Brandon Thompson

Nathan, I own a flyer and have successfully flown both a dvx and hvx with the M2 lens adapter w/ various lenses, M2 rods, BFD, M-One motor, and with a matte box. You will need about 5lbs of batt on the bottom to balance correctly. I have used one propac or two trimpacs. The rig flies much better the heavier it is, in my opinion. If you would like I could send you a pic.

Hi Elliott, I am a local in ATL and I would say go to PC&E or CinePhotoTech (www.cinephototech.com) tomorrow and see if they have one you can put on your sled. I did a little search for you: http://www.arri.com/entry/products.htm and then searched for 435. It says the 435 camera body w/o mag is 14.3 lbs. The Varicam specs say it is 16.28lbs with viewfinder, lens batterypack, tape and mic. I am sure you are going to have to add wireless video tx, and focus receiver and motor as well that is probably in the 3-4lbs range (guessing). I have a BFD and M-One if you need to rent one. Good Luck with the gig, Brandon Thompson

Chris, Lots of op's get a scrap piece of metal from a machine shop have it drilled and tapped, and use that for a weight. My dvx100a was too light for my flyer, so I got a piece of steel about 1/2 inch thick by 8" by 5" or something close to that. It weights about 5lbs and it works great. I have read on here about people doing this same thing. You might want to try another search. I think some call it a weight cage. Good Luck, Brandon

For those of you who own the flyer and have tried to put a HDX900 or Varicam on it, what type battery mount is your flyer?

Hey guys just wanted to bring it to everyones attention. I had heard rumors but looks like the rumors are true, the guys at Redrock have a wireless FF. http://www.redrockmicro.com/microRemote.html And I believe I read in post on their forum that the price is $500

Kip, I have a flyer too, and my first purchase was the BFD. I was working on indies with the 35mm lens adapters so I had to have a way to control focus. We would just play back each take and the director would look at my monitor. So that brings me to my next purchase and that will be a video transmitter. I have been saving up to get the canatrans, b/c I have heard great things about it and it (and the BFD) will stay with me as I move up to bigger rigs. I also got a low mode bracket for my dv camera, but its not the easiest way to get low mode. Another op suggested I just rebalance so the camera is upside down and they can just flip the image in post. I have to agree it saves alot of time! my .02, Brandon Thompson

Nick, Did you have a pin block made for the flyer arm or for the Klassen vest? And thanks to Chris and Robert for your insight. Maybe I can find some way to work in a few rubber bands? haha Thanks, Brandon

Thanks for all the responses. I am saving up $$ and hoping to make a purchase soon.

I have been gettting more calls asking if I can fly a VariCam with my flyer. I haven't had a chance to get down to the equipment rental house to put one on my rig and was wondering if there is anyone out there who has successfully flown a VariCam with a Flyer. While I am asking what about a HDX900? Thanks, Brandon

I heard that Mark. I could probably spend in batteries what I spent on my flyer. And lets not mention my BFD and M-One, oh and I still have to get the Canatrans. Of course this is beans compared to what you guys have in your rigs. I appreciate all the great info guys. There isn't a better feeling then when you pull off a great shot and everyone wants to crowd around the monitor to watch it back!

Hey I just had my battery mount changed on my flyer from NP-1 to AB. Another Op recomended I make this switch, b/c as I move up in rigs the batt's will move up with me, and if I every need to borrow a AB in a pinch it shouldn't be hard to find someone with AB's. That said I am looking to invest in a charger and batt's. I know that I will probably need some light wieght batts for when I am flying dvx100 or hvx200, but also might need some heavier batts for bigger cameras. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Brandon

GREAT Stuff Will. Love the Zen Don Juan. This Question is for Will or really any seasoned op could answer, In the picture that was nested in Will's first post I see Will's left hand on the post the right hand in mid air and his eyes are looking ahead not at the monitor. I guess my biggest question is how do you monitor the framing with a shot like this? and Also is there a reason the right hand isn't holding onto the gimbal? BTW I am a newbie and I love to analyze these pictures you guys post. Thanks, Brandon

That is a great question Dan. I too have found walking slow hardest. I prefer a full run over the slow walk. I will be interested to see what advice is given.

"A majority of any troubleshooting for the day was spent on the follow focus - notice, still camera lenses - no gears. Arrrghhh" I also have a Redrock adapter. My set up came with these plastic focus rings for the still lenses. http://www.bigsteinproductions.com/images/LensGear1.jpg Maybe you rented and they left this out? I have used this same set up with my flyer, which has a flip funtion in the monitor so I didn't have to mount the camera upside down, but great idea and yes a time saver in post.

Kris, So with the smaller jumpers is there much pull on the camera? I worked on a indie feature shootind w/ the hvx200, and the sound guy wanted to tie into the camera, and it was annoying for me operating with the audio cable coming off the camera. I did tie it off to my vest, but it wasn't fun. Are sound guys transmitting wirelessly on video projects?

The dance that goes on between staging, lighting, talent, cameras and our damn cables is an art form of its own. I am a newbie and have never done a live event. Is it the norm to have cables coming off the camera sending signal to the powers that be?

Speaking of the awards, does anyone know who the operator(s) were? I thought I saw two but maybe my eyes were deceiving me.

Just wanted to post another alternative to the lite panels. This unit is less expensive, but also not as bright. I bought one and I am please with it. www.vidled.com

I don't mean to waste anyones time, but I did get a good laugh at this rig I saw on ebay. Looks like some thing out of a Terminator movie. http://cgi.ebay.com/Steadycam-Full-Rig-Sta...1QQcmdZViewItem So what do you guys think?

Ari, No I am in Atlanta. I have a BFD too, so I don't need anything that will interfer with it. What are you using? Thanks, Brandon

Anyone used anything like this before and got good results. I am still looking for a cheap video transmitter until I can get the canatrans or something similar. http://cgi.ebay.com/STEADICAM-VIDEO-SENDER...1QQcmdZViewItem Thanks, Brandon

I just bought the low mode bracket and haven't had a chance to use it yet. Hopefully tonight I will have time to build the rig in low mode. But I was wondering if anyone has used the low mode kit from tiffen for the Flyer and would care to share any tips? Thanks Brandon "just got my BFD and M1" Thompson

The camera assist on the last indie I worked on told me about his invention for a laser follow focus that would compute the distance. He is going to be so bummed out when I tell him its already out there. I was thinking to myself as he told me about his idea that someone else in the steadicam world has had to thought that same thing up.

I don't know if the ratchet belts will work or not, but I remember either Peter Abraham or Frank Rush telling about bigger straps for larger operators. Brandon Thompson

Thanks Will, I was telling my dad about it and we both were thinking something along that line. Is this something that the operator has in his arsenal, or is this a camera assistant/focus puller item? Thanks again, Brandon "eagerly awaiting my BFD" Thompson