Sven Joukes

I want to use my Red One with it.

Hi Menno,

If you have a Red One, I recommend you concentrate on being a DOP, and hire qualified Steadicam Operators to fly the camera for you. It will help you in at least 2 ways, your lighting will be better and the framing will be better because these 2 very different jobs will be done by specialists in their respective fields. Any combination of 2 (or more) jobs equals a loss in quality of the final product. If you want to be a stabiliser operator, sell your camera and use the money to buy a decent rig... Oh, and take a workshop!

Just my opinion...

Good luck in your choice!

Sven

Hi guys,

This is one from a weekly program I did last year. Was a cultural talkshow ( :o <_< :angry: :huh: :P ) that finished with an acoustic musical performance, which was always captured with a Steadicam-oner. I'm rather fond of this one, camera and music-wise. Enjoy and/or criticise...

Sven

Hi all

Just thought I'd give it a try...

Anyone have a FM vest lying around collecting dust they'd want to part with?

Let me know!

Thanks in advance,

Sven

Are there secrets of making the shot look as fast as possible (without going entirely wide-angle)...

Hi Nils,

Don't run straight ahead of the subject, but rather at 3/4 before them (if that's OK with the director, of course), preferrably with trees and branches passing between you and the subject. Any kind of moving foreground will add to the perception of speed.

Fly safe!

Sven

This would be the one...

Easyrig website

Ofcourse there's Walter Klassen's Suspender, but that's a different price category, I think...

Walter Klassen Suspender website

Good luck with your choice and your shoulder!

Sven

Guys,

I've been able to see this pic from day 1 and it has been there everytime I have opened this thread ever since. Firefox on a Macbook Pro.

For those who can't see it: it's a great pic! :P

Best,

Sven

steadicam kit is NOT a box rental, rather equipment rental.

Eric,

I'm not clear on the semantics here, could you please explain the difference?

Thanks!

Sven

Hi all,

I was speaking to Jacques today at IBC and mentioned the onscreen Voltage readout. He told me he was already working on it, but the fact that the entire power circuitry of the monitor is totally isolated from the rest of the boards posed some problems that go beyond mere programming. But apparently these problems have been solved and the upgrade will be available in about 4 months, I was told. Top notch...

Sven

Hi Dan,

You've probably tried all this yourself, but here goes:

°have you put the signal from the AJA straight to the monitor (not through the post) see what that does?

°have you put the AJA straight onto the Titan?

°if you have a V2 D-Box, have you tried feeding the transmitter off the video out BNC plug?

°are you using the BNC input on the Cine IIIa or the accessory input?

Call me if you want +32 478 275 014, I have the same gear, never encountered this either.

Good luck,

Sven

Hey Chris,

Will your 'leanie' be available for test spins at IBC? I'd like to put on my 'happy face' again, if you remember...

See you there,

Sven

Hi guys,

I got mine last week and I just love all the things Jacques stuffed into this monitor. As you said Chris, framelines (triple), tally, level, superbrightness, aspect ratios, multistandard, measuring tools... it's all there at the push of a button. Not to mention the SUPERB customer service. It really feels like this monitor was actually designed with Steadicam operators in mind. Only thing I'm still thinking about is will I let go of my trusty Cine IIIa? (only thing I miss in the HD6 is the onscreen Voltage display, or did I miss that one?)

Cheers,

Sven (see you at IBC)

I'm trying very hard to get there Saturday. Can't turn down an invitation from Robin two years in a row, can I...?

See you there...

Sven

Hi all

just wanted to say I was contacted by Tiffen first thing this morning to quickly solve the problem. Apparently I was overlooked when the (free) upgrades were carried out some time ago (bought my arm in 2006). Maybe the lack of dedication from the Belgian Steadicam dealer has something to do with this, I don't know...

Thanks to Jerry, Robin and Dan at Tiffen for quick action!

I'll post a picture when I get to my camera.

Cheers

Sven

Hi all,

so here I go...

During rehearsals, suddenly, there I was, holding the rig with both my hands. A hellish noise just before that... One big CRRRAAAACK and I was holding on, trying not to fall over (thinking back, I just can't believe not a piece of gear even touched the ground...). Not really getting what had just happened. The arm post in my G-50 just snapped (the little shaft that's inside the collar). You never want this to happen and when it does, you wish it never did. No harm done, nothing fell to the floor, no gear at all was damaged. Just a little bruise on my arm. Will post a pic in the morning. Luckily no jobs till next week, time to fix stuff (thanks to a great fellow op I had a replacement G-70 well before our live show, thanks man) ...Boy, was I lucky...

Sven

Hi all

I hope I'm not telling any secrets here, but at the workshop in Ischia Jerry told us he was close to signing the publishing deal for his book, just the last bumps being ironed out... He also took loads of pics for the book. This publication would replace the Steadicam Workshop Workbook (an ever-growing piece of work, I think) that has been around for I don't know how long. And at the price Jerry mentioned, I'm sure this one will be very successful and run several editions...

Cheers

Sven "can't wait" Joukes

I had the same problem. And, yes, the remedy was in the drop down Options menu. Thanks, Chris!

Strange, I'm sure I never changed a thing there, I never even noticed that button there...

Back to the old style!

Hi all,

So I tried the Transvideo HD last Sat on a concert gig. I had to use the analog HD feed from the camera, since my post cable doesn't do well with HD-SDI (will have to look into that). This meant I could only watch B/W, as I was using the VF output. The image was not very bright (as said before 400 NITS, which is about 1/3 of the superbright Cine IIIa I normally use). I don't know if using the HD-SDI input (in color), would change anything in terms of light output... As soon as one of the Varilite beams hit the screen, there was not much left to see. I did like the built-in framelines and horizon. Both of them are easy to set up, and have many styles to choose from. The controls are OK, but the rotary knob that controls all menu functions was too sensitive for me. Trying to scroll down one line I often ended up two or three lines below. I must say I love the size of the screen (I used the 8") I didn't feel I was restricted or more scared to bump into things.

Overall, a nicely made monitor with lots of features that would appeal to us, it's just a shame it isn't any brighter... If they ever make a superbright version, I'll be first to order one.

Sven

Hi guys,

I have the brand new Transvideo HD 6" and 8" with me now for a demo. I'll be testing them over the weekend and let you know.

Sven

Hi all,

Pack-it-sacks are actually from Eagle Creek. You can get them in outdoor stores. The first ones I got from Jerry Hill were ridiculously expensive, due to shipping and duty, not Jerry... :blink: Then I noticed them in the outdoor store right around the corner. Putting labels on the outside is a great idea, indeed.

pack-it-sacks

Happy packing!

Sven

Hello all

I got a call from what appears to be Mr. Quite Big in the hiring department of OBS (olympic broadcasting service). He gave me the same figure as the one I got from VRT (see first post). Apparently their hands are tied by the Chinese government, which is partner in the B.O.B. joint venture they have set up. He knows their rates are too low. I turned down the job.

Mr. Quite Big did tell me he was afraid they wouldn't be able to fill all positions at this rate, so they would have to reconsider the rate and then get back to everyone who declined at first.

Anyone who is interested in contacting them can PM me for details. I have a few contacts there now.

Cheers

Sven

"The single most important component of a Steadicam is the..."

nut that operates the Steadicam...?

Hi Chris,

How are you? Hope to see you again at the IBC.

I suppose you're looking for small? I hear good things about the Canon HV-20.

And this one (HDC-SD5EG-S) , just found it on the Panasonic website.

Best of luck,

Sven

...or you could use the Digifox from Betz-Tools. Don't know about the DVX, but it works for the HVX for sure.

Sven

When you said you were asked by VRT to do Olympics - is it on their behalf or for the Olympics Broadcast Organisation 'Host Broadcaster'?

John,

VRT has done coverage for the Olympic broadcaster for many olympics, usually football (soccer) and cycling, since they've built a name for themselves in covering these sports (cycling and football are the main sports over here, so they're quite good at covering that).

So I would be working for VRT, doing host broadcaster duty.

Sven

All, but especially the TV guys here,

I was asked by our national broadcaster (VRT-Belgium) to operate at the Olympics next year. They are using a large OB facilities company to do their staffing, since using their own people is too expensive for this type of projects, I guess. When I got their financial proposal, I fell right off my chair, so to speak.

I'm not sure if I should state the exact amounts, but these are the general lines:

° All days paid at a rate that is the general rate for normal (multi-)camera operating, not Steadicam operating.

° Two travel days going in and two going out at ONE half day rate, so one days pay for 4 travel days.

° NO per diem.

° Catering only on production days.

When I told them they wouldn't get anyone for Steadicam at these rates, they said they understood my point but they told me there are only two rate categories imposed by the Beijing Olympic Broadcaster: a high one for producer/director and a low one for all workforce (including Steadicam).

I would like to know if others have had this offer, or heard about these rates, or if someone's trying to make some easy money on my account.

If this is really the case, I think most of the Olympic broadcasts will look very 'Made in China', I'm afraid...

All the best,

Sven