Bryan Fowler

This one was hidden It might get you started. good luck!

I had a couple of questions about my EFP gimbal. After playing with the new Ultra2, Clippers, and even the flyer, i think there is something odd with my gimbal. But it's hard for me to know if the issues i'm having are gimbal related, or weight distribution related. The first thing i'm noticing, is panning. It seems whippy. Easy to pan, even with fingertips. Since I have an EFP, i don't have dynamic bal. and most of the weight is near the post, which is probably what is making it feel like that. I have tried walking around the post, and I notice the sled starts to pan the direction i'm walking. Second, if i'm in missionary position, horizon is easy to move, while pan is harder. I think it's the difference in drag between the yoke, and where the "Y" meets the "O". if that makes sense. My gimbal is i think..10 years old. I know I can get it redone, and when I can afford it, I will. I'm wondering how much improvement I can expect? I know it won't be like a Ultra2, or clippers, but It would be great if it was close. I've noticed I'm a better operator when I'm on one of those gimbals. =) any thoughts?

Yeah, happy bd Jay. Hope all is well up there are work, home and play. Bryan

Hey now, my grandmother can shoot a nice guilt trip! *smirk*

(The most challenging part of posting on this forum, is the Topic Title.) Here is one of my first shots after attending a workshop. We had a big light disk that was pissing off the horse. After this happened, we ditched the disk, and all was well. The horse had a nice time for the camera. it's Mp4 format, about 2mb

two actually. The first one was when I was younger, they just cut me open and stitched me up with catgut and bubblegum. the second was 3.5 years ago, using the laproscope, and the super cool space mesh. It was to repair the first one after it failed. I guess the stitches ripped out. mmmm All is well since then, but I'd take it easy for a few months. I felt back to normal in 8 weeks, but I wasn't an operator at the time. I hear the failure rate for the mesh is 1%.

hi Vikeria, I had not heard of this rig before your post, but I had a look at it after a quick google search. Just guessing that you want to keep your cost down to the minimal. I would look at the Starlite video from transvideo. It's small and probably affordable. I'm not sure of the price. Marianne would be able to help you with that. I just saw the monitor recently, nice and crisp, one version even has a digital level which is helpful. If that doesn't work, Tiffen can sell you a monitor from a Flyer. It looks great in direct sun, it's lightweight, and 6in I think. Mounting them to the rig is a whole other story. You'd have to figure that out, or talk to someone who has modified a rig like yours. As for the battery, maybe try the Trimpac by Anton Bauer. You'll have to get a plate to go on your rig, and somehow wire it up. It's kinda wide, and might get in the way, but I think it's the cheapest AB battery at the moment. You'll need a charger to go with it. All three of those companies will give you products that possibly will last probably longer than the rig...depending on how you treat them. I would contact the company you bought the rig from, and see what they suggest. I'm sure they know what other people have done, and might even have a solution themselves. Bryan

Erwin, Alec, Eric, I love the idea (plan) As a new operator, I spend a bit of time searching through old posts looking for info. the extra categories, and sub-cats will help that I think. Attracting back the more seasoned operators, and their experience would be great. I'm for it. Maybe we can offer some incentive. Free ...uh... milkshake, for those who return =) Do you think a notice, mass email, sticky post...something.. might beable to explain to all current, and future members what posts are helpful, and what ones are not? Maybe a guideline for them. Some of us it comes naturally. Others it doesn't. That might save you some "delete" time by stopping the "mine is bigger than yours" posts..or whatever ends up being in the delete file. Just an idea. Thanks for the help. oh, Ewrin, sorry I missed ya at NAB. I saw ya, but grabbed a rig, and you were gone shortly after.

here is another option TA, Aerospace Composite Products has several different options. I didn't compare prices. bf

Hi Tim, I wouldn't mind doing it. I usually have the time during the day. The others mentioned would be great too. They also have much more rig experience than I do. Either way. =) Bryan

I'm so proud of my little post. It's already grown to a 2 pager! I'll be there Alec till Thursday. I think you have my contact info. Andy, love to meet you. Ame and I want to move back to Oz. Erwin, thanks for the cart post(s). I hope to meet you there too. *sigh* back to work... bryan

My German is rusty, but here's the rough translation: Yes Gustof? pudding pudding pudding pudding.......... Your dog Hilda is what particles over candy. We question decimal dongles with the people encouraging the providers of carbon and an egg omlet of canadian decent. Will you so quickly forget cabbage with bacon? My camera has festered from the omlet for as heavy as the hinge has been 5 or 20 years old and full with the carpet. Hope that helps

I'd like a spare. Currently I only have one. If you have a spare, let me know. Thanks.

Thanks Erwin, Alec...everyone who's contributing. Knowing what people have done, what things help in what ways, and your reason for the expence is great. It's helping me decide what will be best for my situation. And the pictures are truely helpful. I'm still reading everyones input. thanks. =) Bryan Oh, and thanks for moving it here. This works much better.

Thanks Ari Yeah, I'd love to do that, but I don't meet many...or..any. My fulltime job keeps me editing, and most of my steadicam jobs are small enough that there is no AC. I'm always fishing for a good deal on something used, or dented. Maybe if I offered a finders fee, I could solicit the help of other ops out there. =) Bryan

Thanks Alec (and others) for the realworld advice. I've definatly learning that my setup / fiddle time is felt by all. The last shoot I was on I had problems with follow focus that made us almost miss the sunlight. Luckily, nobody except my friends really noticed, and we got the shot. Anyway...I'm taking your advice to be, spend as much as you can, to buy what will help you setup quickly, and be efficient on set. That makes sense to me, now I just need to determine what will be the first / best purchase. =) I went and measured our outback, and roughly, with the rear seats down, aprox 6 feet to the back window, with a little more to spare. I think the Sr cart will fit lengthways, but depending on the size and number of your cases, it might not leave enough room. I've never seen a cart in person, so I'm not sure of width with wheels, mast, pads, particle accelerator..etc... I don't have a big kit, and it all fits in the back of our Outback with the seats up. Thanks again for the advice. Bryan

Thanks Marc, Is the difference between a junior and senior just the height of the handtruck? (that is, when it's upright) I need to measure my cases, and see what I need. Also what fits in the Outback. bf

From what I read, some folks from Apple broke off and started this iSee thing. It's interesting, and I might be interested, but they would have to add compatability with the 60gb iPod. Right now it will only fit the 30gb and lower. =\ Or the Archos that everyone sings praises about.

I'm kinda in the market for a cart. But I'm not sure what kind to get, and not sure what options I will appreciate later on. This is what I have picked up from the FilmTools website. I'm thinking of the Liberator Junior cart to start off with. Adding a shelf and 30" nose extension in a couple of months. Later, I'd like tubed wheels to replace the casters, but I'm not sure what the benefits are of the different options... Here are my options. I was figuring the Backstage brand, $175 kit. Next (again, after a few months) would be Mast and bumper for $275 or so. I may have answered my questions by taking the time to write all of this out, but it's still hard to imagine what I might use, since I've never been around a steadicam cart. Any advice?

Thanks Afton, I looked at the link some. I think the Magliner / Liberator might be easier to upgrade later. But I might get one of those for my fulltime job. They might be able to use it. Thanks again. I think i'm going to start a different thread in gadgets/widgets to get some help on a base convertable truck. Bryan

I'd like to have a (convertable) cart that I can easily move stuff around with. I'm thinking 4 pneumatic tires would be needed. Shelves would be nice, but something I could add later on. A mount for the rig would be nice too, but again, I'd like to save that expence for later. My budget tops out around $375 for now. Anyone upgrading, or have any advice on which might be a good starter cart? What are my options? bryan

wow, uh....that's a long signature. =) When I get my proPacs recelled, I'll be using Rathbone.

$150 seems cheap enough. I can't see how it's powered though. That might take some choping and solderin' which is always fun.

Ha! that's funny. I actually thought of doing that, just to see where things took me. Maybe later though, when I'm bored, and tired. nice find Imran

I second that. I'm not really a dancer, but I could handle a nice milkshake. oh, well...that sounds bad. uh... i mean, ice cream and milk? Maybe some malt in there too? *phew*