benedictspence

The Cinetape is Sold. Thank you for your interest.

Hi All, I purchased a Cinetape kit last year for a job which needed it. It is now surplus to requirements and I'm also trying to clear out my cupboard! It was £5300UKP new, plus VAT. I'm looking to sell it for £4500 plus VAT in the UK. Any sellers outside of the UK you do not have to pay VAT. Price is excluding shipping. Included is the sensor unit, the LCD readout, 2x sensor cables, 1x Dtap and 1x Arri Fisher power cable, extension horns, noga arm and pelican case. Please email me if you are interested. If no one is willing to buy at this price then I will ebay it. It is in perfect working condition and has seen very little use. An absolute bargain for any focus puller- you will pay this off in no time at all! Ben Benedictspence@me.com

Hi All, I've just listed a bunch of kit on ebay... Bartech Wireless Focus Kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140985361928?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Ronford Hi Hat http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140985378070?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 0.3IRND Filter http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140985373276?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Broken Arri LMB15 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140985368153?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Any questions please ask away! Ben

Morning! Does anyone know where I can get some more of the metal shims for the lock on the topstage of my Master Series. I've got a bit of gaffer beefing it up currently so it locks well; could do with another tiny slither of metal or two.... Thanks! Ben

Hi there, I'm selling one of my 2 trusty Bartech wireless follow focus units on ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bartech-Wireless-Follow-Focus-System-Steadicam-and-Arriflex-/140606142714?pt=UK_Consumer_Professional_RL&hash=item20bcc778fa#ht_578wt_1398 Just thought I'd put it up here too! Ben

Hi all, I'm looking to buy both a J/F low mode bracket for my Steadicam Master arm/sled and a rain cover the the same. I'd consider a low term hire from 4th Feb- 21st March if the price is good! Please email me at benedictspence@me.com Thanks! Ben

Thanks guys! Joe I may well give you a bell in the new year, hope you're well! Ben

Hi All, After downgrading to a lovely old Master Series I'm now on the look out for something to help me with low mode. I'm 6ft3 and so anything which can help shave a couple of inches off a shot would be a great help. I was spoilt with my previous rig which could do some great low mode stuff.... Any one have any gadgets they'd like to mention? Ta! Ben

Like the man says: Pro Arm is sold; thank you all for your interest. Congrats Rob! Ben Spence

Hi everyone... The Nexus sled has now been sold. Thanks to everyone for their interest. Ben

Brilliant, thanks Jason!

Hi All, I'm selling my Pro Arm. I'll be sad to see it go but it's beyond what I require currently. A chance to get yourself that arm you've always promised yourself at a great price! I don't think the Pro Arm needs an introduction... This is SN 280; I've owned it from new for the past 4/5 years. It's been dry hired maybe 10-12 times in that period and has generally been taken good care of. It went through a full service at Optical Support in London around 5 months ago and the socket block was replaced at the same time. The arm is in like-new working condition. There are maybe 2 or 3 hairline scratches on the arm chassis and a teeny weeny bit of chipping at the end of the arm chassis (see photos). One of the blue spring canisters has a little scrape at one end; the only really noticeble mark on the arm. This in no way affects operation. Included with the kit is the following: 1x Pro Arm Chassis 4x Blue light Canisters 2x Black Heavy Canisters (never used, ever!) 1x Peli 1600 case with custom foam 1x Arm post for MK-V Nexus (I don't know what other sleds this would work with- anyone want to chime in?) 1x Jerry Hill Rain Jacket 1x T-Handle Allen Key 1x Spares Kit I'm looking for £10,000 for the arm; a saving of over £2000 (not including duty etc) on the new price. VAT will be added for uk buyers. Photos can be seen here: http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/benedictspence/Pro%20Arm%20Photos/ I will package the Nexus sled I have for sale on this site along with the pro arm for £25,000; another £2000 saving. I will happily ship overseas once payment has cleared. The case weights 13.8kg and approx 60x50x20cm, it will be shipping from central London. Please contact me through my email benedictspence@me.com or phone on +44 7814021050. Thanks! Ben Spence

Hi All, I'm reluctantly selling my pride and joy, I'm getting more DOP work and Steadicam is featuring less and less in my diary. I'm downgrading and moving over to a lovely old Master Series so I can still do the odd job. So first up for sale is my sled, it's is in very good, used condition. I've owned it for 4 years, dry hired it maybe 10-12 times in that period. It went through a full service at MK-V last november (and it's been used maybe 4/5 times since then!), had the gimbal serviced, a new post cable put in, kip locks replaced, video DA put into the monitor and the excellent inverted base added. The flexability of this kit is amazing. With the inverted base you can keep the rig incredibly short if you want, or if your client suddenly wants a ground scraping low mode shot, give youself 10 mintues and you can get that too! The 2" 4 stage post feel solid even when fully extended and the carbon fibre really keeps the weight down. Bring the monitor in on it's mount and the batteries in and you have a superfast whip-pan-able sled, pull them both out and you've got a high intertia, wind resistant, rock solid sled. Cosmetically there are a few little scratches on the sled, as to be expected, but none of them impair the operation by any means! The monitor is an IMP Hummingbird, SD only but an excellent monitor. Still one of the best daylight viewable LCD's out there, I've never wanted for anything more. The upgraded D/A means you can attach video tx or whatever you need without loosing signal. There are a number of small scratchs on the front of the screen; once the monitor is powered up you can't see these at all. One of the few bits of actual damage to the kit is the tally lights on the top of the screen; had a slight monitor vs talent accident which knocked a couple of them into the casing. I've never used the tally lights so I don't know if they still work and I have no way of testing it I'm afraid; for studio work I generally attach a second TX monitor anyways. The kit comes with 9 PAG L95 batteries, 1 4x channel charger and 1x2 channel charger. 6 of the 9 batteries have flashing circles; PAG don't seem to know why! They all give very good runtimes and none appear to need a recell. Although most of them are 4 years old they've only been used 5-6 times a month so I expect them to do well for another couple of years at least. They all hit 16/17v on the charger so all the cells are in working order. The batteries come in a custom cut Pelican case. There are a couple of minor issues which affect all Nexus sleds; I've never had a massive problem with them and I don't want to open up the usual slagging match on here so please email me for more information. Over the years the kit has done me amazingly well and I'll be sad to see it go; this is a great chance to purchase and excellent sled, one which is AR ready, at a great price. Please email rather than message me... My email is benedictspence@me.com or call on +44 7814021050. PRICE £17,000UKP PLUS SHIPPING, plus 17.5% VAT in the UK Pictures here: http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/benedictspence/Nexus%20Sled%20Photos/ Full Kit list as follows MK-V Nexus Sled 2" 4 Stage Post V2 Gimbal Chrosziel Topstage V2 J-Box V2 D-Box 3x Pag Battery base Inverted base IMP Hummingbird with D/A MK-V Hard, Padded Case Accessories MK-V Docking Bracket Sony Low mode bracket Preston Power Cable Monitor Cable 3x 12/14v 4pin XLR cables Panavision XL Power Cable Moviecam 24v Power Cable Arri 24v Power Cable Panavision 24v Power Cable Video assist power/video 2x Long dovetail plates 3x Thin BNC Cables Accessory pouch Home made rain jacket for lower sled, monitor. Heavy Duty Stand (if required) Battery Kit Pelican 1600 with custom foam 9x Pag L95 Batteries Pag AR124 4 position Charger Pag Freelancer 2 position Charger Pag Lok-On 20 Nicad (needs recelling; I use it for extra weight if required) Pag clip to 4pin XLR power adaptor Pag to V-Lock adaptor plate

Hi all, I'm looking for a Master Series Sled, Arm and possibly vest, ideally UK based but am open to US and europe. Will consider taking it as part exchange for anyone wanting to upgrade to a bigger rig; details of that to follow in the next week or so. Please email me with kit, condition and price at benedictspence@me.com, thanks very much in advance! Ben

Just to add my thoughts... I reckon there are some serious QC issues with the wevi's. My one originally arrived DOA, had to be sent back to idx, a friend of mine bought one new and ended up with a range of under 1m untill he sent it back to idx. My one was playing up something chronic the other day and again today so I'm thinking about sending it back again. Hmmmm...... Suddenly I'm pricing up a new TX/RX kit, don't really want to be doing that though! Ben

Cheers guys, Yeah I'll gonna tell them to go slower or pay up for an ATV. Sweet! Ben

Hey all, Just been asked for a job involving a shot which pastiches 'the opening of trainspotting'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koP4O6QAzx4 Now I'm pretty damn sure it's a buggy/rickshaw as I don't think I could move that fast with the rig on especially the low mode shot, but I just wanted to check to see if anyone had first hand information. My DVD of the movie doesn't have commentary. Boo! Thanks in advance! Ben Spence

Oh, you might need to put one of the V-loc plates back on. :)

Hi Jens, I use one of these: http://www.elementtechnica.com/products/view.php?p=34 and chuck the Camwave onto the bars of the camera (normally Red). Works nicely, very secure. I use the same thing for my decimator when I need it. They aren't cheap but I guess you only need to buy them once! I love my camwave, glad I didn't wait for the Boxx and pay 3x as much! Ben

Optical Support are normally really good... They are probably just on holiday! I reckon they'll be back next monday/tuesday like most of the UK. The box looks handy though! :)

Hi All, I'm selling my Wood and Douglas Video Transmitter/Reciever package.... I can be found on ebay @ http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=140330390768 Bidding starts at 1p so you might just grab yourself a bargain! Ben Spence

It's like an AA meeting in here, My name is Ben Spence and I've fallen over with my rig on. Twice in 6 years infact. The most recent time was only 2 months ago, the first take on the first show of the first day of 6 weeks of kids TV! It was a run up some stairs onto the stage to bring the presenters on, a move across the stage as they come running on and then back down the stairs at the other end. I knew on the rehersal day that it was a little tricky- the stairs were facing the wrong way onto the stage so I'd go up them and then quickly reverse my direction to do the move across the stage. I could feel during the rehersals that I was pushing myself a little too fast but being a new show I didn't want to say 'no'. I started taking a little short cut at the top of the stairs for a smoother transition- the director liked it but I didn't; should have said something! Anyway, first take infront of 150 kids I run up the stairs and my shortcut means I catch my foot and I kind of stop but the sled keeps going. Camera and sled hit the stage on their side, about as good as a hit could have got- the force evenly distributed so very luckily nothing was damaged. I got my right hand out in time so I had a small graze on my shin and the usual bust ego but got up, reset and went right back into it. I asked them to swap the stairs round for the next morning! Again, the key lession was I should have listened to my instinct and said no when it felt dangerous, even something as simple as a walk-on on stage can end badly if you push it the wrong way. The funniest thing was that at the end of the day, even though I was beating myself up about it for hours, eveyone else had totally forgotten about it! The other time I fell over was in a very dark strip club running around with a very bright ringlight and a step which I couldn't see, but I was pretty distracted so it wasn't my fault that time. Although infront of a club full of dancers it was probably the most embarressed I've ever been. I'd like to repeat: "Fly Safe" Ben

Hi Rob et al! After plenty of phone calls all over the place, I still had big trouble finding somewhere that had thin fibre optic cables in stock... so I gave up! I'm living with the regular cable- it's a kids show so I'm all over the place and my hand is all over the post so to be honest I can barely notice it. However let this be a lesson to all that it's not always that easy to get hold of one of these beggars, especially in the UK! Take care! Ben Spence

Hi Rob, Thanks for your input with all this... Yup I spoke to Mohawk and they said around 4 weeks for the cable, I'm assuming this is also after payment clears etc. Bugger! I'm gonna try Claremont Camera when they open, they might have something ready made... Ben

Hi All, I posted this last week but I've again hit a brick wall! I have a studio job starting this friday and I'm after a thin fibre optic jumper. I'm having huge trouble finding somewhere which can make me up a cable without a 4-5 week wait, I've tried all over the UK, the US and Germany and no one seems to be able to make one up for me or sell me one without at least a months wait. So once again, is there anyone who can hire me a thin fibre optic jumper, with Lemo SMTPE connectors at each end, for 6 weeks starting this friday. I'm willing to pay £400 UKP (almost the cost of a whole new cable guys!) for the 6 weeks and the cable will of course be fully insured while it is in my possesion! Anyone who can save me from the thick-ish cable of doom please call me on +44 781 4021050 or email me at willbenspencework@yahoo.com. I can't believe it's really this hard to get hold of this cable, most companies seem to just scratch their heads and shrug their shoulders, especially here in the UK. Phew! Ben