chris fawcett
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Posts posted by chris fawcett
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Chris I talk to Jerry and you, that's it. Also I don't know who I have to talk with at Tiffen.
Come on Maqu, please just pick up the phone, call them, then report back to us.
All the best,
Chris
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Matteo, I can see you're very passionate about this issue, as I'm sure other affected operators are. Have you spoken to Tiffen about what they can do, and at what cost, to upgrade your arm to the G-50X? I feel like a lot of this discussion will get back on track once somebody, anybody chimes in with what Tiffen is doing, rather than a tug-of-war over what they should do.
Good point.
Maqu, have you contacted Tiffen?
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Maqu,
Some of of us like the G arms. Analyse my reel, question my motives, whatever, I will not budge. I like the G arms!
Please respect my opinion as i respect yours.
Chriis
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Chris, you're a talented operator and if you say your G50 is perfect I believe you 100%. Then you went on to say something like the Gx arms you've flown are much or noticeably improved. Sorry I don't have the exact quote so if that is out of context please correct me.
Anyway, evaluations like this are very confusing especially for our Forum members where English is not their native language.
Robert,
First, thanks for the compliment.
For clarity's sake, let's go back to what I actually said: I've tried both x arms. There is no doubt that you'll notice the difference immediately. Having said that, I've never had the 'bounce' problem with my stock G50.
My statement was intended to convey nothing more than this, and it saddens me that so much has been read into it and my motives for saying it.
All the best,
Chris
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One of history's great polymaths. Recognise him, anyone?
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Has this discussion become an ad hominem argument?
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I'm obviously crap at being clear, Maqu. I can only usefully comment on my own experience. Someone in this thread asked if anyone had tried the arms, and if so, what did they think, or something like that. I answered as simply and as briefly as I could. The subsequent 'verbiage' is entirely my own doing.
All the best,
Chris
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Maqu,
I'm not capable of giving you an insight into how the arm feels. I don't have the intellectual capability to translate 'feels yummy' into an accurate, useful description that could convey meaning from one mind to another.
The only accurate testimony I can give is that if you try one, you will notice a difference, an improvement, a progression. My original statement, a few posts ago "I've tried both x arms. There is no doubt that you'll notice the difference immediately," stands, and all I've said since to elaborate on it is verbiage.
Chris
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Not to be rude but that's an admission there was a problem. If you feel the difference where it can be other then in the only part that was giving problem to a big amount of ops?
How can you notice the difference immediately? Where is the difference?
Maqu,
You are best placed to comment on the problem that I don't doubt you have with the arm. I am not.
Chris
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Hi Robert,
I've had a a chance to fly the new arms in various stages of development, and the production G70X arm that I just flew at the Atlanta workshop is the one of finest arms I've ever flown.
To your main question, I have a fantastic relationship with Tiffen, and with the other suppliers of gear that I use, for two main reasons. First, I don't even begin a relationship with a company I don't trust, respect, and admire; and second, I try to put as much into that relationship as I possibly can. From the very beginning, Tiffen has supported me, and has listened to and addressed my problems. I have not been shy to pick the phone and call them directly at any time I felt like it, and any suggestion or comment, clever or stupid, I ever had about their gear has always been dealt with to my full satisfaction.
I have never charged Tiffen, nor been remunerated by them for consultation, testing, or demos. When I buy their gear (usually ex-demo stuff, which is available to anyone that asks), I get the same deals as everyone else, and as you know, teaching workshops is not something you do for the money, so you won't find the reason for my supporting them there. Robert, the explanation is that I applaud they way they innovate and push new products to the market. Not everyone goes gaga over the fact that you can crank the arms, tools free, from 0-70lbs in a matter of seconds; that you can tilt the stage without having to tilt the post; that you can balance the stage, on the fly, wirelessly; etc, but I do. I admire the innovation and drive this company has, and with any luck my relationship with them is just going to get better.
When I say I like something, it's simply because I like it. It's my opinion—as valid or as subjective as anyone else's.
See you in Vegas,
Chris
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:)
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Hey Matteo,
I remember; we had many conversations about it. I hope this solution will herald the end of your problem.
All the best,
Chris
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Hey Matteo,
I honestly never had a problem with that arm.
Chris
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I've tried both x arms. There is no doubt that you'll notice the difference immediately. Having said that, I've never had the 'bounce' problem with my stock G50.
Chris
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And if it was something thats permanent there like a kerbstone, those fenders could make you fall over. The guy just had bad luck, could happen all of us.
I am not sure of fenders would be the best solution, the thing is, we keep watching the monitor to much and we dont look around enough. Its a constant tricky part of using a segway. I see people using a segway in places where i question why? SOme things are just as good on foot, perhaps even better. In this case, yeah, i understand why the use it, but a spotter with constant radio contact would be good.
Or couple of sensors making the segway slowin down or even stop if objects are coming close to the wheels, i am sure it could be done, its no rocket sience.
Hey Job,
That's a good point, and I'm glad you brought it up. Kerbs, and other immovable obstacles are what you check out in a recce. You know where those are in advance. it's the movable obstacles that might unexpectedly get placed in your way, like legs, balls, helmets, stands, whatever, that the safety fenders take care of so well.
Your kerb example is a good one. If you run into a kerb straight on, safety fenders won't make a difference. If the kerb is too hight to climb, you'll come off the machine whether you have fenders on or not. Where they come in handy is with the glancing blow against an immovable object like a wall, doorframe, or kerb, when rather than piling full-frontal into it, you misjudge your position and brush against it. As you know, the basic Segway will attempt to climb whatever it hits, throwing you off. The fenders are there to deflect you. Ulik and I did weeks of testing with them, setting up more than 100 crashes, and we found them to be effective at deflecting the Steadiseg at angles of up to 45 degrees. Beyond that, the Steadiseg skews around to run headlong into the object. If it's a wall, that's a pretty good result—way better than the wheel getting traction on a vertical surface and flipping you over.
What you describe as not being rocket science, is still pretty hard to achieve, but we are working on other safety systems as well. It's hard to beat a simple mechanical solution like simply enclosing the wheels, but we're doing our damnedest!
All the best,
Chris
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In this case—a fairly typical Segway accident—the fenders would knock the helmet away.
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Glad he's not hurt. This is why we totally enclose the Steadiseg wheels with the safety fenders—so this kind of accident can't happen.
Chris
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Every time I click on thesteadicamworkshops.com on "Tiffen International Workshops" (direct link: flysteadicam.com), I get a virus warning (even on different pc´s with different anti virus tools).
Can anybody approve this?
Wolfgang
It's basically a health and safety warning to advise you of how addictive Steadicam is. One workshop, and you're hooked. Beware.
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I usually say it's like playing the tuba in the marching band. It's the same idea as the hockey analogy. You've got to know how to play the instrument before you can add any choreography to it. But then again, also add learning calligraphy with your left hand.
More like playing the piano in a marching band...
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Great news Jess!
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Hi Stuart,
I just did some work which involved running backwards in a moving train with narrow corridors with regular 20" choke points. I restrained the arm as shown in the pic below, and it worked great for me. I just had to hold the rig out in front.
Have a great shoot,
Chris
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It's really great. I was impressed.
Chris
G50X and G70X arm
in Arms
Posted
Did Steadicam announce the arms yet?
I can't find them on the Steadicam website.