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Dave Bittner

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Everything posted by Dave Bittner

  1. Still curious about this little magic box, which seems to be more elusive than the Loch Ness Monster, post NAB. I'd love to demo one. Any idea how it works, in terms of technical details? I've got a few guesses. I've got a message in to Frank Rush, asking for a demo unit, but haven't heard back, yet. http://steadicam.com/userimages/Steadicam_WXB-ss.pdf
  2. Folks, let me chime in here and say, once again, that this gimbal wrap grip is a no-brainer in terms of investments to improve your rig. I'm using it every day on a live TV show, and it's remarkable how much subtlety it adds, having more torque available on the center post. Buy it! You'll be glad you did.
  3. I've been using one on my rig for a few weeks, now, and I love it! Much more solid than the original monitor mount, with improved flexibility for monitor position. If you have a Zephyr, this is a no brainer. It's an easy way to upgrade your rig.
  4. How many more people are we going to lose on the forum, all because of one bully? For every person who publicly announces they are leaving, I'll bet we have a handful who simply never come back, with no fanfare. I've considered it, myself. Sometimes it just doesn't seem worth it, having to wade through the gruff, know-it-all, condescending responses to people genuinely trying to learn, genuinely trying to get help from more experienced ops. The comically predictable response to any pushback with, "My IMDB credits are bigger than yours, so your argument is invalid." One of the great things Garrett did, from the get go, was establish a cordial environment where operators support each other and share information as we all try to learn and enhance our craft. There were no stupid questions, and everyone treated each other with respect. There were spirited debates, but very little in the way of personal attacks. And yet, here, because of one bully, that environment is out the window. It's a shame, because he's got a lot of experience to share. Often it's not what he says, it's the way he says it. It's frustrating as hell to see thread after thread effectively shut down, poisoned by negativity.
  5. The grip arrived! I'm really happy with it. It's surprising how much of a difference it makes in my operating. I feel like I have more control, especially over subtle movements. Lockoffs are easier, too. Thanks for making a great product! Highly recommended for everyone with a Zephyr rig.
  6. Another option is to purchase the smaller rig for your "daily driver", and rent a larger rig when the job calls for it. If the Zephyr will handle 80% of the jobs you expect to get, it may not be worth it to invest in owning a big rig, at least not when you're starting out. And sometimes you might just have to say no to jobs that are outside of your capabilities. Find a local operator with a big rig and offer to refer those jobs to him/her in exchange for tagging along and being their assistant for the day. You'll learn a lot, for sure.
  7. Hello Gents, I've got a shiny new Zephyr, here. Been away from Steadicam for a while, but I'm an alum of the Malibu workshop back in 2000, and have owned a variety of rigs, and have monkeyed around with most of the well known sleds, arms and vests over the years. I got a Live TV gig dropped in my lap this year that I couldn't say no to, which prompted the purchase of the Zephyr. Feeling a bit rusty (and fat) but the technique is coming back, slowly but surely. I'm pleased with the rig, so far. It's a lot of steadicam for the money. Not perfect, but as a mid-range rig there's a lot to like. I'm in the Baltimore/DC area. Nice to be back in the saddle. Dave Bittner
  8. Some nice photos and video clips - http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/cinematographer_garrett_browns_game-changing_inventions_16781.asp
  9. I'll be there, Sunday morning through Thursday mid-day. Hope to see a bunch of you there!
  10. Here's a pretty amazing (and technical) demonstration of a new technique for stabilizing handheld footage in post. This is far better than anything I've seen before. http://createdigitalmotion.com/2009/06/30/...es-your-videos/
  11. I'm skipping NAB this year. Just seems like an "off" year for the show, and we're not in the market for anything big right now. Have a cold one for me. (Jim, go ahead and have two!)
  12. It looks funny, to be sure, but there's a part of me that thinks we shouldn't be so dismissive of someone trying something new. This guy clearly thinks he's on to something, and maybe he is. Notice his vest has no shoulder straps - how much of the weight is being transferred to the leg supports?
  13. Gents, Hoping someone has an Anton Bauer battery mount they'd be willing to part with. Thanks, Dave Bittner
  14. http://tinyurl.com/4et5fy I've actually worked with the main guy in this video, Chad. Shot a pilot with him a few years back for Discovery. He's a really fun, really crazy guy. Really crazy.
  15. I own a Segway i2, and the modifications to the leansteer assembly don't look that much of a big deal, especially since there are no electronics in the handlebar any more. What I really like about this unit is the hard-mount assembly, taking the weight off the operator. Pretty cool.
  16. I had a Provid for a number of years, and I've flown most of the rigs out there, including the "off-brand" rigs. The biggest problem I have with the Provid is the arm. The Provid arm is a classic example of a design that looks really sexy on paper, but falls short in the execution. The engineering of that arm was full of cut-corners, primary cheap and under-spec'ed bearings. As a result the arm is very stiff. This makes operating more challenging, especially when attempting a slow creeping shot. You can do it (and I did for years) but eventually you'll find yourself frustrated with the limitations of the arm, and how it gets in the way of elegant operating. At some point they updated the Provid to include a standard socket block, but the old pin-block wasn't as bad as folks say, because on the Provid it was adjustable, vs. the SK where it wasn't. So, overall, the Provid is a workable rig, but it's been surpassed by the newer rigs. The new low-cost rigs from Tiffen are vastly superior. That said, as a an inexpensive starter rig, the Provid might be a good choice, especially if the price is right. Dave Bittner
  17. Love it, Chas!! What camera are you flying under that hefty porta-brace sail?
  18. Love the video! Welcome to the group. Dave Bittner
  19. I recently sold my XL-1 package for around $2,500 on eBay. I think I did better by splitting it up, selling the camera body separately from the lenses, the black and white viewfinder, portabrace bag, etc. I was surprised at how much I got. Dave
  20. No, It's real. Painfully real. They had a booth and everything, a bunch of people manhandling these things, proudly displaying the stiff arms (think rusty provid, dragged around in the sand, sprayed with contact cement, and you'd be close...) From what I can tell, this gadget will serve to amplify the operators movements by extending them out on a large lever arm.
  21. http://www.dynashoot.com/ A very strange, worst-of-all-worlds contraption. Ill-fitting vest, stiff arm, no gimbal. It was great seeing everyone at NAB this year! Great fun at Hard Rock once again. Dave
  22. Yes, it's Snuffy. Jerry Nelson originally performed the puppet, but back trouble led to Martin Robinson taking over. His full name is Aloysius Snuffleupagus. I'm picturing Jerry Nelson showing up at a Steadicam workshop. "Hi everyone, my name's Jerry. My operating style is a bit, uh, unique..."
  23. Some of the Jurassic Park dinos has steadicam-like mechanisms in their necks, but that's not who I'm thinking of, and besides, they're not Muppets. :) This character is very much a Muppet, not Big Bird, though...
  24. Okay,gang, here's a bit of actual Muppet/Steadicam trivia. Which Muppet was built to make use of an internal steadicam arm?
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