Lisa Sene

Thanks for the helpful input Jess! Yes, right now I am only looking to buy one motor - a second will hopefully be in my budget further down the road.

Hi Jens, Thanks for the reply! I'm curious to hear your reasons for saying so; what do you like about it over the M21VE-L? Lisa

Update: Emailed Magnus and he said to go through Abel, so it sounds like Heden no longer sells direct. Looked at both the M21VE-L and M26VE today in person and found the size and weight difference to be noticeable, though fairly minimal. From Heden's site, the M21VE-L weighs in at 175g, while the M26VE is 250g. The form factor of the M21VE-L is smaller than the M26VE, though only slightly and for my needs won't make too much a difference. If I have a chance to test on a lens side by side in the future I will post my findings.

Thanks for the tip Brooks, will check with them!

Hi Everyone, Looking for thoughts on the Heden M21VE-L motor versus M26VE motor - I've flown with both but haven't had a lot of time to personally put them through their paces yet and would like some input from others. Also, Brooks, what was your reasoning for purchasing directly through Heden rather than a US vendor? What are the pros and cons? Thanks and happy flying! Lisa

Good to know - I have under 50 per month too and am looking at the Lite plan. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing William! I've been looking for a way to go digital with receipt tracking, and this looks very promising. I will check out the free trial ASAP, and use your referral link if it fits my needs. Which version are you using? Lisa

Hi Nicholas, While I haven't had this happen personally yet, I do have some experience with this kind of thing from working in a rental house. Sometimes production companies would bounce back a rental agreement and their lawyer would ask the rental house to change some of the jargon in the agreement before they were willing to sign it. Does the production company have a lawyer, or can you ask to speak with the person who wrote the document? Perhaps speaking directly with them will allow you to get the language you need for your gear to be covered. Personally, I wouldn't sign it unless I knew my gear would be covered by the company. Explain that you are no different than a rental house from an insurance standpoint; it is still rental gear being used on the production, regardless of whether it comes from an owner op or a rental house. Also make sure you have both property and liability insurance from the production. The COI should list you as the certificate holder, and make sure you are listed as "loss payee" (with regard to property insurance) and as "additional insured" (with regard to liability insurance). If you're not, it can be viewed as a loophole that can lead to you not being paid in the event something happens. If you receive a COI and you're not listed, call the insurance agent (generally the contact info is listed on the COI) and ask them to amend it. Generally not a bad idea to call the insurance agent anyway to make sure the COI was not forged by the production company. Ask the agent the verify the limits, expiration dates, and confirm you are listed on the COI, of to simplify have them email you a COI directly. Good luck! Lisa

Hi Kristina, I use the Exovest and love the thoughtful, ergonomic design with anatomy in mind (thanks Chris!). The weight distribution is on the pelvic bones and the shoulders, skipping over the bladder, stomach, and base of the spine, which are not meant to be load-bearing body parts. I never felt comfortable in traditional style vests because I always wanted the middle section tighter for a better fit, but also wanted it looser around my rib cage and lungs to feel like I could breathe more easily. It is also a more female-friendly design in that it does not draw undue attention to the chest area, which is a welcome change for working in a male-dominated industry. Another feature I find particularly useful since I am on the shorter side is the fact that the socket block can be raised fairly high on the center rods for a little extra height (in addition to using a longer arm post). Similarly, you can also mount it very low on the rods by straddling the bottom rod mount point with the socket block. Personally, I like that position best since that point is closest to my own center of gravity and feels very natural when operating. Happy flying! Lisa

Hi Julius, I have flown with my Exovest twice recently, with two different cases. To clarify I have the full size Exo, not the Exolite. The first time I flew with the vest built normally inside the soft case, with that inside a Pelican Storm iM2975 case, without foam: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=569099&gclid=CjwKEAiA6rrBBRDsrLGM4uTPkWASJADnWZQ4ML1GxM67RSCYzDy6tBmrCF0nbVAWYG33yFMYZEuhoBoCfHvw_wcB&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051678762%2C&A=details&Q= Since I had the soft case as padding and also had clothes in the case, the vest was plenty protected. Personally I like the latches on the Storm cases because I find them easier to open with the button-release instead of just the latch. The second time I used an older, small case, a Pelican 1620, again with no foam: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=179144&gclid=CjwKEAiA6rrBBRDsrLGM4uTPkWASJADnWZQ4YerZLPhIh_GSw8qR9DGVns9AArtSuI7DqiprLiMzGBoCAjfw_wcB&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677682%2C&A=details&Q= This time I flew one direction with the bottom section of the vest taken off, turned around, and put back on upside-down (trying to attach a picture but having trouble). That bought me a little more room in the case, but the vest is slightly less stable that way, so on the return trip I packed it in the normal configuration. "Normal configuration" for me is a small form factor to begin with since I have a short torso and small frame, so the vest was in the smallest form it could be in to fit in this case. Both ways (bottom upside-down and normal) were fine, and both cases worked great. If you're able to, find a local rental house that will let you test out a few different cases so you can find one that works for your needs before you purchase one. Happy flying! Lisa

Hi Tom, Good to know that it can only be purchased as a system. I also enjoy using Bartech systems - both are great! Happy flying. Lisa

Hi Tom, I have used the Carat many times. It's a very reliable, lightweight, single-channel system that rarely gives me any issues. Occasionally there are connectivity problems, but I've always solved them by power cycling the hand unit and receiver. Overall it's very user friendly and all the ACs I work with love using it. Lisa

Hi Pete, I'm not sure of a source, but felt similar about the handle on my Archer 1 after using another sled on a job while mine was in for service (looks about the same size/shape as the one you have). I did inquire with Tiffen about getting a longer handle or spacer, but they said they weren't able to on my sled. It wasn't a deal-breaker for me, and at some point my muscle memory adjusted and now it feels comfortable. Interested to hear if someone else knows a source for a solution that will still maintain structural integrity! Lisa

Hi Liam! Yes, the American Stand is the LS-32, and you can purchase it with either 12" or 14" straps. If you plan on using wheels with your stand, they will fit better with the 12" straps; you'll have to skinny up the stand to meet the angle of the wheel connection with the 14" straps. When I asked the vendor I bought my stand from about 12" vs. 14" straps with wheels, they said having the straps fully horizontal is the most stable setup for the stand, so if I am mostly using with wheels, 12" was the way to go since 14" would mean the straps would be locked on a diagonal. I have the LS-32 with 12" straps and 8" Mag wheels, pictured here: http://www.backstageweb.com/New%20Products.htm (note the LS-30 is a single-rise stand, as defined here: http://www.americangrip.com/baby.asp ) If I wasn't using wheels often, I would have gone with the 14" straps for a more stable base. As other have said, rolling a docked rig around on the stand can beat up the rig quite a bit. I don't have a cart yet, so I typically sling my large set bag over my stand and have my AC roll that and I wear the rig and walk it to wherever we are moving. If it's a large move, or if I'm conserving energy, I'll have my AC carry the sled and I'll roll my stand and carry my arm separately (usually have the vest still on but loosened). Not the most elegant solution, but works for me while I save up for a cart! Offhand I don't know any Canadian distributors, but I would start by calling American Grip directly and asking them for local vendors close to you. Good luck and happy flying! Lisa

Great video Chris! Thanks for making and sharing.

I'm planning to attend. Looking forward to it!

Hi Chris, Thanks for the description! I have opened up the stage before to do some work, but didn't disconnect everything. Glad it went well for you! Thanks again! :) Lisa

Hi Chris, Do you mind sharing what you found? I have an Archer 1 too, and would love to hear your experience in case I ever need to do the same in the future. Thanks! Lisa

I have one in Boston!

Hi Janice, Thanks for bringing up this very important point! I've had questionable scenarios come up plenty of times and have started more thoroughly vetting new clients before I accept a job. I hate turning down work, but I don't take work that compromises my own safety. Social media actually helps a lot with this process because I can look up names and see if I know anyone who is connected to the new client, then inquire with any mutual connections. I also make sure at least one person knows where I'll be and has an idea of call and wrap times. One can never be too careful! Stay safe everyone.

Hi Akiko, Hello from a fellow female op on the shorter side! As everyone else said, definitely take a workshop. It is more than worth it and you will learn things you never expected to. If you do take a workshop, make a point to test out an Exovest while you're there. It's a more female-friendly design, and places the load of the rig on your body differently than a regular vest. It does take some more careful fitting than a regular vest, so have one of the instructors help fit it to you specifically. Once I did that, I fell in love and decided it was the vest for me. Good luck!

Thanks Jess and Ron!

Thanks Ron - good to know! I don't have a cart yet, so my plan was to use the stand wheels in the meantime when necessary. I called Backstage and spoke with Hector, who clarified that the weight is on the straps when the straps are horizontal, which makes the stand more stable than when they are skinnied up. He said it's a choice when purchasing, but they recommend the 12" straps for those wheels. Have you tried the 12" versus 14" inch? Based on what Hector said I'm leaning more towards the 12" for wheels, but based on the thread I linked above it sounds like the 14" is the better option with no wheels. Thanks!

Hi Everyone! I am looking at purchasing an American LS-30 Stand (1 riser) with "Mag Steadi-Cam Stand 8” Wheel Kit" from Backstage. The Backstage catalog mentions the wheels will only work with 12" straps on the stand, though others have suggested (specifically in this thread: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=22728&hl=%20american%20%20stand)they find the wider 14" straps provide more stability for the stand. I contacted Backstage and they confirmed the 14" straps will fit the wheels with the stand skinnied up a bit, but stability is then lost. I'm not planning to use the wheels constantly, so I'm looking for feedback about the stability American stand with the 12" straps without wheels - what are your thoughts? Alternatively, has anyone tried the 8" wheels with the 14" straps and the stand skinnied up? Ron, it looks like you've done something similar with your 10" wheels. If so, do you find it stable enough, especially during dynamic balancing? For weight reference, I fly an Archer 1. Thanks and happy flying!