soren k jensen

Dear Chris,

One suggestion: add a shoulder mount option that can quickly go on and off. I often switch between Easyrig/TurtleX shoulder mount, Flyer, sticks and handheld during the same day, It would be really nice to let the exovest improve on shoulder mount possibilities!

I use a Flyer with a HVX200 and a wired varizoom remote on the gimbal. It works for me, and I can't afford a focus puller and wireless gear. I do documentaries so a Flyer is a good addition to the techniques I use. Can't use shallow dof on the FLyer, but use a 35mm adapter for handheld, monopod and tripod stuff. The combination works fine, particularly if you plan the style of the shot in accordance with the content.

I haven't had time to try Janice's skirt on ;-) -Apparently neither has Janice. Anyway, another suggestion is to use antlers. For a Flyer they wouldn't have to be as long or heavy as on the larger rigs. Just my '2 ører' (danish cents...)

Janice Arthur suggests using a 'skirt' to stabilise. Haven't tried it yet, but will soon: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...57&hl=skirt

Hi Robert, It's the grip. I am still not so familiar with the different Steadicam part names :P;-) That is a really good tip (cheap, easy, quick and smart, my favourite), many thanks!

The red post handle on the Flyer is a bit small for me. Has anyone found a good way of adding something to it that will make its radius bigger? Rubber, hard foam or something?

Sorry Erik and others,

It has now been brought to my attention that Ben Fisher, the owner of Zeitx, may not be the most trustworthy business person. Do a search on zeitx and Ben Fisher.

Sorry for any inconvenience!

If anyone gets to try this unit for the HVX or DVXb, please let us know how it performs:

http://zeitx.com/site3/vxf.htm

Thanks, Soren

Many thanks, both of you!

Has anyone seen or built a longer docking bracket for the Flyer? -I can't check DB on the stand because the bracket is so short that 360 spinning is impossible.

Thanks all for the very good ideas! It will be a month or two before I do the shots, but I'll try to make some stills and post the result on youtube and link from here. Mounting the camera like Peter suggests is a great idea: it will allow for framing while walking, and when i pan to film forward I'll see the flipped out lcd.

I cannot show you anything from the actual documentaries yet for various reasons. -One of them being that some of the kids are taking the Jackass style a little too literally -scary stuff they've filmed themselves!

I found this for 360 degrees, actually a nice idea, maybe best suited for classroom or kindergarten static recording: http://www.ptgrey.com/products/ladybug2/samples.asp

-and a funny lofi diy here: http://videothing.blogspot.com/2005/05/my-...experiment.html

Rob, if you get to Chiang Mai, check out my friend Lasse's art gallery there, and say hi from Soren:

http://www.lalunagallery.com/

best, soren

Thanks Brian,

actually a very good idea, will do!

(...rummages through kitchen utensils and hacksaws...' hrm, a diy project with no money and a host in desperate need of an extreme makeover, how to do? -Sounds of nipping and tucking, ouch. 'I am ready for my closeup', pans to face...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhhh) -sorta like the experience you sometimes get from other diy projects ;-)

best, soren

I shall be filming myself walking around empty schools, narrating and guiding the audience through my one-man documentaries on learning. I am using my Flyer, Varizom wired remote focus/iris/zoom and HVX200 plus two wireless sennheiser lavaliers and a small onboard light. I'll be moving from closeups of myself moving through the places, to views of empty rooms and schoolyards. I plan to use dissolves during whip pans as transition between locations.

Any advice, apart from practicing and planning it thoroughly ;-)

best, soren

I agree with the above. One addition: I use a Flyer, and am experimenting with a Varizoom Rock-PZFI wired remote, mounted on the post, beneath the handle. Put on a larger wheel for focus. When working with the stock lense and deep DOF, it is possible to focus 'enough', particularly in sd, to keep things in the ballpark. Not enough for very critical work, hd, tight dof. The Flyer sd monitor is quite good, but learn to estimate distance by eye, and use the distance info on the lcd.

I am, however, stupid newbie indie enough, to have bought a varizoom EFC that normally controls canon and fujinon lenses. Jim Bartell was very kind in directing me that way, as I can't have an assistant with me on what I do, and I need something wired, because of budget restraints. I am presently finding the right gears to interface with my mpic 35mm addapter and ff gear. As Mikko said, I am going for the indie stupid points, not for an academy award... Will keep you posted on how that goes. If it doesn't work on the Flyer, at least I'll have a remote for the 35mm adapter, when mounted on jib or crane etc.

Thank you very much, Richard! :)

anyone?

Hi all,

I need to clean and lubricate my Flyer gimbal. Read the threads on cleaning and lubing other gimbals, but nothing on the FLyer. Actually the arm squeaks a bit, so that needs some attention too, come to think of it...

I see no info on taking the gimbal apart anywhere on site or in the manual. Any advice?

Thanks Rick, I am talking to them now.

Also, I am looking into making what Jerry Holway calls a 'peg-leg'; a telescoping post extension, mounted on the dovetail. Right now I'm looking into using parts form a Manfrotto monopod plus adjustable quick release plate.... We'll see how it goes,

best, soren

Has anyone looked into building a telescoping post for the Flyer?

Thanks again Mikko, You seem to be my helper these days (as you help out many others, I can see).

I actually send you a PM on DVXuser some time ago, as I noticed (as far as I rememeber) your interests in sports, scouting, cameras and steadicam. I invited you to stop by at our University of Education if in Copenhagen. Don't know if you got it, but the invitation is there :-)

best, soren

I need to fly my new Flyer and Panasonic HVX200 quite low: I film children and the camera lens height from the ground must be around 45 centimeters +- boom. I wish to have the arm function in the middle of the range, for best performance and booming range. I don't mind flipping the camera in the process, using the handle for mounting, or a cage. Whatever gives me the best performance and lowest operation.

What might the solution be? -I cannot see from the various Tiffen and 'DIY' projects in this forum which heights I can achieve. Also, the Flyer lcd is a apparently not easily adjusted, when mounted differently - I need to take it off and turn it upside down, to be able to see it properly. Any comments?

best, soren

Thanks Mikko, and congrats on your new rig!

Kind regards, Soren

I hope to learn more on how to fly my new Flyer.

-Soren

-sorry about the 'sin scandinavia' typo. must be a 'freudian slut', and I can't edit the topic line... :unsure:

Many thanks, Dan,

I just checked his site on your recommendation and discovered that he has a new gimbal mounted hard wired control for the remote there. I'll have a talk with him. Best, Soren

Hi; I am a newbie with a Steadicam Flyer that I am practicing with right now. What fun!

My budget and other practicalities do not allow me to have an assistan pull focus via wireless. (I do documentaries with children, and need to be alone). When using my HVX200 I expect to use a wired Varizoom remote to pull focus, with the control mounted on the gimbal part, close to where it meets the arm, and a flexible cord connected to the post beneath the stage.

Here's the other stupid idea: Can I use my 35mm adapter (MPIC), and its mounted follow focus by controlling the ff manually from the post? -My thought is to mount a remote ff handle on the post, below the red handle, beneath the gimbal. Connection to the ff can be done either via a flexible whip or other type of transmission. This will not affect the gimbal action.

I realize that there might be several downsides to this, but has anyone tried something similar?

Thanks, Soren