Brian D. Goff

Just wondering if the 'tilt control' is wireless? If not, will there be one available?

Can have it wireless as a special order.

Brian

 

-the lack of automation will definatly hurt performance as well as put people off buying the product.

 

- Imagine running full speed around corners backwards, going low to high and tilting all at the same time could be quite dangerus.

 

Hi Matt

 

Automation is an issue, as Eric Fletcher correctly described, automation is quite difficult to acieve with a tilt-head solution. However the advatages of the tilt-head on a stabilizer are superior even if an operator in the end can't master it for hi- to low shots. The ability to tilt the camera to any angle nessesary realy stands out on it's own in every-day operating. Thats why we have a tilt-head without motor already for years as an assesorie. With the "360 Xtreme" you now hove a low cost solution to possibly get a low-to Hi shot in one single take.

Running full speed around corners backwards is dangerous even when operating normaly - in my opinion. I find the "360" not to add that much more risk, because the sled remains in a "normal" working position when you do the spin - it allways on your operating side, and you don't have to push it to far away to to the trick.

 

Brian

i dont think its gonna work the way you guys made it right now. Its almost impossible when working with a closer lens to use this device. Its gonna be VERY hard to find the SAME speed when rolling over the sled. Some point the sled will go faster or slower, and you need to compensate that. Even with the wide angle lens it already shows in your footage. It would work if you came up with some sort of automatic sensor thingy so you keep your head and hands free for other shots. But hey, thats just my opinion. Are you guys at the IBC this year? I would love to try it out.

 

Lets see

It's simply a differant (low cost) approach to get these kind of shots. Personaly as an operator I'm very confident that once I've practised enough I'll get some realy impresive footage even with a bit a longer lens (the footage on our web site was my very first hour with the rig). One thing to keep in mind, is that the shot in the elivator, and going to high mode while walking thought the doors frame, is imposible to do with with the AR, because you need more footroom there (the AR of course does other things better, and should at the price it has).

We might be at IBC - depends if all our stuff is ready by then.

Brian

Brian, I think it is interesting but have a question about the mounting on "any" rig.

I know that many rigs have the "standard" IIIa/EFP connection with 4 screws, not too big at all. (M4 or close to that, if I am not mistaken)

Extending the cameraplate position with your contraption might put serious stress on these relatively small screws.

 

The systems out there were always designed in such a way that the weight is not too high above the gimbal, keeping the distance and therefore the forces "low".

 

Personally I would be looking very carefully at this, I know ,unfortunately by experience, that this connection, from post to camera platform, is not always the strongest in the system.......

Rob

Your absolutly right. The 360 Xtreme will fit on most Rigs, but as for the EFP I would not advise an operator to but anything heavier than say a light weight HDCam, 16mm, 235, HDV's or RED on it. The 360 Xtreme was of course created with the new Actioncam in mind, our Rig has a very strong connection between camera platform and post, so even Imax would'nt be a problem.

Cheers

Brian

Brian,

 

looks nice ! waht weight/camera can it handle ??

 

mark de blok nsc

Any camera your arm/sled can handle. Must add approx 2 kg for the 360 Xtreme and most likely an extra batterie as counterweight on the sled.

Brian

nice price

what is the weight of the unit

The weight of the proto type was 2 kg (4-5 lb). The final device sould be a bit less.

What price point are you heading for the 360 ?

 

-matt

Approx. USD 3500.-

Brian

Hey Brian,

I was thinking more of a pully system like on some budget jibs could be a practical solution and would have zero swing.

In practice i'm sure it's not this simple i'm just thinking out load really.

Tilting with a remote just seems like it could leave quite a bit of room for error, but then again maybe just something else to master.

-matt

Matt

I don't think a pully system will work, because you would need to have the one end some were on the gimbal - thats not good. But most of all I think you would loose the ability to be able to tilt the camera - and this is a realy cool thing to do, even if you don't go Hi/low in one shot.

Brian

A short demo clip done with the ActionCam "360 Xtreme" is now online:

http://actionproducts.ch/en/index.php?opti...2&Itemid=85

It's not a "master piece", it was the result of my first 1h with the proto type mashine. I think it shows what is possible and with a little more practice, it will be a great add-on to any stabilizer system.

enjoy

Hi Brian,

 

I'd like to come over to Basel and try it out. I'm very curious about your new invention. :blink:

 

Do you already have one for demo use?

 

 

Cheers, Lukas

Lukas, The prototype unit is alread disasembled and at my mechanic for referance. I should have the demo film online sometime today. In about 10 Weeks the first batch will be finished - drop me an email and I contact you once we're ready: info@actionproducts.ch

Brian

Would it not be possible to have the camera fixed by gravity so their would be no need to tilt by remote ?

-matt

It then starts to swing. And it's realy cool to beable to tilt the camera in the desired position.

is the tilt controlled exclusively by the op or is it software/sensors? Both?

 

rb

Yes it's controlled exclusively by the operator - sounds hard to do? I was surprised how easy it is, but it does take practice (like doing zoom and focus with a J7 on a steadicam).

You might want to brush up on your patent law Brian. Lynn's patent covers the concept of high to low inversion as applied to a camera stabilizer that use's a gimbal to access the cameras center of gravity i.e. A Steadicam

Patents cover technical solutions to achieve a certain result. A concept in general can not be patented - if this were not so, we would only have monopolists. Lynn's patent covers Lynn's detailed technical solution only. GPI had the same problem with CP - GPI won, because CP could not patent the "concept". In the end it's all for the lawyers and in the end it's only the lawyers that win (sad but true). By the way, didn't we have this discussion before about the back-mounted vest? I'm still here and nobody sued me - why, because you can't patent a concept, only the very details of how you solve a problem - I know my patent law:).

Shipping in approx 12 weeks. Fits most "Stabilizer" systems.

 

 

You do realize that what you are showing is also a violation of Lynn's patent.

Hi Eric

It is definitely not a violation of Lynn's patent - The solution to rotate a camera like we do on the "360 Xtreme" is fundamental technical knowledge used by any camera remote head (in fact, it is just the same as the tilt part of a remote head). This can not be patented.

Brian

Shipping in approx 12 weeks. Fits most "Stabilizer" systems.

www.actionproducts.ch

check out "http://www.jdpictures.com/" and click on "Gimma "Superschwiizer" for some swiss-rap:) :ph34r:

m, it's always been my goal to keep the actioncam construction simple and therefore reliable. The zero-g arm has few parts and all milled out of blocks of "aircraft" aluminum - very few screws to keep all together. There are no wires or canisters for the springs, just one straight connection between the spring packs, and these are made of standard industrial springs, guaranteed not to wear out for life. With 76.3 lb. load, one of the strongest. And critical joints all with sealed bearings.

regards

brian

PS: I was out on a shoot the day they made the pictures for the web - antonio had the rig on for the first time in his life - not bad considering that:) - new "corrected" pictures next weekjava script:emoticon(':)',%20'smid_3')

:)

just wondering who invented the description "Don Juan" and why that name - any historical background?

brian

just to get the size relation:

Brian

Finaly fineshed!

The new ActionProducts zero-g (gravity) arm is now shipping.

I'm very happy with the new design - it feels great, can boom the full 85 cm range very smoothly and with very little effort - there a unit in LA soon (hanging at costoms for some reason at the moment) so I'll post details were to test fly it once my LA-reseller is ready. The new thing about this arm, is that it uses an array of several little springs to form one spring package. There are no wires, the springs are connected in a straight line between the attack points - makes the construction very simple and relaiable - and - lowers cost.

-intuitive force curve

-no-tools adjustment (one knob!)

-standard load 16 - 28 kg / 35 - 62 lbs (heavie load springs coming soon)

-lift 85 cm / 34?

-anodized aircraft aluminum

-weight: 5.8 kg / 12.7 lbs

-industry standard socket block

-price approx US 10'500.- (excl. tax)

Brian

(actionproducts)

I'm doning a job next week with an Arri III. The issue came up, that the Camera might blow a fuse if I use my PAG 14.4 Batteries - has anyone got any advise for using 14.4V batteries with Arri III.

Thanks

Brian

I don't know if this fits for all transvideo LCD's, but I did notis that my Rainbow II shows the FULL image. I know that the teletest LCD's crops the image at the right and bottom (1-2% I think). Any way, I had Teletest once, and first thought my frameliner had gone mad, untill I read the small print on the package of the LCD. So, if you wish to have full control over the full image, you better ask befor you buy! I was told, that in order to not crop the image at any side of the LCD, you must have some image-processor builtin the LCD (Transvideo aparantly payed atention to do this).

I think Transvideo is by far worth the money, am very happy with the Rainbow II.

Brian

Brian; Several questions.

When will the arm be ready?

What is the price point?

How do you change the springs?

How do you fine tune the arm?

Looking forward to hearing more.

Jamie.

Jamie

I'll post detailed info once the first batch is finished at the end of next month - some minor adjustments are being made in production, so I don't have all the data yet.

-price (can't say for sure, definitly lower than the leading brands)

-change the springs by loosening tesion completly, open the chasis and change spring (takes about 10-15min for a dual arm change.

-fine tuning by adjusting only one screw on each arm segment. No tools possible, but requires strong fingers (so I'll probly go standard by allenwrench)

Brian

Loads of 80 Lbs... If I remember right then it was you that, made this special arm for a japanese costumer that could hold 90 Lbs.... (90...Only one word: Why?)

Erwin

That one "90lbs" arm was a special request - I think there idea was to be able to take a fullly equiped Arri 535 "Studio-configuration" and just swich from tripod to ActionCam without taking off any weight. When I test flew the ActionCam with lead weights I nearly crumbled - I can't realy imagine that any operator could fly such a heavy weight for a shot lasting longer than a few seconds - they insisted ther operator (a japanese, maybe a sumo-ringer?) could handle the weight. Saddly I never got the fotos they promised me.

The old ActionCam arm designe is no longer in pruduction, personaly I'm keeping a unit as a running rig. The new Zero-G arm will also be avalible as a single arm version with the same load capacities.

There will definitly be asystem in LA round April, I'll post the details once ready.

Brian

Michael

Took your advice and edited my profile. Was'nt intending to be "anominous".

PS: How can you edit your "login-name"?

Brian "the mask" Goff