Steve Minnick

still avail- $3500

Reduced... $3700 OBO

For sale: Upgraded Steadicam Flyer...included in sale- Steadicam Flyer grey arm 15lbs max. / red gimbal post handle, /HD SDI signal / Upgraded Flyer vest (most recent version they sold with it) / low mode adapter / Flyer arm to big socket adapter / allen wrench / "old school" manual / Flyer carrying case /Steadistand/ NO Monitor. I can include all the original parts to the flyer...SD monitor and bottom bracket but new set up is sooo much nicer. Bottom rails are carbon fiber -The rig weighs about 6 pounds. Power from A/B mount battery goes up post AND to monitor 4 pin cable. Old video bnc at top stage is basically "unplugged"...but can be used in an SD setup. I'd prefer NOT to ship but will if needed. Buyer pays shipping.

...very well taken care of. Hoping it goes to a good home... asking $3900 or best offer.

This is SD and can not be upgraded. PRO replaces the upper and lower junction boxes to update to HD, along with the cable and large Lemo connectors.

 

It's probably for sale because someone did just that to their sled.

gotcha ;) Thank you for the info. Much appreciated.

I think Dave Hable @ Cramped Attic upgrades these as well.... Though when I asked him a few years ago it was rather expensive and I ended up buying new!

 

JP

Thanks for the info :)

Sorry to intervene but I had exactly this set up upgraded to HD by Gorka Rotaeche from Spain. He adds a thin HD-BNC cable and a HD-BNC out on the upper and lower junction box.

Jens- do you remember the cost?

Thanks Ken- much appreciated. I will check it out with PRO to find out the cost.

found this online- does anyone know how they are wired? SD? is the video line "tied in" to the 4 pin monitor out on the bottom box? it has James Lytle's name on it.....anybody know if he is a member of the forum?

can the boxes be upgraded to HDSDI?

any info would be great.

Thanks

Steve

Anyone know the dimensions of a mitchell mount? I want to make a custom hardmount and don't have one handy. I think the center hole is somewhere around 3.5" and the whole thing is about 7" but don't know how exact those are. Also need to know how deep I should make the center portion.

 

Thanks,

Jess

I was wondering the same thing...I am building one for a Flyer socket and I think the smallest plate can be 3 inches by 5 inches...and about a 1/4 inch thick. I would like to know if there is kind of a "standard" though. I plan to use a Manfrotto pipe clamp on the back for mounting.

anybody have any other info?

Thanks

Steve

Looking to buy Flyer hard mount.

Thanks

Steve

When I was a grip we took a 4' piece or steel dolly track upside down on the ice then racket strapped a doorway dolly on top and a bazooka mount. we got great shoots and it was all on the fly with gear we had on the truck. It would also work with a muscle cart for hand held. It's fast and cheap and you can set the baziika as low or high as needed.

Very interesting idea Aaron. I'd love if you had a picture of it...although I can picture it in my head. It's a great idea....might just have to try it.

I'm thinking maybe a thick plywood (maybe with pucks mounted underneath?) and then attach some pipe or speedrail to mount the socket block. Then I just need some place to sit.....

If you're really considering doing that, then just get some apple boxes and screw them down and then screw your hard mount to them. I've done that in the back of an ATV before. Then just screw down an apple to sit on and you're set. This type of setup would work better for low mode than high of course.

Brad- yes...the idea is in the running. I am trying to keep this low budget but at the same time safe and effective. I don't want to make the thing too heavy though either....and since it will need at least one person pushing or pulling I need to make it light enough. Maybe a 4 x 4 3/4 inch piece of ply....pucks mounted underneath....speed rail off the back for pushing/ pulling...a chair or apple box mounted to sit...and then pipe or an apple box that I can screw in the "top hat" flyer hard mount. I wish I could find a used hard mount...B and H has the part for $1,024......That just may do it.

David Mullen just posted some pics from a movie he's working on at the moment on cinematography.com and there is one showing a speedrail rig they built for ice. Try this link. I think you'll be able to see the thread. Looks like it could work with steadicam with some slight mods.

that's a great start for refernce...thanks...I wonder if the hockey pucks were enough to smoth the ride out...although that's what the steadi-arm will do.

Thanks for the link!!!

to answer the other question...yes it will be shot inside an ice rink.

We did some hand-held tests with a spring arm support today on the ice...an experienced skater/camera op. got pretty good results.

We still need to build something that we can have control over and also get low to the ice.

I'm thinking maybe a thick plywood (maybe with pucks mounted underneath?) and then attach some pipe or speedrail to mount the socket block. Then I just need some place to sit.....

thanks for the replys...still open for suggestions if you got 'em.

thanks!

Looking into building/setting up a hard mount rig for a flyer to be "flown" on the ice. Apparently there was a really great one built for the movie "Miracle" but I never saw it. Anybody have any pics of that? My idea is to basically build a mini dolly but not sure if we need skate blades or if we can manage with rubber tires. Turning is a whole other issue. We'd like to be able to get really low but also be able to interact on a "normal skating height" with the players. The low shots would be to follow the puck, sticks, and skates of the players.

I can buy the hat top looking hard mount from Tiffen and then mount that to a board or pancake and then in turn mount that to the "sled or psuedo ice dolly"

looking for suggestions.....

Thanks

Steve

Well- the low shot got changed and I never had to "go low"...I would have just flipped the rig over though as time would have been tight to re-mount everything to the low mode kit.

Thanks for the feedback.

Steve

Hey all - Just wanted to see what most of were doing for low mode with regard to the flyer. i.e. using the low mode kit or simply flipping the rig upside down, moving the gimbal to re-balance and flipping the image in post.

Time may not allow for me to re-rig the HVX on the low mode kit so I'm pretty sure that I will be flipping the rig.

Any feedback from those that have already done it (esp. with a HVX200) would be awesome.

Thanks as always in advance!!!

Steve

I was not really thinking about putting it on one of their arms, but more like mounted flat to one of their plates in some fashion; a bit like you'd mount a focus motor control box. Raising the height of the camera with the cage is what I was referring to. They (Zacuto) have a booth at CineGear so I'll drop by there today and see what they recommend.

 

Steve, I went to the Zacuto booth and we configured something along the lines I was talking about. Keep in mind when looking at these images that the rear mounting rods would be shorter and the little riser rod would be shorter too, lowering the FS100 1/2 inch. This is about as strong of a mount as you can get for that set up and the CG would be more in-line with that of the camera itself.

 

Jeez- thanks for the research Robert...I really do appreciate it! I think I could get away without the extension rods in the back as you say although I'm not sure the mount would be long enough off the back to lay the Firestore down like it is in the picture...and I guess the riser would be shorter like you said although you do need some type of screw mount to attach to the cradle.

...and I thought I'd get away with a $100 solution.... ha ha

Steve

The thing that worries me about putting it on an arm behind the camera is that it would have to be rock solid or it would constantly be throwing off the balance of the rig. ...

 

Are you worried that the cage (Jimmy Box) is too big height wise or simply the weight of it that would cause the shift in CG?

 

I was not really thinking about putting it on one of their arms, but more like mounted flat to one of their plates in some fashion; a bit like you'd mount a focus motor control box. Raising the height of the camera with the cage is what I was referring to. They (Zacuto) have a booth at CineGear so I'll drop by there today and see what they recommend.

cool...let me know what they say. The firestore one I believe has a screw hole on the back of it so it would be laying flat above the camera handle in the cradle...how rock solid it is though is anybody's guess.

here's a pic of the back of the firestore cradle http://store.zacuto.com/product.php?produc...at=0&page=1

I was hoping that somebody may have used this set-up.

Well- keep me posted.

Steve

Robert- thanks for the feedback. Interesting- I would have thought that mounting the Firestore under or on top of the camera would be more stable. The thing that worries me about putting it on an arm behind the camera is that it would have to be rock solid or it would constantly be throwing off the balance of the rig. ...

maybe the Focus Enhancements Camera Mount with it's hot shoe and cradle is the easiest and most economical solution? The firestore would sit about an inch on top of the camera.

Are you worried that the cage (Jimmy Box) is too big height wise or simply the weight of it that would cause the shift in CG?

Thanks

Steve

has anybody used a specific mount for the Firestore with this set-up? I was looking at several products. Focus enhancments make one....but I was thinking that a Jimmy box cage might be better in terms of the stabilty when on a Steadicam.

here are the 3 options I was looking at:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...1977&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...8819&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...3324&is=REG

Thanks

Steve

Steve,

 

Just wondering if you are the same Steve Minnick I have occasionally worked with at MSNBC.

 

If so, then how is everything going?

If not, well then nice to meet you.

 

Erwin has some good advice. Go the extra mile to try as many products in your price range/market before unloading a good deal of cash.

 

Good luck,

 

Chris Konash

Yes Chris - same Steve...missed you last week when I was down there at MS for the Election stuff. yeah ...still debating the Flyer.

Been pretty busy...a lot going on outside of work. I'll Pm you if Gonzo or Jeff didn't fill you in.

Talk to you soon

Steve

Hi Steve,

 

Did you like the Flyer? Was it working for you as a first impression and introduction to Steadicam?

So why are you unsure and are looking for the next years model... the fact is that you as being new to steadicam will hardly feel any difference between the two.

 

Always try everything and buy what feels right for you.

 

Not every new toy that comes on the market is the best and greatest... look at Microsoft, wait and buy the 3 update not the brand new item.

 

The Steadicam equipment market is different from other markets, hardly anybody who is manufacturing parts or component will give you big discounts because they are coming out with a new toy. Sometimes the old parts actually rise in price as people don't like the new parts...

 

If you really want, just wait a couple of months see what hits the market, try it and then decide.

 

 

Good Luck,

 

 

Erwin

 

Erwin, This is great advice and should be said by most operators. Good sound advice from a great operator :)

Erwin- thanks for the reply...good points....yes I did like the Flyer...the only other experience I have is with a Glidecam V-20. I guess I was just curious if anybody knew some info about the Flyer in terms of if it was getting overhauled or something by a new model coming out. I am very cautious when it comes to big purchases and wanted to make sure I got any and all info about the product. Thanks so much!...your advise is greatly appreciated.

Steve

I have been reading this forum for quite some time now but this is my first post. I took Peter Abraham's workshop last June and have been debating a purchase ever since. I have been leaning toward something used just because money is tight these days but the $350 rebate on a new Flyer sure is tempting. Anyway - My question is...often times manufacturers put a rebate out on a product when a new and improved one is "just around the corner. Anybody have any thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance for the feedback :)

Steve