Mitch Gross Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I don't think there's any reasonable reason to use the Elaine. They only made 42 of them and they still work regularly on TV series, but I just don't get it. Inferior taps, inferior viewfinder, inferior choice of optics, and it is much more cumbersome and complicated than it needs to be. I don't think it is any quieter than an Aaton in good shape, certainly not by much. And if you really want more weight or mass, stick some lead plates on an Aaton! It is overbuilt and out of date. Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted November 24, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I don't think there's any reasonable reason to use the Elaine. Well, there's one good reason for a DP (with the urging of a producer) to use this camera......money. Panavision has always been good with the deals, and I'm sure that's the case with the Elaine. Anyhow, as far as steadicam is concerned it's not bad at all. That 48 pitch focus gear sure is weird though. I had to double check to make sure I wasn't trying to connect my focus motor to the iris ring. A quick switch of my motor gear solved that in 2 seconds though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Monk Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I don't think there's any reasonable reason to use the Elaine. But they're just so darn cute, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted December 25, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 Now, why hasn't anyone asked the obvious question. Who is Elaine? ( after all, we are the culture of the West Docking Bracket and the Garfield Mount.... ) Peter Abraham New York Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Joshua Harrison Posted December 28, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 Elaine was (is) a panavision employee. Her signature appears inside next to the threading diagram. Last I heard she was still working there. Joshua Harrison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted December 28, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 i think peter was asking that rhetorically right peter? ive never flown or used the elaine but i knew all about the history of it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted December 30, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 30, 2005 Nope- I really never knew ! I saw one at General Camera in NYC once, it had been flown in for a gig. Never flew it on my rig though, and although I knew that was it's name, I had no idea who she was. I'm a big fan of using names instead of numbers. My 14-year-old daughter is interested in learning Steadicam from me. The Flyer vest that is stock is too long and big around for her. ( She of the early teen waifish profile ). So, I took a Flyer vest and cut it down in all directions, including the main "Y" shaped upper vest spar. Sent it off to Frank Rush, who dug the idea. You can now order the Flyer "Laura Vest" if you need a compact vest for a Flyer. Naming is good. When I showed my kid the PDF file of the new ad slick that named her, she emitted the kind of high-pitched scream of delight usually associated with.....uh........oh. Teenage girls. Well, there you have it. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted January 2, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Peter-- Happy New Year! Wasn't Laura just "the other day," wrapped up like a baby burrito? Man, does time ever FLY! You of all people should know better than to add "another" 14-year old girl item to the Steadicam cornucopia. Remember what the last "14-year-old-girl" did.... At any rate, great idea to make a name actually a name. Rather than just a spec or stock code. Our world is overrun with SKUs and bar codes. I saw the ad in AC the other day. Nice quote. Must run, child inserting fork into eye. Best, Brant "Fork Preventer" Fagan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Ouch, Brant. And I'm not talking about the fork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted January 3, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Seconded. I'd like to think that isn't referring to what I'm thinking it's referring to, but if it is...ixnay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted January 6, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 6, 2006 Gents-- Since you all have your minds somewhere other than the topic of Elaine, all I can say is a LONG time ago, when I was just getting started, I was assisting for Peter on a student film. Whilst conducting a company move, Peter and I happened to pass a young woman washing a dog. On the corner with a hose. On a VERY hot day. Wearing very little. A case of roadside romance. And wishful thinking. That's all. End of story. Let's remember why we read items on this forum. Right. Best, Brant "It's not what it looks like..." Fagan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted January 7, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Well, that's good. I think. (is it OK to talk about wishful thinking regarding a 14 year old??! ) lest this be seen as a continued off-topic diversion, uh...well, let's see. We've already discussed the power connector on the Elaine, talked about the optics and weight distribution and retold the legend of the lady herself...might as well close up this thread, it's all done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted January 7, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 --Starch glare-- No, it's not what it looks like. Jeeeeeez man. One loses one's sense of humor about this stuff, Brant. That was aeon's ago, she was nowhere near 14, and this is my KID we're talking about here ! Not to mention Elaine. Who works at Panavision. And is not 14. Last time I feed that boy cold noodles with sesame sauce. Now then, back to topic. Was the video tap on the Elaine as ground-noise prone as older regular Panavision bodies? Peter Abraham ( who just yelled at the aforementioned daughter and made her change her shirt before going to the movies with her girlfriends I mean what was she thinking? ) New York Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted January 9, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 I didn't find the tap to be particularly noisy. I've seen better and I've seen worse, but all in all the image was good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.