TerryWest

Also you might see if you can get in touch with Mary Whitehouse. Derrick may have those items. Wolf Seeberg would be another source.

Hi Chris. I dont know if they are of value to you. But you did like the Steadicam 35 that I gave to Garrett! I have a file cabinet with technical schematics on the Steadicam back in the 70s and 80s. I also have a Arri IIIC Manual, a Moviecam Super America Manual... I will be at the Stabilizer Gear Expo today. But I dont want them lost to history to when my time comes to retire in the not so distant future. So you might want to send someone by my shop to look through my files, see if you want any of it.

I just built my first Pro to DXL power cable.

Well put, Brooks. I have always made myself available to answer questions about the equipment, because that was how Steadicam raised me. In such an industry where each and every operator has only educated me with their thoughts, I would be closing off one of my greatest resources if I were not to listen them. Keep your minds open to the two-way flow of ideas. We need it now more than ever. We all have something to contribute to Steadicam. To paraphrase Rob. PEACE OUT!

We've been fooled again. Welcome to the Fourth Reich!

I worked with Derrick for many years at CP. Derrick would send me some really sick and funny jokes. He will be sorely missed.

There actually was a Modulus 4000. It was a total pile o'crap. Things got real slow on the Modulus sales when l, Wolf Seeberg and Able Cine Tech LA were notified by the FCC that we were in violation of the law. And we were to cease and desist or face fines of $10,000 to $100000 per infraction. I had to hire an attorney to talk to the FCC. But since their ability to fine me, far exceeded my ability to pay their fines...

At what point should I stop being quiet about operators not paying their bills. I have one customer, initials JS that has been using my cables on his Pro CineLive sled for 2 1/2 years, but has ignored all attempts at collection. Would it be doing a service if others knew that they will be stiffed! And exactly who is doing it!

And this. I hope you all enjoy them!

Garrett said that he did not have the Bound for Glory pic any longer. This also was hanging over my bench.

I agree with Robert. But if you put a couple drops of Super Glue on the cable before you shrink it, then it will stay in place when it inevitably does a bit of re-expanding.

This picture hung above my workbench at Cinema Products for years!

I built a triggering system for Nick Lantz to fire 36 Canon 6D cameras for a video shoot in Hong Kong.

I will be closing for three weeks from December 13, 2014 until January 5, 2015. Time to kick back for a bit, and see what life is like on the outside!

OI still don't have an official pinout on anything but the power connector. It is similar to the one use on the F65 but a size smaller. (2B Lemo). The FAQ t at I read says that the RS is a 24v RS, so I think that they are using the 3-pin Fischer. I am not sure about the 4-pin Hirose is similar to the Sony pinout, but I am not sure yet.

I should be getting the connectors in sometime next week.

I have had a lot of fun creating a JBox style power/video distribution setup for them. The first one that I made was built around XLR's and PTap connections as per my customers wishes. The second one I made for Marcis Cole. Using what I have learned from the Steadicam over the years, it was so much sweeter. The JBox/Harness weighs less than a pound. The Epic Camera battery weighs more than that. I also built a dual JBox setup for Steffen Weidemann Larsen in Denmark. Hey Steffen, if you read this, I am still waiting for feedback on it. I have the upper stage pretty well figured out. I am in the process of incorporating the ability to add a tally. That's another project that has been troublesome. (But I just recently built a nice one foot the SmallHD Monitor from the Pro CineLive. Thanks to John Perry for loaning his Small HD monitor so I could figure it out. Too bad some of the vendors haven't been as responsive.) The lower stage tends to need a bit more operator input, as so far the Epic seems to be the most popular on it. Mostly I have been supplying power and HD video through the harness to the camera and accessory devices like the focus control system. Most of my wiring has been very Steadicam compatible. I have the 8-pin Lemo monitor connector, changing out one of the two Alexa style 2-pin Lemo connectors to the Pro CineLive style Tally. It can still be used for power if you don't use a tally. So many operators may have what they need in their kit to handle that special shot.

As to Blaine's comment. It didn't bother me at all. I guess the reaction is because so many have known me for so long. Nothing like experience. What surprises me is how many think I shouldn't turn down the work. But, that being said, I still resist providing assistance of any sort with these companies. People like Greg Bubb, Jack Bridges, the crew at Tiffen as well as David Stevens of Glidecam and Howard Smith of MK-V have invested a lot of time and money in their equipment. All of these people are in my mind a fine group of second generation builders of the Steadicam, with close attention to its legacy. They are conscientious and want to present the best equipment possible to allow the operators to do their best work. These new devices are cheap knockoffs without a single thought to the history of Steadicam or the quality of the operator using it. It's not right that an operator who invests in a quality system should be low-balled by someone that hasn't made such a commitment. As far as competition, I handle that. If my customers decide that they want to use someone else, well then retirement isn't that far off.

I just recently received my first inquiry to build cables for a Laing Camera Stabilizer. It cost $1550. When I replied to the owner, I cannot refer to it as a Steadicam or their owners as operators, that the cables that he needed costs more than the equipment that he bought. He responded but I basically refuse to assist these phonies. What is the general consensus from the real operators? Am I wrong in doing so? I really don't want to see these things get into the market?

I will be closing from December 16 until January 6 of 2014. I will be tearing my shop apart and doing some remodeling! Get things ready for next year.

Hey Kyle. Have you thought of talking to the Teradek people about a replacement unit? I am not in the field but I have heard only good things about the Bolt. My email is techrat531@verizon.net . I am more likely to see your post quicker that way.

I have been getting a lot of calls for a 12v to 5v Paralinx power cable that I have been building.

I had a conversation with the Woodlan people. I find it distressing that the Chinese are intending to flood the market with cheap crap. What is next cheap Chinese operators to use them? Another industry being sold out to the Chinese. They got extremely upset with me for my views. They called me a racist. Ouch! If I and the other techies won't repair them, which I fully refuse to do, then they are going to be quite useless. If you don't buy them, they won't find a willing market! It is up to us to protect our industry!

I have sent a few customers to the two stores that I frequent on the West side of town. They have always appreciated the info. So it is time to give them a shout out! My favorite is Torrance Electronics. The address is 1545 W. Carson Street, Torrance. The reason I like it is that like my workbench, it looks like a complete mess. But what you need is usually there. Everyone that I sent here has loved the place. The other electronics store that I go to is Signal Electronics. The address is 22307 Ocean Avenue, Torrance. They aren't stocked as well as Torrance Electronics, but I can often find what I need there. And it's closer to my shop. Hope this helps some of you when you need something. Terry

I am closing down for 2012 on December 16 until January 3, 2013.