Jonathan Pfundstein

I've checked out Mcmaster.com Alan and still couldn't fine the the right grip/spacing for what I'm looking for, does anyone know of a film based company? These are common pieces on many carts, rigs, stands, surely there's ONE aftermarket company?

I've been searching far and wide for a longer replacement T-handle locking knob, for my Steadicam Zephyr docking bracket. Surely there has to be a film specific company, or anyone that sells such items? Ive found a few things but nothing close enough to be right. The thread pitch is 6-1.00mm, and the Steadicam provided one doesn't thread deep into into the dock block to secure properly without stripping. Secondly does have one know what the standard hole spacing would be for a camera cheeseplate, with alternating 1/4 3/8 holes, center to center? That is the plate that would be attaching the camera to the Steadicam dovetail plate. Thanks for any input or resources!

Is there anyway the 24 hour limit can be lifted? Possibly not allow the title to change as not to confuse people? I doubt minor adjusts would throw people off that much. My reason being if an important part of the is needed to be changed then the updated information would not be nearly as effectively seen many posts down, where a new viewer to the ad would not be looking. As well as decreasing the need to create new ads with updated information.

How was your wait time considering your practically neighbors with RT Motion, still around the 5 week mark thats generally quoted? Also how do you like the thumbwheel, your using it to pull focus I'm guessing? That's the one piece of kit I would've liked to add to my order.

Does any one have any advice on which workshops see to be the best mix of knowledge gained, hands on instruction, price, overall learning experience? I'm completely open to come into the workshop with an open mind as operator but would ranther not have a course that focused as strongly on someone with no experience. SOA vs Tiffen, and any other notable ones. East Coast preffered.

I placed my order for about 3 weeks ago from RT motion and they are definitely slow at returning emails, but they have been communicative which is deifnitely a plus. My ordering process through paypal was a bit of joke and they didn't even acknowlage the payment until I contacted them. With that being said nothing seems to come close for the price so I'll wait. As of now I was told they were moving into a larger space to help amp up orders, so inturn I beleive the customer service will come right along with that....hopefully.

I'm in the process of completeing my purchase for an RT Motion follow focus system, and have to complete payment via paypal from US dollars to GBP. Does anyone have experience with what method seems to provide the best conversion rates? As of now a bank transfer seems to be the most expensive, while the paypal conversion rates seem to be the running standard. Paypal does provide another option to go with your card issuers conversion rates, which some people state to be the lowest, although after consulting Discover they directed me the banks conversion rate.

Certainly not trying to compare a Preston system to an RT motion one at all, (Apples and Oranges) my response was poorly worded. More so remarking that to be able to even compare the two in terms of speed is interesting to hear when these two system are really in two seperate classes.

Thanks Jarrett and Zoltan. Its good to hear the RT system competeing in the same class of a Preston and also about the updated motor clamps.

Is this the bracket you were reffereing to http://film-stuff.com/remote-focus-accessories/preston-motor-mount.html ? About to place an order through RT and want have all the related goodies already lined up. Also if I'm reading this correctly, your saying that the motor cables wouldn't allow you use a 3rd party motor, unless a propper cable was made? Thanks!

Well after my PD movie debacle, I'm looking in the direction of a RT Motion system. Any updates from owners that would be useful, has customer service improved?

Two great points right here, I had considered the resale, but not neccesarily the lack rental value of a cheaper system. Glad to have learned the slightly easier way, hope everyone else heeds this advice!

Zoltan, just wondering how your single chanel system came out to be $8000? I was looking now and seems to be right around 3083 euros, about 4k$ US. Am I missing something?

After setting up the system the first time and charging the handset, the handset did not power up at all. This sort of problem from a brand new system shows the level of product your working with.... In turn I did not get to test the actual system, motors or anything at all. The build quality was decent, the follow through with items such as the handset, only having an internal battery is a pretty poor idea, all well as the metal marking rings that make a metal clinking noise whenever you hit the controlers hard stops (whoever thought that was a good idea) Whenever I purchased the system through Adorama they don't actually carry it and have it sent directly from Ikan (aka China) This shows the complete lack of knowledge they have of these products which is not a good sign. I'm a fairly new operated and was looking for something reasonably priced and against my better judgement went with this system. Needless to say, a handset that doesn't power on the first time you use it shows the lack of reliability the entire product. I contacted Ikan, they were quick to respond, yet with zero solutions, "well it should power on, your just going to have to send it back for us to inspect and replace." That's not the support I need from a critical piece of kit, nor would I let myself end up in a situation that would leave me stranded. I contacted Adorama yesterday and am returning the system. Even as a new operator I understand the importance of having a reliable regional company I can deal with, PD movie/Ikan is not one of those companys. I'd suggest you to steer clear of the system, unless you need a basic cheap solution for in house work, not when someone else is paying you.

Be warned for what? Like most of the GH3/4 Camera's monitoring has always been done via hdmi, so you could use a hdmi to sd converter or just use an hdmi monitor.

I receieved my PD movie follow focus a few days ago and haven't had a chance to test it yet. Overall its seems to be a decent system, good overall build, some strange positioning on the controls, and a pretty lame system button press system for setting up marks etc. Besides that for the price your gonna get exactly what you expect, a chinese product that will do exactly what you need as long as your carefull and take care of the system. I'll post a video review of it once I have a chance to spend sometime with it on my rig.

Thanks Patrick, after reviewing the form factor on the hyperdeck, its huge in comparrison to the Atomos. Powering it off the battery seems like a fine option but off the sled would be ideal, have you have any experience with this?

Gotcha, the lemo to female p-tap definitely seems like the way to go from all I've been reading. I could find the actual lemo connector online, just trying to find one through a camera site and not just manufacturer. I'm sure the soidering job on the connector will require a bit of skill, but the main thing I'm not sure of it the actually wiring, with three connections leading to the 2 p-tap. If anyone with cable making experience wouldn't mind chiming it that'd be most helpful!

If only the bolt had a pass through converting the signal, a bit much to ask but oh well. The hyperdeck seems to be a good option minus the form fator, I don't really see myself needing addtional recording abilities, how good is the internal battery? Thought I remembered reading 2 hours at some point, but I'm guessing your powering it off the sled anywise, which would be my plan for the Atamos instead of batteries, although the form factory of the battery to p-tap adpater seems annoying, but power via usb seems to be another option.

I've searched through the forums and have only come up with a few older threads about converters, nothing too extensive or that recent. (My appologys because I'm sure this question has been asked a mllion times) What is everyone using when it comes to hdmi to sdi transmitters? It seems like the blackmagic and atamos seem to be the most popular. I'm leaning towards the atamos due to its small form factor and internal battery/eternal power options. The blackmagics seem to do the same just a bit heavier and larger. I will flying it on a steadicam Zephry HD. Any better options I'm missing? I could've sworn I just recently saw a wireless video transmitter that has connections for either hdmi or sdi which would solve half the problem...

Is anyone interested in making this happen again/know the correct routes to take, to do so? Contacting Teradek directly?

Does anyone have a link to the correct 3 pin LEMO: EGG.0B.303 that comes off the Zephry top stage? I would love to attach one of these to my P-tap breakout. Of course I could have one made but I'd to be able to make one myself and get on the cable game.

Hi Ed, How did you go about running the hdmi cable through the post? I tried to do it with a mini hdmi end and couldn't come close to getting it to fit.

I've spent the last two months looking over various reviews, for the PD movie system and it seems to be the best combination of price, features, and quality, compared with other cheap systems. It comes with a one year warranty so I hope with a year of heavy use any potential problems will show themselves, and I won't have dropped a good bit of money on a totally worthless system. As far as how it holds up past that who knows, for being my first wireless FF system, I think its a fairly safe investment for the low price. My only real decision is if the two channel is worth the extra money, I like the idea of having an extra motor for a backup, and the second channel couldn't hurt when its actually needed. Planning on placing an order tomorrow for the two chanel system with the high torque motor, if anyone has any advice on the system, speak up!

I was planning on powering a PD movie follow focus that uses a lemo connection and terradek bolt. I'm pretty sure the option is available to power either of them via p tap but I don't want to run a line from the AB plate to the top stage. I was hoping I could devise a splitter of sorts off the top stage, I'm prettty sure the power would be sufficient.