Emmanuel Dinh

STEADICAM Pilot SD 2013 :
- STEADICAM sled (can handle up to 10 Lbs / 5 Kg)
- STEADICAM arm
- STEADICAM vest
- STEADICAM dedicated backpack
- spare parts 
+ DECIMATOR 3G SDI (HD > SD)
+ Multiple D-tap to power your accessories (TERADEK, light, mic...)
+ Gimbal SkyMagic for better grip 
Small dead pixels area on the monitor, not disturbing while operating
90% of this demo ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlIIMqb_UvQ ) is made with this trustworthy Pilot which is perfect for small cameras : PMW, PXW, C300, etc.
2700 €

Sold

Price drop : 18000 € worldwide shipping included.

Whole package (sled, arm, vest, case, accessories) : 20 000 €, shipping included

Separate parts (only in case of simultaneous sales) :

- sled (folded version) : 11000 €

- G50X arm : 8000 €

- LX vest (with new backpack installed in july) : 4000 €

For the moment you are one interested in the vest and one in the arm. But I will sell elements separately only if I can sell all them at the same time, at reasonable price. So we need one more person interested in the sled :)

The LX vest has just been serviced with a brand new plastic spare part, so it is now in perfect shape :)

Hello still available but I have some talks to sell the entire package.

As previously stated, will sell the arm only if I get simultaneous buyers for other parts.

I am in no hurry to sell it, it's a great rig and arm and I love them :)

Hi. I'm looking for only G50x(arm)...

Can you sell it, separately?

if possible, how much it?

 

Thank you..

 

Someone is interested in sled & vest ; in this case I could sell you the arm only, 8000 €

This only if all buyers are OK at the same moment

Hello, sorry no plan to sell parts separately at this time. Thank you.

Ready to fly :

STEADICAM ARCHER2 folding version

STEADICAM LX Vest + brand new spare part

STEADICAM G-50X arm

STEADICAM thermodyne case

STEADICAM dovetail plate

STEADICAM low-mode bracket

STEADICAM RED & RED SCARLET power cables

Marshall V-LCD70XHB-3GSDI monitor

Marshall V-LCD-HI horizon indicator

20 000 € worldwide shipping included from Reunion

Possibility to sale parts separately only if buyers are interested at the same moment :

Sled, vest, case... 12 000 € worldwide shipping included
G-50X Arm : 8000 € worldwide shipping included

More pictures : emmanuel.dinh (@) laposte.net

What about this one ? http://www.letus35.com/helix-1-axis-pro/
According to Letus, this model "can achieve more robust moves mounting on the Steadicam sledge without any translation vibrations.". Much more expensive, though...

I have just finished a live TV, testing my new return video system :

 

TERADEK CLIP --> (WiFi) --> iPad on board STEADICAM (with TERADEK CLIP app)

It worked like a charm, so I wanted to share.

 

Actually, I was looking for an affordable return video system, and did not want to spend 1000$ or so for just a new monitor, not mentioning video transmitter. Designed for drones, the CLIP is a WiFi video transmitter with a delay of (only) several hundreds of ms (depending of network and obstacles), while the iPad is, as everybody know, a very versatile unit not limited to my STEADICAM uses.

Then it's a good rig for you ; do not hesitate to add on-board light, HF mic (if needed) and STEADICAM weights to increase stability.

Of course It can ! The only limitation is the weight, up to 10 lbs : enough to fly a Sony PMW-200 or Canon XF 300 ENG, C300, 5D or BMCC. As long as you won't need to fly heavier cameras, your Pilot will do the job just as bigger rigs.

Actually the Pilot has power on the top stage, but you should order a custom cable from Media Black Out like I did : Pilot stage to D-Tap, then D-Tap to Decimator2. http://mediablackout.net/product-category/cables/

Otherwise, I am with Victor, you'd better go to a Pilot HD : nowadays, there are not so many cameras using RCA Output, and you'll get a better monitor (7" instead of 5.8" for Pilot SD)

...You could also add a DECIMATOR2 to convert in RCA. This way you can use a Pilot SD.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1091828-REG/decimator_dd_dec_2_3g_hd_sd_sdi_to_hdmi_with.html

So will have GH4/HDMI --(ATOMOS H2S)--> SDI --(DECIMATOR2)--> RCA/PILOT.

Of course you can find similar products from other brands, just mentioning those I know.

Bo sea fuss,

Then I guess you should go for a Pilot HD and for a HDMI to SDI converter, like the ATOMOS H2S for example. You can simply mount it on your stage with Velcro.

 

 

I had, well I still have, an extensive use of the Pilot in documentary shooting, wearing it for hours in rough conditions (sun, humidity...). It's a very comfortable vest you can really trust in. Yes, the previous model had a weakness and my vest (plastic part) has broken. Tiffen immediately send me a new one, the new model with a different plastic type. It was in late 2013 and since then, there is absolutely no problem.

 

Also....There ARE buckles on the Pilot vest, and there is absolutely NO problem with velcro. Guess what ? I find this system more convenient than those of bigger vests, such my LX one because once you have properly adjust the vest to your body, the buckles + velcro make your settings last forever. Regarding audio, the Pilot vest is perfectly quiet, absolutely no problem !

 

For you video signal, no problem with a standard (non HD) Pilot system. Your signal will go in the Pilot stage RCA video input and there is nothing else to do. The Pilot's monitor is wired to the sled and will show your image, no need for anything else. If working with a HD signal, just add a DECIMATOR2 convertor, for example.

 

Some cheaper, knockoff models may look better because they try to imitate bigger rigs, while the Pilot may look like a tiny rig. The fact is, the Pilot is designed exactly as it should be to fit our needs : it is lightweight yet solid, precise and adaptable, and it behaves like a bigger rig.

You should definitely go to the whole Pilot system. The vest is light to wear, yet solid and rigid enough for what you have to fly, the arm is smooth and can be adjusted on the fly to your camera's weight. Also own an Archer2, yet have no plan to sell my Pilot because it's a great little rig for documentary work, light cameras and rough conditions.

Confirm, 1.5"

Yes, you should, so as to keep your sled feeling (looking) as when using a heavier camera, gimbal close to the stage. Do not hesitate to fix accessories (mic) on your 7D as well.

Sorry Adam, don't know about others. All I can say is that I am very happy with both my Archer2 and Pilot. I would suggest to be very careful about cheap brands, because there is no second take ; you need a rig you can trust in.

Adam,
I own both a Pilot (for documentary) and an Archer2 (mainly for live TV). Nevertheless, for some reasons a few days ago I have just performed a live TV with my Pilot (https://www.facebook.com/dinhemma/photos/pb.319177201509583.-2207520000.1412136860./698365620257404/?type=3&theater). Although everything was perfectly fine, you should keep in mind that :
- this configuration is only possible with handy-cams (ex : PMW-200), not with bigger TV cameras (ex : PMW-500) ; therefore you have to be sure that your camera will meet TV requirements (brand, low light performances...) ;
- you will have almost no room to improve / expand your rig, because of very limited max payload (10 lbs) ;
- the Pilot is far more sensitive that bigger rigs, so it is less "safe" to operate when you don't have a second take...
For these reasons, except you have a very precise market which exactly matches Pilot's abilities, I would suggest buying a bigger rig that will last longer and will make you more confortable and confident to operate. The Zephyr should be a good option.

Craig, sorry I have just discovered this thread...

Anyway, I have started with a Pilot and by carefully reading The Steadicam® operator Handbook before going to a workshop. Today, although I now own an Archer2, I am still using my Pilot (upgraded with Frederic's grip : http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=20614&hl=) mostly for documentary shooting. Actually, in documentary shootings I am working for, there is no money to hire a big steadicam nor for one more person, and maybe no need too, using mostly ENG type cameras.

 

So here are my thoughts based on extensive use as one-man band :

 

- the Pilot is exactly the rig you should go for : you can pack it in its bag, walk in the jungle or climb mountains if necessary, then build it in 3 minutes and you're good to go. Also, you can wear it hours long so you can go with it without carrying the stand when you are really part of a small team (my case). Moreover in documentary shooting you never know where you're going to shoot, and can not change whether conditions... So a light rig is a real asset.

For example, here are some shots I've made with my Pilot I believe I could not have done with a bigger rig :
> Climbing in a township (95°F / 75% humidity) :

> Test shot in rough terrain :

 

- considering focus, I would say it won't be an issue as long as you are using ENG-style cameras. With SONY PMW-200 (PMW-EX1/EX3) you can set once your focus, while with other cameras like Canon XF series you should take advantage of their brilliant AF. Here is an exemple using XF100 in AF mode :

I am also working for live TV (SD) at constant focus, it works pretty well (this example with my Archer2 : ). In case you are using a 5D, C300 or anything like that, of course you will have to keep the distance with your character.

My answers are certainly a little bit late (?), but I hope at least they may help somebody else ? Happy owner of an Archer2, I am still using my Pilot. Actually the Pilot is more difficult to use (balance, very light touch needed) than a bigger rig, so it is a very good training indeed.

I am also interested in such a configuration ; powering from the Pilot's stage :
- Teradek Bolt Pro (already have a lemo from P-tap)

- follow focus (could be lemo from P-tap also I guess)

- Decimator from Pilot's stage (already have a lemo from P-tap)

So a DC 2.1mm connector to P-tap multi should be OK... Alan would you plan to make one (multi) ?