NicolasDuchene

Thanks Jason and Robin. After a look on Pag's website, the "brick" batteries weight 2kg (4,4 lbs) Which is a little more than the Li-ion's. Well, I'll be looking for some other batteries or at least a way of reaching this ideal weight ! Nicolas "dietetic expert" Duchêne

Hi all, This is a call for all the provid owners ! I'm purchasing a provid and I'm looking for the best existing batteries... at an inexpensive price :P So I found the Swit Li-ions 190 Wh (yes I've read the topic about the Li-ions not running a 435 at high speed but as my rig will be a provid, I'll stay far away from every 435's :( ) So I shouldn't have any problem, should I ?! Then I think these Swit Li-ions might be a nice choice. Here in France, several rental houses use now these batteries on their video cameras. That I consider as a proof of the product being OK (by the way, any of your feedback on Swit would be welcome !) But let's get back to my topic ! Here is my question for the provid owners: Please, what is the weight of the batteries you are using ? Are you happy with it or would you prefer having lighter / heavier batteries ? Yet what is the ideal battery weight for a provid when working with "heavy" :D configurations like 16mm or digibeta ?... The swit 190Wh weight 1,3 kg (2,8 lbs) and I'm afraid they might be too lightweight to get dynamic balance correct. What do you think of it ? Thanks, Nicolas PS: Rob, I thought a lot about what you told me. But at last, I decided to buy a provid anyway. Future will tell one day who was right :unsure:

Thanks again Rob. I understand what you mean talking about a too light rig, however I think it shouldn't be a problem for the use I'll make of it. Anyway I don't intend to work with heavy configurations... The "light" arm Jan told me about in Amsterdam is different from yours. It's a new lighter version. It's like half your arm, it only has two cannisters (exactly the same principle as the provid arm). You can use it with two "heavy" or two "light" cannisters. As Jan hasn't quite finished it yet, he couldn't tell me exactly which weight it will lift. Depending on that I might be interested in this version or in the classical (four springs) version. Well, is that true that nobody except Rob knows about Progear ?!! I searched in the archives but found so few things :( ! Anyway I'd be pleased if someone owning a sled from Progear could tell some words about it ! Come on !! Nicolas Duchêne, Paris, France

Hi Anthony, Did Rick Amundson sell his Provid ? Just check in the "classified / for sale" forum, it might interest you...

Thanks Rob for your answer. Indeed Jan told me you had one of his arms. He also told me once you had a problem with it and you received the replacement part in Thailand two days later. Is that true ? Do you mean that the lighter arm would be too weak for it ? Or that the gimbal wouldn't be strong enough ? Or simply that balancing the system would be impossible without adding extra-weight at the bottom ? May it really be a problem (to add counter-weight) ? And one extra-question: did you try the progear HD monitor ? Is it viewable in daylight conditions, with full sun reflections ? Ok Rob, that's all for today, I don't want to upset you with all my questions :angry: !!! Cheers Nicolas Duchêne

Hi everyone ! I'm new on this forum even if I've been spying you for a long time ! By the way thanks for everything I've learned by reading you all... I'd like to purchase a light system to work on feature films & documentries mostly in 16mm, HD and video. I went to the IBC in Amsterdam last month (I even met Master Garret in the flesh - respect !!)... and I also met Jan Schmit from Progear. He presented me his "sprint" system which seems to be a nice & clever adaptation from the pro... He's working on a light version of his arm (soon available) which may interest me; he proposes a cheap HD monitor, and he intends to finish a new back-mounted vest as well before the end of the year. I'm deeply interested in this system which is far less expensive than all other "leader" systems. But is it strong and serious enough ? (In my case it wouldn't be for an everyday use - just when steadicam is the right answer to propose to the director) So, any feed-back about this Progear system ? What do you think of it ? (If you want to make some comparisons, I already worked with Pro, IIIa, provid, and I just tried the Artemis and Tiffens new models at the IBC) Thanks a lot... and sorry for my english ! Fly safe Nicolas Duchêne, Paris, France