Haris Pallas

Hi Terry, I am working with an SK2 so I had my mechanist cut and drill a stainless steel block that weight 2.2 Kg. It's not very glamorous but does the job and costs about 60€. The Optical Support dead weight with rods looks really nice and it's much thiner! - Haris - Here's a photo: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150292910842162&set=a.10150292910592162.357645.616537161&type=1&theater

Thank you Charls and Pedro, Much clearer now...! - Haris -

Hallo everyone, I know that this may sound silly but I would like to know...what exactly the Decimator does that makes it so unique? I'm reading it a lot on the Forum but from their site I didn't get a clear conclusion.I know that it is a downconverter/upconverter but I'm quite confused...! For example: I own a Steadicam SK2 with the basic single action arm and a bigger double action arm that was modified to fit the SK2 vest and with this configuration I can use from DSLR up to RED and some film cameras.As you might know my top stage has only a BNC video in and a 12V power out plugs. In what way a Decimator can help me improve my signal/picture or the one that I'm sending to the directors monitor?? Thank you in advance! - Haris -

Hi Rupert, Have a good start and listen to what Eric says...the battery on you!..It will be heavy and akward but you have to get used to it. Let your assistant to guide you and maybe carry only the cables if any.. And have a good time! - Haris -

Hi everyone, I just purchased an RTMotion MK2 wireless follow focus system. I have it only for a couple of weeks so I have done only 4-5 shootings with it. The pictures that Toma's link show have nothing to do with the device that I have.The device looks exactly like the ones in their web site.Really compact,strong and lightweight. A small personal review: The design and materials are more than great.I have used a Bartech device many times in the past as steadicam assistant and the quality of the RT is very similar. The motor is totally quiet!The sound recordist never complained at any point.He mentioned the bugs on the 30 meter high trees but no motor from my rig even when he was right next to me!! The motor calibrates simply by powering the receiver to the topstage dc input...in my case a 2pin lemo.You place it around in the middle of the lens and it tracks the start and the end of the lens.So far I have used it with Compact Primes in a Canon 5D II,with Cooke in a Canon 7D,with Canon L series and with standard 50mm Canon low quality lens with no begining or end and only few centimetres of dynamic...it worked perfectly with all of them! The reciever is very compact and it hooks to the lower part of the rails - 15 or 19mm - or wherever you wish.It uses mini 4pin XLR inputs for every part(receiver,motor,transmitter). The transmitter is like a Bartech only smaller in height.It uses a standard 9V battery that lasts many hours...I never changed a battery in the middle of a shooting day until now.It has a menu with many adjustments that are made through the led lights that are on the device...still haven't gone through all of them!! About the customer support...Kris - the co-owner and engineer of the device - just answered a quite serious inquiry I just had...in Greece right now is 04:07(oh God...)...in London is 2 hours earlier=02:07!!! I'm sure he could do it first thing tomorrow but he answered in 02:00 in the morning!!!!...I am SO satisfied with them! In general...the device works excelant for me.You can go from really fast to extreamly slow movement of the motor,totally quiet,simple and easy auto-calibration with just one plug,in a wide range of super quality or lowest quallity lenses.The cost was 1350£ for the 1 motor kit that can be upgraded to a 3 motor set up in the same receiver. I don't know what other people say about this but I'm quite happy that I took the risk of buying a not famous brand - I couldn't afford anything more expensive right now anyway! Hope I helped a little bit Milos... - Haris -

Wise choise Andy, It's better to have your mind clear from all the security issues and be concentrated on the framing! Greetings! - Haris -

Hi Andy.. As Nick said..I would'n try it! I am wondering from time to time - from my own experience mostly - what king of wierd things some clients ask for...He's got money for the F3 but not for a rig to hold it?? Last week a director asked me if I can immitate the handheld camera shake while I was already loaded with my rig and waited for the slate..!!!...(and the worst part is that it was the second time in my 5year experience that I heard that thing...)...! - Haris -

Hallo Josh, I was very lucky to bumb into a modified Flycam arm (made by Hugo Langer from Silver Spring Arm Company in Australia) that was specially adjusted for the SK2 vest and gimbal. It can take the lead when the original single spring arm capacity ends so we are talking about 10-20 Kg loads.Very nice and strong construction and one of a kind! Are you searching to upgrade yours? - Haris -

I thought that it wouldn't but it did remarkably well! Thanks again,

Hallo dear Fabrizio, Thank you for the post... The SK2 with the extra second arm that I have - especially engineered by Hugo Langer (Silver sring company in Australia) - can hold up to 20kg loads and I have tested it. Of course that happened with an extra dead weight that I have especially made for the lower part of the sled.And it floated perfectly. Thank you again, - Haris -

Dear Rupert hallo again, Just a reminder for my SK2 rig - It's in exelant condition,in the money range that you are looking for and my second extra arm will let you fly the big cameras too... Thank you, - Haris -

Hallo dear Antony,(you are Greek right??) I am a Thessaloniki based cinematographer and steadicam operator and I am only in the business for 5 years now...not exactly new but with a lot of projects on my back for my time. I started out almost accidently and I realised from the first few days that I can't do any good work depending on the Glidecam 4000 that a production company owned and put me into this game. So I bought a same crapy Glidecam 4000 from a coleague and did a tone of patents to make it "function" a little bit...And I worked with it for 1,5 years with a very decent group of clients,small productions as you might imagine Thessaloniki... I sold it and I searched many months until I found the smalest of the big and real steadicam league of rigs.So I bought a Steadicam SK2 at a very good price and in an exelant condition. And then I realised what a steadicam was all about...I also did some improvements (dead weights for DSLR cameras,new screws...) and ordered an extra bigger arm that made it possible to exceed the 4-10Kg load capacity (upgrade it to 4-20Kg!!), ordered some accessories (raincovers,extra bateries,wireless transmiter/receiver bundle,BNC adaptors,cables...)... And now that I am doing good I am selling again the SK2 + the second extra arm at a very competitive price so as to buy an even bigger rig...And I know I will find a lucky guy to sell it to...of course the prices fall from the re-sell but there are a LOT of burgains out there and you only thing you need to do some internet research! What I am trying to say is that a steadicamer MUST HAVE his own rig,not only for the availability but also for the flexibility and familiarity(I don't know if this word really exists!!!...) of what you have and how ready your equipment is...VERY VERY crusial element for you and for the trust of your potential clients!!! So nice that I found a "patriotaki" in here...keep in touch for anything you need man.. - Haris -

Nice rig you have ("had" if you have sold it..) there dear Charls...I wish I was economically able to purchase it as I am looking to sell my SK2 and go to the next big rig level.. Anyway...just watching your pics I became more optimistic about it! Thanks.. - Haris -

Hallo Rupert, Don't worry about the delay and reply situation...I know how things are running in the job.. Me and my rig are here for anything you need... Greetings from Greece! - Haris -

Dear Rupert hallo, I am also new to the forum but not to the steadicam world. I am using for nearly 3 years now a Steadicam SK2 and I am very satisfied as it is my first rig from the big league..The SK2 arm can handle cameras from 4-10 kg but I also have a second arm that can hold cameras from 10-20 kg.I bought this second arm a few months after I bought the SK2. So with this combination I can work with cameras from Canon 7D up to RED,ARRI,Sony F950,Broadcast,16mm film cameras and even with some 35mm cameras.. I am thinking of selling my beloved rig for something newer and more expensive now that I am gaining money and better jobs and the price will not exceed the amount that you are willing to pay. You can email me if you are interested, Thank you and welcome to the amazing world of ground flights! - Haris - haris_pallas@yahoo.gr www.artboy.gr www.12bynight.gr