Blair Phillips

Got BDR myself a little while ago. I will have my fist chance to use it next weekend

Thanks for the input guys. After seeing how much a kit would cost, I got on a bus and went to a hardware store. one aluminum rod, 4 wingnuts and 1' steel strapping later and she slides in and out like a good girl. It takes four turns of the wing-nuts, which is 3 more than I would like, but after dropping all my money on a rig the price is right!

Plug and play...It's a trap! how much does it go for if you can recall?

I think that last bit was the rooster's way of saying it was unhappy with the working conditions.

Makes sense. I ask because I just got an EFP and the fact that the batteries do not move easily is annoying. One of the first thing I will do when this rig starts bringing me some money is to get some sort of mod to fix that.

Definitely "purring", but it seems to do it even if the motor is spinning freely without contact. Without context though it is hard to tell if I am making a big deal out of nothing. Do these motors ever need lubricant?

I just got a the Bartech BDR with an M-One Digital motor. I love how quick the auto calibrate is on a stills camera lens I am trying it on, but it seems to be noisier than I remember an M-One being. I have never set up a bartech system before though so I am wondering if there are any considerations I should take into account that might make it quieter. Any thoughts?

Good to see a fellow Torontonian Damn shame, they just held a pilot/flyer workshop in Toronto in November. http://www.thesteadicamworkshops.com/ has a list of the workshops available. $500 USD if I recall. I went to Florida to do mine. If you want to do a longer workshop the SOA is holding one in May down in Pennsylvania. A pilot or scout should do fine if all you want to do is DSLRs, but you might quickly decide you want to shoot on something heavier. It really depends on your budget.

I noticed that a huge number of operators seem to have "franken rigs": XCS parts mixed into a pro sled, combination CP II/III arms, modified wiring etc. Where does one learn to do this sort of thing with such an expensive and potentially delicate piece of equipment?

Flyer LE for sale S/N 02730S. All parts in good shape. Selling to make room for for a larger sled. Flyer Sled Flyer Vest Flyer Arm Anton Bauer Twin Charger Anton Bauer Dionic Batteries x3 C-Stand with docking bracket 4 pin XLR to 3 pin power BNC female to RCA male adapter BNC male to RCA female adapter Factory soft case $7500 OBO

If it makes you feel any better, I find that story very educational.

Please change your user name to your full real name, as you will notice mine and everyone else on here has done.

I am sure there are many, but i am wondering if there is one that you would considered as authoritative and complete as Jerry Holway's?

Why is he not in uniform with the women? Such lack of professionalism! :P

here is something that really perks my curiosity. Right now I have a Flyer LE and a bartech on order. My equipment is almost nothing compared to many of you guys and gals, my experience is even less. Quite simply it is absurd for me to ask 1000 a day, should I be worried about putting downward pressure on market value? If guys like me are taking 150 a day for rental on no-budgets while working as on 2nd AC on shows with budgets, it seems like apples and oranges. If I am out to lunch please say so.

I want to put a level on that chicken's head

Does anyone live in or near Toronto that would be willing to let me try on their front mount vests? Walter has kindly let me borrow one of his so I think I am going to learn everything I can about back mounts. I like the way it feels but I am seeing if a good front mount can match it while not adding 4 inches to my hips. Thanks for reading

Once again, thanks guys. It seems pretty clear to me that payload capacity is what I need to improve ASAP.

Well I am always happy to hear about lighter/better camera's. My flyer just might pay for itself one day after all. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the feed back guys. I work (well, volunteer so far) out of Toronto. My next rig is will very likely to be a used Tiffen, since that seems to be the only thing with heft to it that will be in my price range. I think the XCS and PRO rigs are just something to drool over until I get a lot more experience. So far what I have been flying are HVX200 and DSLRs. I am sure one can go accessory crazy enough with these to break my 20 lbs back, but it seems unlikely. On the red shoots I have assisted on the Zeiss super speed seems to be most common. What Nick mentioned is what I am afraid of, since almost every shoot I have heard of around here has been on Red. Those I have talked to I have had to make very clear from first contact the limitations of my gear. I figure its better to be embarrassed on the phone then when the whole set is watching, even on freebies. I want to shoot feature film, and basically got my Flyer as a beater car for short films as I learn to not be an idiotic twenty-something. But hey, 5d is getting more and more popular these days.

hey guys and gals, I have a Flyer LE and should be getting a digital Bartech system in a week or two. I took a flyer workshop in July but plan to take the week-long SOA workshop next time it is available. In the mean time I want to get as much experience in my rig as possible, but I cannot help but think about what I should invest in first: peripherals, or saving for a full size rig. I am not going to buy a rig until I do the workshop, try on a few different vests, etc. I could save money for when that day comes in say a year, or get the peripherals that I will need no matter what system I eventually decide on and I can use on my current rig. I figure the problem with investing in a director's monitor and down-converter is that it is additional weight for my already spartan 19 lbs limit. On the other hand, if I do not have a down-converter I am dead in the water for Red One et al. Any thoughts?

My 2 cents: you will never regret having excess payload capacity. Twice last night alone I had a conversation something like this Director/DP/Producer: you're a steadicam op? Me: ya, I am looking to build my demo reel and develop my skills. I have a steadicam flyer LE. What are you shooting on? Dir...: awesome! we are shooting red Me: (nervously) How many attachments to the Red body do you have...like matte box, battery etc? Dir: ...why? MORALE OF THE STORY - you can always add more weight to a camera if it is to light for your rig, but you cannot always take weight away. If you know you are going to buy a rig, err on the side higher payloads when ever you can afford it! Between the scout and Zephyr, I would bite the $2k bullet for an extra six pounds of capacity.

ah, so I was over-complicating it in my mental picture. thanks

Do you mean clamping them together with a wrench using paper on either side prevent damaging the metal? I am back to being lost.

I put a folded piece of paper between the wedge and the stage, worked perfectly. thanks!