Jonathan Pfundstein

After recently upgrading my pilots AA power supply to an AB mount, I'm wanting to power some items off the top stage but haven't been sure about the best route to go. Does anyone know of any good options to provide power to multiple items off of the 2.1mm dc out that's standard to the Pilot, a custom breakout box or adapters? As of now my only plan is to make a DC to lemo power cable for the follow focus, but I'm unsure if the unregulated volatage will be a problem. Ideally I'd like to have an option to power wireless video, and follow focus off the stage, leaving the only other thing power by the AB being the monitor. As far as volts are concerned I believe the output off the stage is around 17 volts so ample enough to power most everything I'd think, possibly just an Epic alone if I was ambitious? Thanks!

Thank you for all of your input. The advice on weights is dully noted. When you reffer to EFP, I've gathered that's reffering to the older model steadicams that have the plastic housing around the bottum of the sled, correct? Or just from the era that there from. Was looking at a used model featured on the sight http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=18041 Looks very reasonable and within my price range, thoughts?

When I say standard array of HD cameras, mainly those that are used on lower budget TV and film jobs, C300, Scarlet, Epic, F3. As of now I'm working with a TV show that flys an Epic super stripped with a Canon EF lens on my pilot, obviously pushing the limit but still managable, so I doubt an 18 lb limit would kill me too much with the prevelence of the Epic being used in production (besides the case stated above). In the immediate future as a fairly new operator I doubt I will encounter many jobs that require me to fly much larger cameras, although the ability to take those jobs (if offered) and not have to worry about each pound would obivously be a tremendous adavantage. Like you mentioned about outgrowing a rig though, do I need to spring 3k more for a rig that only takes me into a range of cameras slightly above what a scout could fly anyways, at this stage in my work? Part of me definitely says yes, while the other questions the logic of the cameras I'll be actually using and the money I'll be outlaying. No financing going on here, stricly paid in full rigs so money is definitely a factor, when I may just being moving up to a whole other level of work in a year. Thank you for all the advice thus far. Also does anyone think the dual mount battery option on the flyer is worth it over any of the new rigs with a single mount?

I'm sure you've all gotten this question a lot, so I'll try and make the set-up for it as concise as possible. I've recently gotten into steadicam operating and after a couple months using a borrowed Pilot rig and taking a few jobs, I'm ready to make the investment into a rig a bit more substantial that I can work with for the next few years. For the majority of my work I exppect to be flying the standard array of HD cameras that are out there, so I expect a rig that can carry around 18-20 pounds will be suitable, althought the option to fly an Alexa would be very nice. Anyone have any idea of what the operating weight of an Alexa can be squeezed down to? The options I've been considering are a Scout, Used Flyer or Possible a Zephry if funds permit. Overall the Steadicam packages for each seem fairly similar minus the weight capacities. Are there any key differeneces that I should be aware of? HD vs Standard monitor Kits? Power options? single battery vs dual mount on the sled? Anton Bauer VS. V mount for price, availablility, overall operators preference? Thanks for your input!