SergeiFranklin

For Sale CIT wireless video system

Modulus 3000 (serviced by Cramped Attic in 2010)

Mod-Quad diversity receiver with 2 remotes, AC power supply and DC power cable

2 Ultra antennas.

7" TV, never used.

Video distribution amplifier.

$1900

please contact me at ev@earthvideo.net

Sold

For Sale M-One motor. Motor was just serviced so it's in perfect condition. Includes 6 gears, rod collets, mounting bracket and a motor cable. $1700.,

Also selling Bartech receiver $300.

Or Package of M-One, 2 Bartech receivers, Dual steadicam bracket, hardwire cable, Pro power cable, 2nd motor cable for $2100

Contact me at ev@earthvideo.net

I curious about the low cost unit from optitek.org.

Maybe he could provide one for the test.

I have had a Bartech for over 10 years and tried many focus rings.

Last year I came across a design from Markus Bernhardt, www.baer-bel.de that I liked but he didn't want to make anymore.

I recently discovered www.shapeways.com , a 3-D printing service.

I designed rings based on Markus Bernhardt's design with Google SketchUp, converted it in Meshlab and then opened it in Netfabb to finalize size and output a .stl file to upload.

These are all free software that can be downloaded.

sketchup.google.com

meshlab.sourceforge.net

www.netfabb.com

Mine is here http://www.shapeways.com/model/218566/focusring.html?gid=mg

This is for the early Bartech that had a slightly different knob diameter

I have 20 rings and there are small variations as some are tighter but all fit.

I recommend you order one (wether my design or yours) to test before you order a large number. I am not selling them(I'm not adding a markup), you are ordering from Shapeways.

The price with customs is about $20 a ring.

If someone designs one for the new diameter or a different design please post it.

You should be able to download the design. If it's not working I can send you my file.

"Opensource Focus rings"

Sergei Franklin

www.sergeifranklin.com

I put a video distribution amp in my PRO years ago. It improved the Modulus as it is getting a correct video signal level.

I have info here http://earthvideo.net/stcmmod.html

Still valuable especially to the Europeans, not having to deal with shipping lenses back and forth to the US. Duclos requires you give them the set of lenses to ensure that they have exactly the right fit, they don't just ship out the rings.

www.jbkcinequipt.com makes aluminum focus rings, You don't have to send the lens, just email the diameter of the lens.

I measured the delay. It's 5 frames. 1/5th of a second.

I am testing the Cube.

It has a short delay, less than half a second. I think many directors and DPs will prefer a short delay in order to watch HD versus the standard def transmitter.

I am going to purchase a audio delay that sound can add to the headphone feed.

I just did a commercial with it and the DP pulled iris of the feed to the laptop, he could judge exposure on the laptop image.

It is the same size as the Modulus 3000.

I have used the IDX and they are too large. With the Cube I can mount it on the side of the camera and not have to re rig it for low mode.

I put a Airport Extreme on a C-stand and anyone with a computer and VLC can watch.

We also used it on a jib and got a clean image with the jib 75 feet away from the Airport.

Here is the updated info

http://earthvideo.net/stcmmod.html

I plan to attend. Can I get a ride with someone driving. I live in Manhattan and don't own a car.

Sergei Franklin

212-228-4254

646-247-7871

I've been using the PDR-100-H for 2 years and am very happy with it.

I have info and review here http://earthvideo.net/stcmmod.html

You will have to ask if he still makes the H version which has BNCs and a Pro compatible Lemo.

Sergei

Any other ops out there using a Chasecam?

 

 

It's an unmitigated piece of garbage. I am rules mandated into having to use them in SCCA World Challenge racing and they have to have a tech guy there swaping out decks for most teams every race weekend. In 5 race weekends I have had to replace 6 yes SIX of them.....

 

HORRIBLE Codec that doesn't allow audio to travel with video when you export! Plus TONS of motion artifacting... HELLO, you designed it for something that MOVES!

The codec is MPEG2, If you have the MPEG2 plug in for quicktime picture and sound play together on my MAC.

If you don't have the plug in use MPEG Streamclip.

A weekend in a race car must put more stress on the recorder than a lifetime on a steadicam.

For me it's working very well.

Sergei

The Chasecam PDR100-H is about $600. I've had mine for over a year. A few month ago I had mine upgraded to the supercap version which puts capacitors in the AA battery slot. This fixed all the noise issues I was having and am now very satisfied with the deck.

For more info see http://earthvideo.net/stcmmod.html

Sergei

I've had one for over a year and just had it upgraded to the new power supply board with capacitors.

This seems to have fixed the noise problems. I think they were waiting for this before selling more 100-H versions.

The recorder works great.

I was wondering why the Preston upgrades require a PC when most in the film business use MACs

Paul DuDeck

Have you looked into the cells from http://www.a123systems.com

They claim to have a Li Ion cells that can handle very high current and very quick charge times as well as being safer.

Seems like the perfect solution for steadicam batteries.

On a 6" monitor in SD a pixel is about 0.2mm (less than 1/100") viewed at a distance of 2-3'.

I don't think at those screen sizes there is much to be gained from HD.

What would be of great use would be a HD transmitter the size of the modulus or canatran. Then we could get rid of the cable.

ChaseCam software update added fastfoward and rewind at 3x, 15x and 60x

firmware updates are downloaded from their website to a compact flash card, OS doesn't matter.

Chasecam PDR100-H

For Steadicam onboard recording I switched from a DV deck to the Chasecam PDR100-H digital recorder. It records MPEG 2 to a Compact Flash card.

It is very simple to operate

One button for start and stop recording, Led goes from green to red when recording. Very quick to access a shot for playback. Currently only play and pause, they are working on fast forward. Updates can be downloaded from their website and copied to a compact flash card.

If you have a laptop and a card reader on set you can pull the compact flash card out and play and scroll through the clips in a computer.

You can use MPEG Streamclip from www.squared5.com to play the files as well as convert to DV or other formats..

If you have the MPEG2 plugin you can also use quicktime.

There is a built in microphone for reference sound.

Works with NTSC and PAL in full resolution (720 x 480 for NTSC) with different compression settings.

I've been using the normal setting and have not gone over 2 GB in a day so far.

The unit costs about $600. I'm using a Transcend 8GB Compact flash card (less than $100).

The Lemo is pin compatible with the PRO.

For mounting I cut off the tabs and took off the handle from the ChaseCam bracket, and drilled some holes and screwed it onto the PRO recorder plate.

Please view this page on my site for more info and pics http://earthvideo.net/stcmmod.html

Does this solve the issue of recorders that have separate and simultaneous inputs and outputs causing a ghosting effect on the sled video (because the image is feeding back on itself)?

Yes it will as the VDA outputs are isolated. you would use the same wiring except that in and out go the same pin on the 5pin lemo.

I used to use an external DA from VAC with a switch so the recorder is fed via the vda for record and direct for playback. Its a lot more elegant inside.

I have been using a PRO system with TB-6 for about 6 years .

I like my system but directly connecting multiple video devices causes incorrect termination.

I had been using an external VDA with my recorder on my previous steadicam system and have used this till now.

I have just purchased a chasecam.com PDR100-H and realized I needed to redesign the video system.

There is room inside the battery module between the recorder and transmitter Lemo for a VDA from VAC model number 11-011-504

http://www.vac-brick.com/CompositeVideoDAD...oductFamily=MFB

I attached the DA with Velcro.

I replaced the recoder/playback switch with a DPDT version

C&K T201SHZQE digikey part number CKN 1089-ND (radioshack's does not have the same thread pitch, so you need to order this)

Now the recorder/playback switch is finally functional and my Modulus looks better.

I mount my video transmitter on the bottom of the sled. With this modification you would always want the transmitter on the bottom. I have done this for years without any problems ( CIT antenna with Sony tuner).

I cut the power to the 5 pin and power the recorder from the camera battery as powering from the video battery causes noise in the system. I think the XCS electronic level and PDR-100 on the same battery cause the noise. It can also be powered from internal batteries.

I am still working on this with chasecam.

I will report more on the PDR after I test it on a few jobs. So far it is a big improvement over my DV deck.

I have mentioned http://www.a123systems.com/html/home.html to Anton Bauer. I wonder if they are looking into it. A123 looks like the most promising battery technology, fast recharge, high capacity, high amperage.

I have been talking to Randy at chasecam.com for some time and asked him to make version with Lemo and BNCs PDR-100H. It should have the same pinout as the PRO video recorder Lemo. I should have mine in the next few weeks and will report on it.

I've been talking to Randy at http://www.chasecam.com/recorders/pdr.htm

He is going to make some with Lemo and BNC connectors.

The deck can record full video 740x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL.

Give him a call if you are interested.

There are remotes available with 1 button for record stop.