Alec Jarnagin SOC

That brings back memories. My 3a also had those two leds on the side of the junction box (along with Bob DeRose's post and a D-Box 1). For those who don't know, they were indicator lights for the Seitz follow focus. Green = good; red = bad. Those posts had follow focus signals wired through them so you could put your ff receiver on the bottom of the sled, keeping less stuff up top.

Michael, So glad you had a wonderful time. Seeing other cultures is such an amazing thing (except the stomach thing). Glad the shot was an easy one. I hadn't done a day on the beach in a couple of years till this last fall when I had two such days (different jobs, a couple of weeks apart). Despite going crazy cleaning the gear, I was finding little bits of sand for weeks to come. Such is life. Oh, you are damn right about the shrinking middle class here - all I can say is exercise your right to vote.

Hey, this thread reminds me that I've gotten lazy about wearing knee pads. While I do put them on for running shots, as well as stairs, there are too many other situations where I don't. This is in part because I'm unhappy with the pads I have, as I'm always adjusting them. I carry two pairs - one soft pair that slide over your pants with an elastic keeping them in place and one traditional hard shell pair that have velcro straps. I find that I spend too much time fiddling with them though (especially the hard shell pair). There is a company in the North Western United States called Duluth Trading that sells bags (Gatemouth), etc. that claims they have the ultimate knee pads (http://www.duluthtrading.com/a/shop/catgloves.asp). What kind of pads are you folks using and what to you think?

I was on a show recently (come to think of it, Charles, it was the one you stopped by while you were in NYC) where not only the sound mixer was watching the Modulus, his boom op had a small watchman on his wrist via a wrist band. Likewise, I know ACs who strap a small monitor to the remote focus, so they are better able to time their pulls on some shots. I'm continually amazed at who shows up with hand held monitors (something to keep in mind when you are standing around by the rig - make sure that transmitter is off because who knows who will see you!). On HD jobs, when forced to run a wire, I've still flown the Modulus so the masses can see on other monitors.

Gnespolo, Yes, the smaller section is a potentiometer. I once made the mistake of pulling a motor apart, looking for the screws that tighten it back in place. Well, it is more complicated then it seems, as you get into wiring that prevents you from pulling the motor out of its housing (if I'm remembering correctly; its been a while). In the end, it was more than just a loose potentiometer though; the motor needed a rebuild. I had Preston do it, here in the States. In your case, it probably makes as much sense to send it to Heden though (email Magnus at sales@heden-engineering.com). Peter Abraham knows a lot about this stuff, so he might offer an idea or two when he passes through. Good luck.

Wow. Now that is customer service. I swear, every time I look at this thread, my check writing hand begins to twitch in anticipation. Got to wait for work to pick up a little in NYC first.

With all due respect lads, a docking collar is $85. A new rig, harness, etc. is much more. A producer (in most cases) doesn't give a rats ass about what rig you fly, as long as it works. They will notice you looking lost as you try and dock your rig performing all sorts of yoga poses because you didn't bother with a second collar while saving up for that big ticket item. Break down and buy it.

Jake, Most people just use the set screws on the J/F bracket. I'll let him volunteer his name if he wishes to chime in, but I know an Op who watched his rig fall to the ground, causing much damage because the screws loosened up. Since then, like Louis, I use those collars as back up support (order through Reid Tool and Supply, if they ship to your neck of the woods - do a google search on them; I think the site is Reidtool.com). As for docking on the gimbal? Many do this, but I've always used rings. Never seen it done in low mode, on the top of the gimbal though - just in hi mode sitting under the bearings, but I suspect this is how it was done before rings were common place. I'd get the second ring if I were you (in the way of the monitor? Ah, no).

Well, it looks like I'm a little late to this party, but I concur - Greg's (by the way, its two "Bs" on the end of Bubb, but one "G" on the end of Greg) gimbal rocks. The Ergo handle makes low mode a lot more comfortable, as does the symmetrical design of the top cap. Again, Greg's customer service is second to none. I, by the way, have changed my post size so being able to do this without purchasing a new gimbal really is not just a gimmick - big time savings. Will, that is a great story. Yes, it is very easy to pull this gimbal a part and clean it. By the way, what do you use as a lube? I have traditionally used Arri Hi-Speed oil, but I'm out so now is as good a time as any to get opinions. Funny thing about this - I ran into T'bor (CSC camera guy) at a party the other night and he told me that the 435 requires NO lubrication on a regular basis (only when they send it back to the factory). Thus, CSC doesn't even carry the oil anymore (although he says they are bound to have some hidden away). Bizarre.

Charles, Thanks for everything you've done for me and the Steadicam community at large. Happy Birthday, Alec

Shucks, Peter, I'm blushing....

My understanding is that TiVo claims they collect the information on what their boxes are watching, but there is no way to tell what any individual is watching (it collects total numbers). Furthermore, if you bother to read the fine print, you can "opt out". FYI, I don't have TiVo; this is what a friend who has the system has told me. I'd argue that if it is possible to opt out, it is possible to know what you are watching. But face it, all these electronic gadgets that make our lives so much easier also make it a lot less private. Mitch mentions the tracking of cell phones. A couple of months ago, the New York Times ran an article about this. It seems the government has required all new phones to be able to be tracked immediately to a specific location "for 911 purposes." Well, it seems, cell phone companies have decided to capitalize on this by offering services to track your employees or children; just log on and see where they are on a map - accurate within a few feet. Crazy. How are kids supposed to grow up if they are not allowed to make any decisions for themselves? Obviously, the phone has to be turned on for this to work. Big Brother IS watching.

Ari, The M-1 is nothing short of fantastic. It brings the Bartech to a whole new level; at last the missing ingredient is here. While I have not used Primos in the Northern depths of Canada, I have used them here in NYC and they have performed without a hitch with the M-1. A weeks back I was working with an AC I had never worked with before and at days start, he confessed to me he was not a huge Bartech fan (smart guy; he did it in private and assured me the conversation would remain between us). I asked if he had seen the M-1; he had not. By lunch time, he was sold. Without me soliciting anything, he was raving away about the system. Two days ago, I was on a multi-camera shoot when one of the ACs began asking my focus puller about the Bartech. Again, he had been turned off the system by seeing another motion in action (or perhaps I should say inaction). My first let him play for a moment. No exaggeration, his eyes were bugging out of his head as he watched the M-1 toss a Primo around. Upon checking the accuracy, he officially declared, "the Bartech back in the running," as he wanted to buy a single channel system for himself. Okay, enough testimonial. A few facts: The gears pop off instantaneously; no tools required; furthermore, the potentiometer is located directly behind the gear, assuring accuracy. The only minor draw back to this is that it prevents the motor from being "ambidextrous," in the sense you can't mount the gear on either side of the motor. Since the incorporated sliding mounting bracket can be mounted on either side of the motor though, this is not really an issue. Besides, the motor is a slim vertical mount one by nature. The connector is a five pin Lemo (the same as on most analog motors - Heden, CP, etc - I believe the FMB-6 was different though). This connector also pivots to get the Lemo connector out of your way. The motor is sold through Don Wetzel and his company Palomar Engineering. If you own a Bartech already, he designed the casings for it, so you are familiar with his work. Also, back in the day, he worked with Jim Bartell at CP. And yes, the M-1 was designed from the ground up to work with a Bartech and the results are clear. Finally, I have found that Don is a pleasure to do business with. Like Jim, he is interested in keeping costs down by relying on his customers to "spread the word." I'm in no way affiliated with him (or Jim), but these two guys are great and I highly encourage anyone in the market for a focus system to check them out. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.

Anthony, No, I was not jabbing you - just playing with words so I could poke fun of the economic system with a similar name. We get $600 back to "stimulate the economy" while we watch corporations get huge tax breaks to deport our jobs, leaving us to spend fortunes on health insurance, schools, etc. I assure you, I meant no offense Anthony. Best Regards, Alec

Ahh, so that is how trickle down economics work! Silly me; I thought it had to do with money trickling down - guess I should have read the fine print before I declared it a stupid economic system. As for Flint Michigan, in "Downsize This" Michael Moore shows a picture of a downtown building from Flint in 1996 right below a picture of the bombed out Federal building in Oklahoma City. His caption reads, "What is Terrorism?" While his over the top antics have certainly made him unpopular in some circles, it sure as hell makes you stop and think. He goes on to criticize the "profit is supreme" argument by saying we have laws that outlaw crack, as it harms our population - even though there is tons of money in it. Therefore, we need to have laws forcing corporations to stay here, or at the very least pay restitution to the communities they leave in ruins causing its people to start smoking crack! As for burning books and last names? Come on. Would you buy a Steadicam arm from someone you didn't know their name? It was merely suggested that Brian include his name when he talks about a new product! Funny thing is, there are people here who remember a time when the entire Steadicam community could operate with first names alone!

Phil, The difference between you and many Europeans I've met is that you don't distinguish between the 1% of our population who do in fact own the world and the rest of us. The distribution of wealth in our nation is becoming so absurd that it is manifesting itself in many ways. We simply want to support our family, etc. "American films dominate the European box office and I think we should be celebrating this is a European film," said Weinstein, co-chairman of Walt Disney Co's Miramax Films. "When it comes to films, America benefits 100-to-1." Statements like this are so twisted I don't even know where to start. Like he gives a damn about celebrating Europe. He cares about his pockets and nothing else. As for America benefiting? Yeah, sure he and the rest of that 1% do.

Michael, This would be Brian Greoff, maker of the Actioncam. Brian, it took me a few moments to figure out who you were as well (mentioning the Actioncam is what did it). I do suggest that you change your profile to include your last name as well as add a signature. Congarts on the expanded product line.

Larry and Jeff, both well put. Greg Bubb (maker of the TB-6) will even tell you that LCD companies are trying to put tube manufacturers out of business. Very hard to get custom made tubes today, thus each new run of the TB-6 gets more expensive (also, he sells less then he used to because of market saturation). Meanwhile LCDs are getting better and better. I, too, agree that the future rests in flat screen technologies (maybe not LCDs though) - for me, it has just not arrived fully yet. And I think it will be a while before they provide an image comparable to a high end CRT. I have switched to a flat panel display on my computer though (something I was very skeptical about at one time). So yes, we can change. I think Larry and Jeff have very valid points about cost and that new operators should indeed look into LCD screens. Originally, I was thinking of using my LCD on some video jobs, but most of the time I am also the DP in these situations and having the relative exposure change as one's viewing angle changes is just too disturbing for me. Not that I set my exposure off my TB-6, but I can easily judge if there is a change during the shot or something is way too under or over. This too can be challenging, as the TB-6 is designed to see in any lighting condition, but if I set it up to bars before hand, I have learned to be able to interpolate the information. Again, I use it only as a reference, but one that I find more important than a color image - at least for now. Where I would consider using the LCD would be in a live (or live to tape) indoor concert hall situation. Less weight for those long hauls and easier to identify who the director is talking about while he screams "go for the guy in the red shirt!".

Ohh. so that is what the blue button does. Never noticed it. Too cool. Thanks, Stephen.

I own a TB-6 and a Panasonic 7" LCD, modified with frameline generator, junction box, and optional weights. The J-box allows for 8-pin Lemo power/video input on two channels - in short it lets me send my XCS level through it, as well as video from my onboard deck to channel 2. Verdict. Never and I do mean never use the LCD. The TB-6 is simply too good. LCD is great to carry with me though - just in case. Like I always say though, to each their own. Preference.

Marc, I'm with you, but I think we may be a minority. Tim, I think you misunderstood about the "view new posts" though. This IS my one major gripe. Once inside the list of new posts, you have to scroll through the ones you've already read unless it is over one page long (then you can jump to first unread - which by the way, I've noticed jumps to the end of the first unread so you have to scroll up or you miss a post). Can we always have the option to jump to the first unread? I know you can jump to the last post and scroll up, but it would be great to be able to go right there. Thanks for all your hard work.

Phil, Make sure you are comparing apples to apples (or whatever it is you lads compare). No foam should be a bit cheaper. In the States, one is better off always buying with the foam - even if you don't need it yet - because buying the foam by itself is half as much as the case.

It just boggles the mind on how many cameras do this! SR, Moviecam, etc. You'd think they'd know better; darn engineers. On another note, Mike O'Shea - great guy and all - has nothing to do with this forum, at least directly. Tim Tyler is the sole founder. If you come to this forum via the SOA site, they are not related! Years ago, the SOA site had a forum (as did AOL and others), but it made no sense to have competing ones so we all ended up here. Once again, thank you Tim.

David, The simple answer would be an XCS sled weighs more than a PRO sled. But what everyone needs to decide for themselves is what they want out of a system. Many regard the PRO to be the perfect sled because it strikes a nice balance between simplicity, modularity, reliability, and rigidity while keeping the weight down. Sleds like the Ultra and Ultimate weigh more, but add features. The Ultra boasts a tilt head and four stage post while the Ultimate utilizes intelligent power supplies, a video distribution amplifier, and a 2" rock solid center post that you could play baseball with. Just as the DSD vest weighs more than a front mounted vest, or an Ergo handle weighs more than a traditional gimbal yoke, some think them highly worth it. I suspect many of the cheap knock off rigs weighs less than many higher end sleds, but this is because they have gone too far in stripping away useful features and rigidity to give you their products. Try them all and decide what is worth it for you.

I'm for this too. Too many people making rigs now to give each one a category - all posts will just wind up in general discussion.