Alec Jarnagin SOC

I use an XCS gimbal with an Ergo handle. While the Ergo handle has the added benefit of having the same hand position for high or low mode, any long handle will likely give you a better view of your monitor and be more comfortable.

Brandon, Welcome to Steadicam and NYC. Fierce combo! The SOA workshop is fabulous so I am glad to hear this. Shoot me a line some time.

James, Email Tiffen as well. I have Greg onboard but Tiffen hasn't sent him a unit yet (I know they are swamped right now).

That is a good deal!

Yeah, this stuff is amazing. Posted on FB too with a lot of comments that I wish made it to here.

Who uses the Fikenca (Modular 51/Rock Steady) Vest bag? Do you ship with it (and if so, with the arm inside it?)? I've traditionally used a simple duffle bag for my vest unless shipping and then I use a Pelican 1650. My vest took a little too much abuse on my last job (perhaps someone threw something on top of the bag in the camera truck?). Hard to say - could just as easily be that it's over a decade old, but the plastic in the upper left shoulder strap broke (still buckled and worked but loses some structural integrity). Anyway, I'm having Pro give it a complete overhaul but was just looking at these bags contemplating going with something a little more heavy duty (then again I've been doing the duffel bag thing for over twenty years). Thoughts for general day to day use as well as shipping? Oh, and size! I seem to recall looking at one a long time ago and thinking it was rather large. No dimensions listed on site. Thank you.

And I'll add that most people are right handed - the old arms required a lot more effort to boom up and down and people were often over controlling the sled with the gimbal hand - thus the right hand on the arm and left of the gimbal. Have fun playing.

Jesse, Where do you live (what market)? When you say you are looking to move to "steadicam / production work," can you be more specific? While I applaud your motivation and your desire to spend Covid times doing something, be carful of doing too much self-learning before you get proper instruction. This could lead to bad habits that are hard to undo. I highly recommend a workshop before purchase which is of course easier said than done considering the times we live in. The SOA in PA (and now elsewhere) has superb workshops where you'll get to try many different types of rigs with a group of instructors from various backgrounds, who all make a living do various kinds of Steadicam. Also, the used market is littered with great finds so you'll have a better understanding of what is right for you after a workshop. Good luck.

And the cheers were heard around the world!

Mark, Please email Greg and Tiffen! Keep the conversation alive! XCS gimbal with Volt!!!!!

Mark, things are being discussed. I’m very much trying to team Tiffen and XCS together but afraid I don’t have any concrete news yet.

Sadly, they closed shop awhile ago.

Will some one PLEASE buy this beautiful sled?! Such a good sled.

"If it's a 1.5" or 2" post diameter, the gimbal should fit, but mounting the control box might be a problem for you." Slight but needed correction, as Jerry says "1.75 inch or less " for post sizes. There is currently no way to put a Volt onto a 2" post (fingers crossed that this will change some day).

Yeah, I'm terribly unexcited about using these things as I've traditionally held fast to the belief that the only thing I want to hear during a take are the people with SAG cards in front of me. Alas, this and my AC now being farther from the camera (something else I hate) and being forced off set to keep the numbers down while lighting are the new reality. Let's hope people follow good etiquette and be silent during the take. On that note, any HME's I use I wish to have the ability to feed the Comtek into it so I only have to deal with one device and headset.