Nicholas M. Chopp

What kind of problems rae you experiencing? The IMG tags up at the top should work just fine...

Awesome questions - I'm REALLY looking forward to some answers too. <grin>

Yeah, batteries. What a great issue to get into a pissing contest over. Whoo-hoo. Anyone else having fun yet?

Nice site. That Orange commercial, was it produced by RSA?

Thanks for the clip, good-lookin' machine.

Well, THIS is getting a bit ridiculous...

I'm not entirely sure using the 2000 Pro will help you at all. It's something entirely different, using a handheld "stabilization" like the Glidecam 2000 or 4000, and a vest-mounted stabilization. If you enjoy shooting, and you enjoy handheld, I can pretty much promise you you'll love flying. I would definitely suggest the Glidecam V-8 over the new Steady Shooter. If you get lucky you can find used V-8s for about $1,800 or so. This way you at least have a monitor - and that's something you'll definitely want. For your price range, it's really the main option.

Could really use some more kicker on that model you guys have got there... :D

There is at least some logic to their insisting on using AB chargers, though. They're very proud of having an excellent performing product, and off-brand chargers do not always give a quality charge. Then again, buying another company and not bothering to inform customers of changes IS pretty dirty.

Trying to cover a distance. No, you had it right - lens zoomed to 3\4, and running down the hall. I've had worse, but definitely bad since we're only shooting once a week. (Not often enough to get my stamina up, and we're shooting 12-14 hour days)

The Director of the film I'm shooting now is rather new to the biz. He just HAD to have this running shot, down a hallway. Shoot it once or twice, and well, seems I just can't run fast enough. <rolls eyes> "Well, can you zoom in, maybe 3\4 of the way?" Great. Managed to pull it off, but just barely... After cheating the lens back to half-telephoto. <grin>

Anybody heading to the ASC Open House on the 12th? I'm still trying to decide if I want to fly out or not. Anyone been to it before?

Dead sexy is definitely the right description. Beautiful rig.

Indeed... She gets my vote over the chica on the Glidecam site. :D

Yeah, I'm a little confused too...

Sounds like a blast. :D

Heh, I can imagine. Maybe I'll try shooting some basketball around here somtime, see what I can get. What level are you shooting, college, HS, etc?

I've never shot basketball with a steadicam, but my primary background is in sports broadcasting, so I can speak from that end. I have no idea what you're shooting for, but I'll assume some sort of promo. Basketball footage relies on proximity for effect. You need good close shots - stick towards the basket. Basketball takes a lot of practice - anticipation is the key. Crash zooms, whip pans, and other sudden movements can be VERY effective if you know where you are, where you need to get to, and how long you have to get there. Depending on how much room you have along the sidelines you may have some room to run down court - that could be a cool shot. Watch a game on TNT sometime - their teasers and billboards are a good clue as to what you should be looking for. But, like any sporting event, practice, practice, practice. At least it's easier than hockey. <grin> Be careful - there is a lot of quick movement down in the post, and it's easy to get run over. A back brace and some good knee pads are definite musts. Try to stay very aware of your surroundings - not just fans, but photojournalists, videographers, and anyone else that might be nearby if you get run into.

That just seems silly. We're being paid for the best product we can provide - that's like telling a video editor they can't use an NLE to cut a promo video. We use all the tools we have at our disposal. Otherwise, why are we using a steadicam at all? We SHOULD be shooting handheld - we're cheating with the steadicam. :) About the OIS on the DVX100A - it seems to be quite good. Like the other people said, if your camera has an Electronic IS, KILL IT. Even when shooting handheld. Just yucky... However, the glass on the 100A (for example) is really quite decent for a prosumer camera. Definitely better than with the PD150\170\DSR-250.

Same here, Jason. I kind of ended up diving in headfirst this past Saturday - shooting from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. It's a light rig (about 55 pounds), but still exhausting. You're right on about being in shape. ;-) I'm a boxer, so it's really helping me with my shoulders, that's for damn sure. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Nicholas M. Chopp Director of Photography - Hard News + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

I'm relatively new to flying, and am the DP\Steadi Op for a feature-length film being shot here in southern Minnesota. I'm on a Glidecam V-8 (ridiculously low budget student film) with the Panasonic DVX-100. My main concern is back support. Do any of you wear an additional back brace of any kind? I realize this is an extremely light kit, but I can already tell it may get to me. I'm only 5'5" and 120 pounds, so the thing's almost half my weight. Related, do any of you regularly visit a chiropractor? Is that something I should consider? I'm sorry if these are irritiating questions, I did a search and it didn't really come up with anything. I'm having a great time, but damn is it exhausting. I have SO much respect for you guys and gals out there flying Master rigs with Panaflexes on them... I'm amazed. Just as sort of an introduction, I've spent quite a bit of time in A\V Production and Broadcasting, with some limited experience in filmmaking. (Worked with Filmmakers Alliance and Jacques Thelemaque out of LA this past summer) I make my living as a DJ, mostly mobile work, MCing. I do SOME professional photography, when I have the time. I'm looking forward to expanding my horizons a bit with flying, and hope to get a lot of help from the professionals here. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Nicholas M. Chopp Director of Photography - Hard News + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

I always figured I didn't have to worry about the low center of gravity, being 5'5". <grin>

And here I always thought the beer gut was a requirement... *grin*

Indeed - and there isn't much worse in the world than hernia problems. Rest up and get well.

I highly recommend Gepco cables. Their SDI coax (I stick with the VPM2000TS) is only 20AWG, and it's about 35 pounds per MFT, I think. They take the BNC-6 end. 75ohm, 3ghz.