Chris Konash

So what am I, chopped liver?! I have all tool needed, as well as mucho experience. And contracting me to do this sort of thing qualifies as a mitzvah. So call me Hey Fred, Still waiting for my Archos cable. I was wondering if Dan were to have you do his soldering, would be ahead of, or behind the cable I've been waiting for since July? (Pre-paid of course) Chris Konash (Insert pissed smiley face here)

The 900R is a nice new camera. I personally would use it with the Digi-primes and Digi-zooms and never with the pro35. I have never liked the look of the pro35. Plan on the camera being about 3 feet long if you do decide to go with the Pro 35. I just set up an f900r with pro35 and some PV Primo lenses for a shoot in NYC and all everything ended up being around 4 feet long. The Digi Primes are great lenses, very uniform, you'll be very happy with your DOF. I would do your best to call the renal house and set up a demo with the Pro35 and Digi-Primes. I demo these two options all the time. 33% of the people go Pro35, %33 Ziess, and %33 go back to film. If you do go with the Pro35 during the check out make sure your witness marks are on, if they are off ask them to shim the mount on the pro 35 to get the optics exactly 2.250" apart. Good luck, if you have a good DIT that knows the 900r you'll have a good experience, if it's his first shoot with that camera well, good luck. The menus are nothing like the older F900. Chris

Yup, agree with Sir Jim, I always tin the wire. Then apply heat and solider to the connector, and as a combined effort; insert the wire into the connector and remove the heat. Usually ends up being about the same time. Just make sure the solider 'flow's' Only use just enough heat to get the job done.... Chris Konash

Fits a G50 arm without a problem. It's all packed away right now, If no one posts the dimensions, I'll measure it this weekend. Chris Konash

Hi Robert, I think this is another case of someone who doesn't know what a steadicam was made to do. Most high speed shots end up getting cut to bits and may only be 2 seconds long at the end. Just wondering what type of camera movement he is looking for in a tennis game in those 2 seconds. Not trying to talk you out of the job, but it will be an experience. I did a demo (non steadicam) of the Phantom 1000fps camera the other week and the camera was the same, internal memory with an Ethernet control link. The Ethernet was used to control the menus as well as start or stop the recording. we had it set to trigger the stop of the recording so it was always re-writing the internal memory and you would push the button to stop the re-write and hold the last 8 secs of footage. If you do this, you will most definitely be tethered, because you will need to somehow stop the recording, but then again an Ethernet cable isn't anything too bad. I wonder if you'll need a professioinal cable utility or someone from the IT department for this.... I'll have to get back to you. Good Luck, Chris Konash

Adam, How's everything? You can borrow my ZoeIII for as long as you like to try it out. I also have the Libec control if you want to take that for a spin. Let me know anytime if you want to shoot over and pick it up. Chris Konash

Thanks Robert, mine has been doing that for a while, nice to know there is something I can do to calm the creek... I'm off to lube up. THE ARM !!!! Sick your all sick. Chris Konash

Akin, I have a clipper 2 and have done my own modifications to 24volts. In fact my rig is at my machinist right now getting some custom plates made to finally finish the 24volt mod. In my opinion if you have a clipper 2 and want 24volts I would call Tiffen and have them send you there 24volt upgrade/modification kit for doing just this. Not sure if they have a part # for it yet but be patient and you'll get one. It deals with all the issues of sending 24 and 12 volts up the post. Of course it would mean switching over to the IDX battery system but right now it appears they have made some awesome batteries for what we do. A bit expensive but from what I hear they are worth the money. So to answer your question, the difference between the Clipper 2 and the Clipper 24 is all in the battery mount and obviously 12 to 24 volts. Do some searching you'll find some info on 12 to 24 volt modifications / questions. Chris Konash

Philip, I have the 700nit monitor from Tiffen and have done a bunch of gigs outside. It's not excessively bright outside but still easily viewable in direct sunlight. If you want you can see it or take it for a spin anytime, I work at Panavision NY and will bring it to work if you want to take a look. Chris Konash

Sign me up, with someone else?s rig. The only thing missing is the parachute.

First time I flew a 235. 3 Day shoot, all day, every day in low-mode. I found it a dream to fly but that's just me. Chris Konash I do everything I can to make life easy for the 1st AC. haha.... Chris Konash

Well I bought a Bartech because that's what I could afford at the time, but after this last shoot I not really pushing to buy anything else. Just did a shoot in NJ where it was a bit cold for the first two days and many of the accessories didn't work. The camera was a 235, and the AC spec'ed out a few extras; Arri focus, Iris, and Zoom motors, Canatrans, Transvideo, and a CineTape. Just as we went to 1 for the first shot the Arri FIZ unit went south and wouldn't power up. Everyone blamed it on the cold (12 degrees). Well I slapped on the Bartech with an M-One and the rest of the day went great. The Arri box was almost like an annoying leech on the side of the camera, just doing nothing, until we had time to take it off. This picture speaks for itself. GO BARTECH / Thanks Jim for making such a sweet product. Chris Konash

Well, I said I would do it eventually and just got around to it. I didn't feel like totally dumping the Anton Bauer?s for the Power Cubes just yet so I quickly made up another AB mount under the post. I already have 8 Dionic 90's and 2 quad chargers so I didn't see it necessary to make the switch as I don't see myself needing the high amp battery setup just yet. Ok, so just use the gyro connector that is at the base of the Clipper that has the three conductors installed and pre-wired up the post. From that connector you can supply parallel 12Volts or flip the switch and start feeding 24Volts in through the gyro connector and up the post. Just remember on the clipper the gyro connector I speak of does not pass through the main power switch on the sled, so if you are parallel?ing 12 volts and have a battery on the "modified" AB mount, the rig will act as if it is always on, no matter where the main power switch is. However, when in 24Volt mode the main power switch will act as normal with all of the 12Volt power connections, but the 24Volt connections will be powered all the time. Hope this makes sense. So what I have now up on top is one pin ground, one pin 12Volts, and one pin 24Volts. Thanks Tiffen for pre-wiring the sled for the third conductor. Maybe soon I'll do some poking around inside to see if the power switch can be re-worked to connect and dis-connect power when in either 12 or 24Volt. When my machine shop gets around to it the mount will be one solid piece of machined aluminum. FYI, (2) Dionic 90's on a Hot Swap and one Trimpack had no problem running a 235 through (4) 400' mags @30f. Here's a picture. Thanks for everyones help with the power connector & run cable questions I had. The shoot went great on my end until, during lunch the camera conviently fell off the case it was resting on, after some handheld shots in an attempt to get back on schedule. Thus ripping off the mag, denting the matte box, and of course jamming the movement, therefore ending that day with only 2 scenes left, oh well, reshoots in Feb. Chris Konash

Good news, after a few calls and some searching CSC found the 235 steadi mags. They were apparently in a closet under the spare bathroom soap and next to the plunger... I guess it's not an everyday rental item. I'll post how the shoot goes next weekend. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR INFO. Chris Konash

Jens, I'm not sure where your getting the Viper from but if it is from any reputable rental house one of the techs should know what you need and have all the materials there to make you the cables. If you talk nice he may even make you a backup set. As I remember the viper doesn't have a rational center of gravity as you would expect. Most new film cameras the CG is well thought out and even the Genesis has a very convenient CG, wonder what they were thinking when they made the Viper. Good luck, Chris Konash

Daniel, That's funny, I also have a clipper 2 and have a BNC connector at the bottom which does video In/Out, but there is no switch, it auto switches when I'm recording or playing the footage. Chris Konash

Eric, The Jim Bartell installs the voltage regulator for Fred and that works great, powers up and charges the archos. The problem is the video, just can't seem to get it from the sled through the cable and into the archos. I too hope when it comes back it works. Christopher Konash

Rob, I also can easily get a full day of recording on one battery, I just made sure that the screen shuts off after 10 seconds of not touching the unit. It is still recording but the main power draw (the screen) shuts down until you touch any button, then it comes back. Other than that there is nothing special I did. The "Special" cable that can be made by Fred Davis will supply the proper regulated voltage to the Archos and supply video from the sled to the archos input all in one... It cost me $200 in July and I still have yet to see it work. I just sent it back to Fred for the FIFTH time. I just want a cable that works or my money back. arg... sorry done bitching. Christopher Konash

Thank you Eric & Alec, I'll give then a call next week, it's a student film so they might be holding out on "the extras". oh, I forgot, is my 435/535/sr3 run cable the same for the 235? That would just make my day... Chris Konash

Hi, I have a scheduled production with an Arri 235, I was wondering which power connector is on the camera? I have cables for an SR3 and didn't know if it's the same. If not I'll try to order a cable or two before production starts the second week of Dec. Apparently production requested steadi mags for the 235 and they (CSC NY) said they didn't have any? I thought by now it was a common item to find, no? Thanks, Christopher Konash

Steve, Just wondering if you are the same Steve Minnick I have occasionally worked with at MSNBC. If so, then how is everything going? If not, well then nice to meet you. Erwin has some good advice. Go the extra mile to try as many products in your price range/market before unloading a good deal of cash. Good luck, Chris Konash

Dan Davis is selling one, look on the SOA Classifieds. His # 908-246-6485 Chris Konash

I think the vest is made up of an off road skid plate from a small pick up truck, powder coated of course..

The steadicam for football on TV that I have seen was all done toward the end zone in the direction the drive is going. Mostly from the end zone to the 10 or 20 yard line at each end. Great for the long pass touchdowns and the reactions just following a touchdown. If your cam is being switched try to make your life easy and rent a broadcast (minimal delay) microwave system or at the end of the day you'll wish you did. Good Luck, Christopher Konash p.s. A handsfree would also be a plus if you have the ability to clear an area for yourself.

Erik, I was just looking at the Libec control. I was wondering if it was small enough to fit on the gimbal in place of the J-7, I guess it is. I will be a B&H in NY tomorrow and will compare the Libec and Zoe. In the mean time I took apart the J-7 and found a wire that wasn't soildered to anything. Couldn't tell if it broke off of a soilder joint or not, everything is very small. The three wires that lead to the zoom pot all look intact. The wire that is loose is red and looks like it may be for the VTR/Run function. I'm not sure if that could be floating around inside causing some trouble. I'll probably buy the Zoe or Libec and use it while my J-7 is out getting repaired. Thanks, Chris Konash