...but one problem is that they're getting to the stage where extra weight needs to be added for ballast...which is surely fundamentally wrong. Dead weight makes no sense. Useful weight makes a little bit more sense...

75 ohm sounds right, Chris...

Ah, but SMB 75 OHM, or mini-SMB 75 ohm? The devil is in the detail. Are these plugs really so bad, apart from the obvious fact that we have to buy the bloody things? ;)

 

Chris

That's one step too far for my Mancunian brain, sadly, Chris! I've got as far as SMA connectors for antennae but SMB is where my knowledge of the things stops. They're dire things, they really are. If the 'holy grail' Element Technica BNC box isn't present, those inch long cables I described that terminate in a female BNC are an absolute nightmare. Very fragile, and for reasons unknown decide to just give up and die whenever they feel like it - not neccesserily because they're strained, either. I hate them with a passion.

See you in December for your workshop, by the way. Looking forward to it!

I'm constantly stunned by how responsive the BFD is. It's so quick! The other day we were shooting a commercial. We were on the RED with Superspeeds, only on a 25mm but wide open at T1.3. Our artist was flicking a ball from one hand to the other at a high speed (forward and back once a second). The AC was knocking the focal point to each hand in turn at such a rapid rate that it almost defied belief that (a) he could respond so quickly and accurately, and (b that the BFD could do the job. Perfect - amazing results.

You just know when you get it out of the box that it will never let you down. Great investment.

Various items for sale:

- MK-V V3 Post Cable (10-pin Lemo 3B)

- MK-V V2 Hummingbird Monitor

- PRO style monitor spigot

- CP Master Series Dynamic Spin & Docking Bracket (note: no fork, bracket & balancing stud only)

- No tools Titanium Socket Block

- Master Series 5" standard arm post

Email me at jason'at'steadicam-facilities.co.uk for any info, photos and prices.

Thanks for looking

Those SMB things on the RED are awful. Mercifully, 9 out of 10 examples over here now are fitted with the Element Technica BNC breakout box. I always check beforehand, and if it isn't, make sure they send a load of those SMB to female BNC inch-long tails with the camera. Then just attach a normal BNC into that.

75 ohm sounds right, Chris...

Similar thoughts to you, Afton. A great app and innovation. As you say, in a 'real life' on-set scenario, or particularly for Steadicam work, it would be a challenge to pull by the 1st sliding their finger.

There also seems to be a bit of a latency - of a similar level to my older Fox & Genio kits. I'm sure if I put this side-by-side with my BFD, there would be a noticeable delay.

Interesting though...

It gets plugged into your sleds 8 pin lemo and then it plugs into your monitor. [it seems to sound much like the external XCS PDL except that it will also work in HDSDI mode]

Does that mean that HD-SDI will run through the 8-pin monitor Lemo and not on a seperate BNC?

Hi John,

Please could you email me some photos and any info - jason@steadicam-facilities.co.uk

Cheers

It's odd how they're contacting European Ops, but not those who are actually based in the UK!

Hi Lars,

Interesting - yes, my RX has the same antennae array as the TX. Same kit as yours though, by the sounds of it. Possibly they're trying out some different things as it is such a new product.

Still available...

SOLD - thanks for all the interest.

^

Just a random "thumbs up" for Transvideo - I emailed Jacques on a Sunday about an unrelated matter, buying yet more accessories and bits. He emailed back, on a Sunday, within hours of sending it. Great service - communication says a lot. Great stuff.

Almost certainly the SkyCam itself. It's being used more and more for football coverage.

Doesn't the Libec still have a beefy cable though? Causes quite a bit of drag...

The Libec is switchable between Canon and Fujinon, which is a bonus. I have to say my original Zoe fell apart in the same way described, but my new one is fine. I also have a Varizoom controller, but the cable has an annoying habit of pulling out of the strain relief at the back of the unit. The solution: keep your old J7s (I have 2) because you never know when you may need them!!

Hi,

Not exactly the place for this, but check out manufacturers such as Sennheiser and Shure for this...

It also makes a lot more sense to have the TX as high as possible - therefore clearing the vast majority of obstructions that will occur at the lower level, and will guarantee a much cleaner line-of-sight to the RX / video village.

Also see here:-

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?sh...15&start=15

That second still is quite remarkable. If he managed to pull it back after going down so quickly and awkwardly, he deserves some sort of award for best recovery in Steadicam history.

Also of interest, the focus pullers are also riding on Handsfree Transporters, behind the operators. Save their legs for once!