Bill Powers

Charles, Yes, I think you'd have to peel off a couple of volts from the sled. I usually have to give them a call in order to find out which part numbers I need for a particular application. They are tiny little buggers though. Later, B.

Kip, Sorry I missed your post. What Erwin says. As I read your post two words kept running through my head over and over. Peter Abraham. Peter Abraham. Hope all went well. Bill (Over 50 too) Powers

Charles, You might want to check out a company called Xantech. They're all about IR controlled home theater. I've used them for years. They may have something you can live with. Bill

Peter, Bugs: "What kind of tracks were you following?" The Dog: "Train Tracks" Bugs: Well then you must have been trying to catch a train!" --Mel Blanc All the good things, Bill

Hi Guys, I'll chime in here for a change. I've had Chevy Astros since '94. My'92 2WD was a pig in the snow. It never broke and hauled anything I wanted to load up. The '98 is another story. It's an AWD model and the gas bill complies. It'll climb trees if I ask it to. The problem is that I have replaced just about everything on the serpentine belt. Alternator, Oil Pump, AC Compressor, All the idlers twice. The door locks break, the ABS sensors are shot. (Pull the fuse and stick some electrical tape over the dash light.) I replaced the fuel pump and sending unit last week. The fuel spout filler leaks now. That's next. It's a love/hate relationship. Mostly I love it. Great for hauling carts, cases, motorcyles, and people. Neither van ever left me stranded by the side of the road. $5,000.00 USD and it's yours. I'll buy the beer and pizza. We can take the Audi. Later, Bill

I, too, think that a team is the best way to go. I like the guys that are on an even keel. My vote goes for Erwin, Eric, Alec, Jamie and Charles. All have and share valuable information with the rest of us. Many thanks to Tim for his past,(and future), work. Free John's sled.

Hello, I've sponsered several Steadicam workshops in the U.S. Our policy, not necessarily Tiffen's, is that these are Steadicam workshops not Glidecam, Basson, MkV, or anyone else's workshops. Think about the support, booking, shipping, and everything else any manufacturer provides for such an event. The workshops I've been involved with and the instructors I've worked with all agree that the idea of a workshop isn't for the sponsors, the manufacturers, or anyone else to get rich. The idea is to train operators. I think it's one of those what comes around goes around karma type things. The skills you learn can be used with any rig. I know we've trained a bunch of Glidecam operators at our Steadicam workshops in the past, they used the Steadicam rigs we provided, or their own Steadicams, and after they went home they used their Glidecams. Never a complaint.

Mark, Could you please define the term DIT? 32 years in video and I've never heard the term. Very informative post BTW. Thanks, Bill "Proving my Ignorance" Powers

Guys, I was watching VH1 last night and Ted Nugent was plinking away at some bowling pins with a 9mm. Then it hit me! I own an old bowling pin! If anyone is willing to post the results of a 50 Cal. vs. a bowling pin I'd ship it out to sunny California. :D Bill

Ramon, Frank Rush has, or had, a motorcycle with a a sidecar all rigged up with a hardmount. I know he wanted to sell it a year or two ago. I'm not sure if he did or didn't. His phone number is (205) 980-8629 and his e-mail is frush@tiffen.com. I seem to remember that it was a Honda Goldwing. Keep the dirty side down, Bill

Hey Jay, Thanks for the address info. I haven't had much to do with them since Mizell defected. Good people though! Tell Aunt Ginny I said hi. Mitch, Thanks. The database will be updated momentarily. Bill

Gus, Have your friend contact Jeff Lawson at Abel Cine Tech at (888) 223-1599. They are the Tiffen/Steadicam dealers in the New Your City Area. They're on Staten Island. Good luck, Bill

Yes. Workshop, Workshop.... Good idea. My favorite pictures of models in rigs are: This year's Digital Video Expo West mailer and magazine adds. It pictures the operator with one eye closed and another in the viewfinder. Priceless!. The other is the picture of the guy on the original ProVid brochure, bent right knee and stepped out as far as he can with his left leg. Lean back and tilt up. Hold that shot! Cheers,

Paul, The spec sheet says that the Max. weight for the Jr. is 4 Lbs. Think Palmcorder. At best the Sony will invert, at worst the gimble will snap. Sorry, Bill

Jason and Rob, I just got off the phone with the Fast Forward Rep. in our area. The List Price is scheduled to be $3,495.00 USD. Storage is not included. At this time, there are no prototypes available for the reps in the U.S. They have just re-packaged the units. See FFV product PDF. That is the new package, they just can't get enough of them just yet. Delivery is scheduled for the end of the year. (Meaning January or February.) Cheers, Bill

Hi Michael, I was thinking about the PV2+. Anything film based, get LOTS more dough. $60K? Cheers, Bill

Franco, What he said. :) Bill

Hi Franco, I'm a video/Steadicam dealer so please take everything I say with a grain of salt. I think is's kind of like anything else. There are lots of very good alternatives out there. You just have to pick the product that's right for you. Think about the cameras you're going to be using and their weight, your market, and what's right for you. Don't get stuck on a name brand. Understand that you will probably get what you pay for. At the higher end there are arms, sleds, and vests from Walter Klassen, Pro, Baer-Bel, Steadicam, and others that are very well thought of by some of the top names in the industry. In the lower priced ranges Glidecam, Actioncam and a slew of others are available. Bottom line.. Try them out and decide for yourself. I'm sure others will chime in. That's just my opinion. Welcome, Bill

Just about any video dealer worth their salt can get D.A. s sent overnight. We use TecNec Distributors for the best prices. (Actually the same company as Markertek only they give dealers a discount.) We've had good luck with VAC. Not so with the other guys. Good luck, Bill "Not sellin'anythin" Powers

There's always Ron Borden. Never seen him on the forum though.

Job, You're right The $8K was for a new arm. Frank and I were talking in very round numbers. He never mentioned an "upgrade". Third party stuff was never discussed either. Nikk, Get thee to a rental house buddy :) Bill

Nikk, I just got off the phone with Frank Rush. He confirmed my fears on this one. You could use a ProVid arm with an SK socket block ($8K), or you could upgrade your vest to the ProVid socket block for an additional $1,475.00. The ProVid arm has a capacity of 15 to 26 pounds. Even if it'll take the weight you will probably have to add more weight, (accessories), to the bottom of the sled due to the length of the post. Oh yeah, don't forget to gaffer tape the vest on. With that much weight the vest is sure to blow out. Bill 'better you than me" Powers

Hi Guys, Just a thought. With a camera capacity of 9 to 19 pounds for the SK2, and the camcorder and accessoris somewhere near the 30 pounds, (say it's as little as 25 lbs), I think Nikk might be stepping in the soup. Just my 2cents, Bill

I've always thought it related to the Tango, (Very Don Juanish thing to do), Look one way and move in the other.

You 'da man! Thanks David, Bill