Christopher Lowden

Attached is a pdf that explains how to change the Latex bands on an Aigle Concorde G6 Vision arm.

If you can afford to change the bands by Aigle, I suggest you do it, but if you cannot, this is how I did it.

AIGLE_CONCORDE_G6_VISION__ARM_–_DISMANTLE.pdf

I would like to add that this rig is not my invention. Give credit where credit is due.
Thank you to  Arnold de Parcau
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4717125/

Hello

I thought I would share with you a "one man band" rig designed for those like me, who like to use "enterprise" classic gear.

I am not a steadicam operator. I did do a Steadicam EFP course in Los Angeles in around 1994 but after doing a few jobs, I quickly realised it was not my future. 30 years later, I still make films as my way to express myself and I want good gear to work with.

My personal rig consists of:

Red Epic MX

Angenieux 24-70mm 2.8f

Redrock Micro with Thumbwheel

Heden M26VE

zhiyun crane 3s

zhiyun powerpack

zhiyun easysling handle

Smallrig zhiyun crane 3s arms and handles

SoundDevices 302 mixer

2x Micron Explorer Radio receivers

Manfrotto 123 rotule

Aigle Concorde Arm & Vest.

 

I had been using the Aigle concorde rig with the above kit (except the zhiyun crane 3s) for a bit with disappointing results. Aigle concorde is an excellent solution for the price with its elastic band arm (I really do recommend it for thos looking an affordable professional rig); I want to shoot at 50mm and with my talents, the rig was all over the place. So eventually, I thought maybe a gimbal would be better suited to my needs and abilities (which are very basic).

The rig weighs on the arm about 12kgs, which is starting to be heavy for me .The gimbal is not rock solid stable at 50mm, but it is hundred times better than my classic efforts without it. A post prod image stabiliser locks it off perfectly.

The secret is the Manfrotto 123 Rotule which allows me to take the gimbal on and off. Without the ability to angle the female socket, it is impossible to take the rig off the arm. (See attached pictures)

 

PROS of rig

Good weight distribution

Bounce reduction & stable image for classic tracking shots

Ability to do Don Juan with a gimbal

Easy to un mount rig on a table

 

CONS

Rig height is high

Heavy

Gimbal consumes batteries very, very quickly

Red Epic MX is at the higher end of the zhiyun crane 3s capacity so fragile. I wouldn't do any of those crazy camera moves you see on youtube with it.

Cannot see how to easily do low or mid mode.

 

Note: dangeling  cables do affect the gimbal a lot. They made my gimbal nod as I walked. These gimbals don't offer cable / power management features for big cameras.

This rig does not replace someone who is trained and knows what they are doing, but could inspire those looking for a personal, relatively low cost solution.