Brad Smith

I've got something to add about the shoes Not all rubber is created equal. I used to be a whitewater rafting guide and I spent alot of time runing around on wet rocks wearing "teva's", or sports sandals. Of course the friction you'll get is going to depend on what material the bottom of the pool is made of, however the two best types of rubber for gripping in the wet are Vibram, or 5.10. It's worth mentioning this because sometimes you come across sandals that have a harder "plasticy" type sole and they are deadly on wet surfaces. Both of the shoes you linked to look good but make sure the soles are soft and rubbery. Apart from the shoes sounds scary going in the water with a rig!!! love to see some pics! :o Brad "When I was a raft guide" Smith.

Try Steadyrig, http://www.steadyrig.com/Steadyrig%20Silve...pring%20Arm.htm, about the same price as a used IIIa but brand new and better!! :D Brad.

G'day Liegh, have you looked at Mandy - http://www.mandy.com/ often a good place to start looking for used broadcast gear. Also if you are shopping for smaller stuff globalmediapro (NZ) is usually alot cheaper than any of the dealers here in Oz, but then you have to risk warranty issues. There is another website, can't think of it now, will post later when it comes to me.

There is plenty of RF in Times Sq NYC. I was a soundo (EFP audio) sent to NYC to cover 9/11. We where doing Vox pops in times square when we coincidently met an Aussie. We then did an inpromptu iv with him on the spot. I was cabled to the camera using a cabled shotgun mike. I did not notice any problems, monitoring throuhg the mixer , though admittedly I was not contiuously monitoring the return audio from the camera. When we got back to the hotel the journo went nuts. All of the vox pops where fine but the audio for the iv with the aussie was unusable. I was devastated, couldn't explain, we had not changed a thing between doing voxies and then the iv, not even powered down the camera. A few days later I was having a beer with an expat Aussie soundo, told him my tale of woe and he told me "there is some funky rf in times square". Apparently I'm not only one who has fallen victim to the Funky RF!!!! :o

Whoooooooooooo hoooooooooo, I'm sold Ewin for President!!!........ sorry moderator. He know his stuff, a regular contributor, and is always striving for fair play on the boards. Alec Jarnagin would also be a good steadicam deputy, same as above.

Re the transvideo steadicam bracket: I've got the bubble level bracket and it's not really as beefy as I'd like it to be. I had to take it back to the supplier to have a shim washer put in. The slot where the bracket stradles the PRO standard spigot was to wide and consequently when I tightened up the bracket the whole monitor was leaning over! Good monitor, average bracket..... Incidently regarding the viewing angle, I operate goofy, so it suits me to have the monitor mounted the right way up (buttons on the right side, lcd on the left closest to me ). I'd noted the difference in the +- viewing angle so I tend to set the monitor up tilted up.... that's confusing, tilted so the screen is facing more back towords the post and less up. That way I'm taking better advantage of the viewing angle on offer, I think, I'll have to try some different setups but it seems to be working for now. My $0.02 AUD :D

Thanks Jim, you are indeed the Puzzle master, I've had that bracket for a week now, feel a bit like I've been sitting inside the box thinking about the box! never thought of rearanging the pieces. I'm thinking I'm going to use some of that Dual Lock from 3m for a while then maybe I'll get another bracket made up here in Oz. Thanks all for your thoughts, once again Mr Bartell has proven why he is the idea's man, and most of us should stick to operating!! Brad "I can see outside the box now" Smith

Thanks Charles here we go haha....I"m learning every day, Thanks Charles!!

Try again Nup not working....... how do I get the jpg from my desktop into the post??

Tim, how do I get a photo from my computer into a post. I tried the to attach files and that didn't work and I tried to insert image, but the image is on the destop of my mac, not anywhere on the internet????

Thanks Stephen and Jason. I Have a"temporary" topstage at the moment, it's an efp I think. I'll be eventually gettting a steadyrig topstage (as seen in another thread) when they have thier first production run (everybody feel free to get those orders in!). I'll be able to use a preston bracket on that topstage. I'm just trying to avoid having to get the allen keys out every time to attach the bfd to the sled, plus the thread in the aluminium of the little bracket supplied with the bfd won't last. I think maybe a bit of a mod to a preston bracket and velcro might sort me out. I've tried to attach pics of the rods and the bracket I was hoping to use, the idea is right, I would just have to find someone who wants to make a smaller version of the Bartech version...

I have a conundrum I'm sure one of you has had before me and solved already. I don't want to attach my BFD reciever to my sled permanently (I mosly do TV work and it's not always required), I'd like a solution that allows me to attach the BFD to the dovetail plate rails/rods so it can be easily attached and removed. I have an XCS plate as well as PRO style plate with 15mm rods to mount all of the FF gear on. Problem is I ordered a matte box rod mounting bracket from Jim, but unfortunatley when it arrived I discovered that matte box rails are not the same distance apart as those on the dovetail plates (which are the same). Does anybody make a bracket to attach the BFD reciever to the dovetail plate rails? Any other solutions/suggestions :unsure:

They will be using RF cameras of some description. Rf cameras (sony for example) can be analoge or digital transmission, and are designed to tie straight into an OB. Pretty common for OB setups. Brad.

Thanks Joe, to answer your question, my sled is "pro compatible". Think - alot like a pro 1 electonically (or see the steadyrig site). If what you say is true, I'm a happy steadicamer.... easy to power the ff from the rig...... question is will the idx's handle the bartech and the m one, one on one??? Jim, Bueler, anyone???? :unsure:

Thanks Nils Crisis Averted!!! :D

Can any body give me some tips on the pinouts from the "monitor" plug on a PRO configuration sled. I need to get a cable made in a hurry and my cable guy is unavailable! :o Brad Smith.

I on't own either of these monitors, I'm doing my homework as to what monitor I'm going to purchase. If I'm not mistaken the key difference between the two monitors (Blackbird/Traansvideo IIIa) is that the blackbird will take an SD SDI (standard def digtal) signal as well as analogue, where the transvideo will only take a pal/ntsc analogue signal. There is a good comparison of the two monitors here..... http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...topic=1606&st=0 Thomas English even went to the trouble of posing a photo of the monitors side by side http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...ype=post&id=392 Hopefully soon someone will release a 16:9 Pal/NTSC/HD/SD SDI compatible LCD ;)

The Ipod can output analog via an extra cable, but the only way to get video(or audio) into it is via firewire. Would be useful on a firewire out video camera, but if you had a video camera you wouldn't need an on board recorder!! The Ipod can output analog via an extra cable, but the only way to get video(or audio) into it is via firewire. Would be useful on a firewire out video camera, but if you had a video camera you wouldn't need an on board recorder!! Sorry I think I meant usb, not firewire not sure which one it has but you definatley can't input an analog signal!! At least that's what the guy at the Apple shop said....... he's not always up to speed all the stuff in the shop!

Anybody tried one of these? http://www.gdbint.com.au/Product.asp?pID=188 No screen but looks ideal. Another link for US http://www.broadcaststore.com/store/model_...98399#ModelInfo

Have taken a workshop, on my way to becoming a steadicam operator, am a camera operator. Do understand :)

And shooting sports goes against everything Steadicam operating is about. You need to know where your going before you get there or your simply holding the darn thing too tight. Following random action on any field is just not what the instrument was created for. !!!!!!!!!!!! You're joking aren't you!! Not what the instrument was invented for!!!! I've read every piece of litrature I can find on steadicam, taken a workshop, not yet, but on my to becoming an operator. I've Never heard of GB limiting the uses for his invention!!! You may not have ever seen a television coverage of Rugby Leage or Union, but if you ever do you will be amazed at the sidline steadicam shot as the operator goes with the winger as he breaks the (defensive) line and heads for the tryline. I've not seen an instrument that can put the viewer in the game the way a skilled steadicam operator does in this manner. The line of contention in this thread is drawn by people who are acustomed to operating in very different situations. When executing exacting dramatic shots, nobody not even the Aussies, will argue that a focus puller is invaluable. Not all of us are protected by the powerful unions of the American film industry. Aussies have a history of doing more with less and being creative to do it (it was the Aussies who first put a live camera inside a racecar, now a regulation shot in any motor racing coverage). Horses for courses, if the production can fork out for a focus puller, and it will help the product well and good. If you're running flat out down the sideline of an Rugby match, probably not going to help the shot much, and no way you'll be given the option of a focus puller by the OB facility. In that case as an operator best you give yourself the best chance of getting a good shot. In these troubled times don't hate your fellow operators because he does it differently to you!

I'm researching the various options of combinations of battery brands, chemistry and combinations of both. The potential problem when using Li ion batts in series to power 24v cameras is to much voltage. Obviously if you are going to mix Li ion's and nicads, you would need have diodes inline to prevent the Li ions charging the nicads. Easy enough to add diodes to an older sled (pro II) but are there any components availbale to limit the voltage output. Do more modern designs have voltage regulation? or is simply overkill? :unsure:

Try buildiing colapse and a fire!! House of Wax, Burned down an entire sound stage, set, equipment the lot! :o

I'm looking at my options for monitors for setting up a rig. If I can get a good enough LCD might I be able to use it as my primary monitor? Other than going for the Tiffen HD or the Blackbird, both impressive monitors by their reviews but a bit pricy for what I'm looking for. I've not yet seen one in the flesh but by its specs the Transvideo CineIIIa look impressive... http://www.transvideointl.com/pdf/CineIIIaSB.pdf the idea of having detail adjustment similar to a video viewfinder and being able to choose green screen in full sun, might go some way compensating for the outright resolution? I hope to see one for myself soon, has anyone used one already? Any other sugggestions? Oh yeah and the Cine IIIa goes for about 5k Aussie or somthing like low 4k USD :(