RonBaldwin

springs fatigue after years and years of use (and sometimes abuse). Pushing anything to the limits of it's design will eventually lead to failure. If one flies heavy cameras alot, someday something's got to give. Maybe a screwdriver nicked a spring while untwisting the cables...this weak spot may become a breaking point later. Stress fractures may form in the bones, the elbow, trunions...etc. There's a tremendous amount of force and torque going on in there, that's why I operate with safety glasses and kevlar. I also make everyone on the set sign a waiver. Whenever you see an actor in a movie wearing glasses, they most likely didn't sign the waiver and production made them put them on for safety...they are scared of shrapnel. Good luck and keep your head down!

WooHoo! No monitor...you are a god Peter! Think of the weight savings. I have just fashioned a giant cross-hair out of coat hangers and will swap it out with my monitor tomarrow on the set. Knock off a few more aks and soon my pro will be a glidecam. Forget Dogma-95, this is Peter-04.

You all suck! Real steadicam ops pull their own focus...and from the barrel!! Nothing gives the shot that organic...dare I say, "free-range" look better than a good twist of the barrel (well, maybe bumping into an extra or set piece). Get with the program guys -- save $$, better looking footage, and back to the lost art of the "one handed technique."

I was able to try out Jon's arm with BJ the same night. Very impressive. The machine work is top notch and the arm is VERY smooth. He makes the whole thing from scratch, so to my suprise...his socket-block fit in my vest better than my pro arm's socket block. Jon is very pleased and BJ is going crazy waiting for his arm. I talked to Hugo a while back...he is using a very high end bearing manufacturer and it seems that the US military keeps cutting in line and taking Hugo's bearings for their own dastardly puposes. That's not really fair...don't they know we all need steadicam arms? I know there's a "war against terrorism" but come on! Ron B

Try to get the light weight zoom. I was flying a Pana G2 conv kit with primos when my 3A arm blew up (suprise). I did get to weigh it -- 33 lbs no lens. That's with Jerry Hill's bracket, 1 preston motor, 400' film, clip on mb, 2 camera plates and the dovetail adaptor. Add a primo and you're up to 39/40lbs...a bit heavy in my humble opinion for one to do his best work, or to remain virticle in 20 yrs. Ron

I don't mean to imply it isn't worth the $$. I've been wearing my harness (#45) every day for 2 and a half years with no probs and a happy back. Now the doorjams on my set will be happy too! Ron

just got the info on the low pro carbon arm...$2500 usd (introductory offer). holy shit! Jennifer mentioned that the socket block is about 1 inch farther back than on my euro's carbon arm. Pretty sweet, but very $$$!! Ron B

the first thing I did when I got my harness was to have a smaller knob made. Tom Gleason made mine and maybe he could crank out a few to save the doorjams of the world! I've been waiting for a lower profile arm for awhile. The way the original carbon arm sticks out is the one thing that always bugged me...and doorjams. Ron B

great googly-moogly those are some long posts...and by the way, this is a very polite forum. You should see some of the trolling and catfights Phil starts on the Smack-my-bitch-up forum. He logs in under the name Superpootylicious Ron B

after reading my post, I realized that it may come across that I was not all that impressed with Lynn's device, just the technology it uses. I was blown away by both. It really was cool and better yet...it worked. Ron B

Ruben...just making a sad joke my friend, sad but true. I too have tried one of the alien prototypes here in LA and was very impressed with the technology behind it. I can't begin to understand how much time/work Lynn has put into this thing. I'm not sure it will change life as we know it here on planet steadicam, but it will be a great tool to have available to us for shots that need it. Ron B

ok, fess up all you folks with the MDR-2 and the F/X box...tell me the good and the bad. Is it cool? Does it work? Do you need a degree in astrophysics to program it? Has it boned you on any particular camera? Will it work even when the operator's blood alchohol level excedes .1? I gotta know Ron B

don't worry all! as soon as Howard and Lynn finish spending many many thousands of $$$ and years in research and design, some small time knucklehead will make his own rip-off version, sell it for half price, and call it his own.

those pesky Canadians...they should shoot commercials in their own damn deserts!

I've seen that picture of Garrett on Bound For Glory a million times...but this is the first time I've noticed it was back/side mounted. Ron

forgot to mention...I think Rig Engineering has renewed/purchased all the old 3A patents. I think it is interesting they are making a good arm better (from scratch) instead of simply copying the old design like most do.

looks like the Rig Engineering arm

boy am I glad the Egyptians didn't get pissed off when we made Cleopatra here...or that the actors in such an important piece of their history weren't even Egyptian! The aliens didn't seem to mind when their story was shot in England by Ridley Scott. But I guess it would have sucked if the Egyptians did make Cleopatra, but shot it here in LA because of a better exchange rate, cheaper/free locations, cheaper crew, cheaper extras, cheaper food, cheaper horses/wranglers, cheaper hookers, and there were none of those pesky Egyptian unions to contend with in California. Then, after making it for a fraction of the cost (keeping the profits from raping the locals) the producers take it back to Egypt and show it for full price. Ouch! Ahhhh, life is sweet! Ron B

I loaned the tape out years ago and forgot who had it! Ok all, fess up!!

I guess I'm lucky not to have experienced the "leg tingling" sensation everyone is talking about. Oh, there was this one time I was bouncing a particularly friendly extra on my knee.

Hi Kenny, someone else may have to chime in here to correct my numbers, but I seem to remember a replacement set of gold or similar springs + labor to be around $3500 to $4000 USD. I think Rig's total overhaul/re-anodize/new spring deal was in the $5000 ballpark. I don't work for Rig Engineering (those kind fellas down unda') but I do know Hugo and have seen his work, very nice. If I had an EFP/2/3/3A arm and was ready for a complete overhaul/new springs, I'd go with his system with a set of light AND heavy springs. For the record, I currently own a Pro arm and have had zero issues with it in nearly 4 years of everyday use -- very expensive...very sexy. ron b

yes, thre preston uses one box with 3 channels (the mdr, or motor driver). rb

I kind of like the idea of my Preston NOT coming off the rig and being put somewhere I can't keep an eye on it. Production insurance aint what it used to be!

Sad but true, especially in larger markets. Years ago I was in dicussions with George Paddock about buying a Pro arm (I'd guess sometime in 1998). He asked what focus system I was working with, at the time I had a seitz (which worked fine btw). His advice -- and you've got to admire him for saying this -- was that I first upgrade to a Preston, then save up for an arm later. Every ac has many follow focus nightmare stories (more often than not the failure is his fault). I'm certain the same ac will also have bad Preston experiences (no system is perfect). But the number of bad experiences with other systems will most likely outweigh bad experiences with "higher end systems" (Prestons, Scorpios, others?). The Preston is a pretty stupid proof system. This is all that really matters when it comes to remote focus -- is it strong? is it accurate? does it get interference? is it simple to set up (very subjective)? I think this goes for your other gear as well (sled, batteries, chargers, xmitter/antenna, docking stand/cart) -- all the gak that the assistants are schlepping around all day while you are discussing the shot with the director, having a snort of scotch with the dp, or chatting up a lovely extra. I think it's pretty f'd up that an ac's equip preference may determine if you get the job or not. But can you really blame him/her for trying to get the upper-hand by surrounding himself/herself with equip that is less likely to fail (especially in today's run-and-gun set environment). Before I got my Pro, I lost jobs to ops with "newer/better" sleds as well ones with "higher end" follow focus. In the end I had to cave...had to buy gear that the ac's AND the dp's wanted to use. The equip may get you the job, but your abilty/personality will keep you the jobs.

I'd love a new carbon arm more closely contoured to the vest and one without the tilting feature. I have a back mounted harnes as well, #45 (one of the early "Euro Vests"). I don't notice a difference in my shots, but I do have more stamina and less back stiffness than I had with my model 3 vest (that alone is well worth the cost!). I have been using it nearly everyday on a series for 2 years now, no problems. I did have Tom Gleason make a smaller adjustment knob (the one that tilts the socket block up and down) because that is a place where you'll catch on a doorjam instead of bouncing off. As a matter of fact, this tilting mechanism seems to be obsolete with the sliding plate on the back (it was really designed for use on the models previous to the Euro) combined with the aircraft screws on the arm's socket block. In my opinion, it just adds weight and limits the carbon arm from contouring your back. Which brings me to the only negative I've found (besides the obvious price tag, but you do get what you pay for) -- the width. I have to pay alot more attention going through doorways and have to rely more on a spotter that I did before. The foam they use is also very nice at body temp...but putting that thing on after sitting on your cart in the cold for hours is a chore! But the many positive aspects far out weigh the few negatives. Does anybody know what's going on at DSD/Klassen? Have they worked things out or did one or the other get reamed? Ron