G50 vs Master Arm

[Scott Jason Gill]

I'm considering buying a used G50 arm. It seems that used and Luna upgraded Master arms are selling for about the same price. Aside from weight capacity, is there any advantage to the Master/Luna over the G50?

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Jason,

 

Weight capacity. Weight capacity and of course, did I mention weight capacity?

 

G50 feels nicer but a well tuned Master arm is okay (certainly better than a 3a arm). Depends on the type of work you are doing and the type of sled you are flying. Know that real world situations always put you at higher weights than you think. I started in the 3a arm days and because it was the only arm on the market and Cinema Products refused to sell them without a complete package, it was damn hard to find used ones. I had to settle for one with "black" springs which topped out a 51 pounds. I remember convincing myself that it would be okay but in truth I needed more lift and had to find a way to get "gold" springs installed. Of course, those were different days with different cameras....

[Matteo Quagliano]

never tried a Master but I would go for a G50, wider and easier range of work on todays cameras pays better, unless your going always 35 or big HD

 

maqu

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Matteo brings up a good point - wider range. I was thinking of the top end capacity of arms as I do virtually all 35/Big HD work. The G-50 will certainly allow you to reduce the tension and fly much lighter stuff than a Master arm. What sled are you using?

[Scott Jason Gill]

Matteo brings up a good point - wider range. I was thinking of the top end capacity of arms as I do virtually all 35/Big HD work. The G-50 will certainly allow you to reduce the tension and fly much lighter stuff than a Master arm. What sled are you using?

 

I just bought a MK-V V2 Genesis. It also seems that the G50 is a simpler design. Maybe less prone to problems? I do like the Master's weight limit though. I don't think I'll be flying anything too big for the G50...but then again...I didn't think a month ago that I'd need anything bigger than the brand new Flyer-LE I just bought. Now I'm scrambling to find something bigger having wasted money on a rig that I thought I'd be able to squeeze into for a while.

[Amando Crespo]

Jason,

 

Weight capacity. Weight capacity and of course, did I mention weight capacity?

 

G50 feels nicer but a well tuned Master arm is okay (certainly better than a 3a arm). Depends on the type of work you are doing and the type of sled you are flying. Know that real world situations always put you at higher weights than you think. I started in the 3a arm days and because it was the only arm on the market and Cinema Products refused to sell them without a complete package, it was damn hard to find used ones. I had to settle for one with "black" springs which topped out a 51 pounds. I remember convincing myself that it would be okay but in truth I needed more lift and had to find a way to get "gold" springs installed. Of course, those were different days with different cameras....

 

Hi friends.

I´ve a Master film with it arm and an Ultra2 with G-70 arm.

I add Alec´s. You have considerate weight capacity for a final choice.

With G-50 you will be able to work in isolastic mode or not, but less weight capacity than Master arm.

If you´ll work with small video cameras, RED, or same H-D cams, G-50 is a good choice.

[James Baldanza SOC]

It's easier to add weight "weight plate,antlers,etc" than to lose weight "without AC,DP, Director being pissed".

Personally I would go with the Ultra/Master's Arm.

Get a nice practice cage and be physically ready for those heavier Film and HD jobs.

 

James

[JobScholtze]

The boomrange of the G50 is much more then the master arm. Also, the thing i didnt like about the master arm is that when booming as low as possible, the arm locks. The G50 is more smooth. But then again, the master works like an arm should work. I used the G50 on a mk-v nexus with all the bells and whistles. Works like a charm. I upgraded to the G70 for more weight range, but still use the g50 on my second rig. I would go for the G50 or spend a little more for a G70 or pro, whatever you prefer.

 

Btw, i see that fabrizio is selling his arm on this forum, wich looks like a great deal. More of a 3a type of arm, different feel and different arm, but still a nice arm. Personal personal etc etc

[Ken Nguyen]

Jason,

I would go for the Master arm favoring on the weight capacity side as Alec mentioned.

Boom range is nice, but not being used or asked often.

Boom range can be cheat easily by temporary bending down your knees or stepping up an apple box.

 

But, for weight capacity, you don't have much choice.

Having an arm with less weight capacity is very stressful.

An easy job might turn out to be a night mare.

Small video camera, Red, HD are light weight!?!!! Yeah! you guy are lucky!!!

Wait until the DP bring in big lens, on-camera light, ring light, focus, iris, etc...

then you will know how heavy it is!

 

I started with 3A green spring; then went up to gold spring (3 months later); then Master; then Pro (not because of weight capacity).

So, invest wise. You have more choice now a day than when I started.

Cheers,

Ken Nguyen.

[Matteo Quagliano]

ok... weight is an issue but don't consider G50 as a little baby, in fact it's a strong boy with a lot of attitude to heavy weight... I second Job's advice go for G70 or Pro (if you really have the money and the need for the top of the pops among the arms) if not, again, I suggest G50, I'm not an experienced op at all but I work something like 80 days a year, I can say that in percentage not more then 30% is with heavy stuff, the rest little HDV or similar ot Tv beta or Digibeta, but may be it's my pond that doesn't have big fishes

 

maqu

[Thomas K. Jensen]

Don't forget that the Sled you're concidering has a weight limit aswell.

[Scott Jason Gill]

Thanks for all the responses so far. Some very good reasons for both camps. Weight seems to be the biggest driving factor, little doubt the G50 is a better arm...unless you need more than 50lbs. Right now I can't see myself flying anything other than Varicams, F900s, Reds, or maybe an Alexa. That said, I do a lot of live TV and could see wireless microwave gear or lcd prompters as a possibility.

 

The limiting factor is mainly money since I could fly an IMAX on the MK-V sled if I had the body to. There's little doubt the G70 or Pro would solve all my problems, but there's no budget for that. So its gamble with the lighter but better arm or go for the safety net of big weight and loose the silky smooth big range advantages of the newer technology.

 

I made the mistake of reading the archives last night from when everyone demoed the G50 upon its release. There seemed to be little doubt that it was the best Arm ever developed at the time aside from the weight limit factor. I'm feeling heavily swayed that way. I could always sell it and buy a G70 I guess if I was hitting a wall. I'd be curious how many went G50 and are now in a G70 or Pro because of weight.

[JobScholtze]

 

Boom range is nice, but not being used or asked often.

 

Perhaps in movie land thats true ( walk and talks )

I use the total boomrange almost every day and couldnt do it with apple boxes and stuff, simple becose we cant in the type of jobs we do.

Btw, i can fly red's or whatever video camera inluding primes on the g50, and i would choose the g50 above the master arm any day.

The G70 or pro would be your best choice.

[Erwin Landau]

 

I'd be curious how many went G50 and are now in a G70 or Pro because of weight.

 

 

I know quite a few and it had little to do with the weight range...

[Scott Jason Gill]

 

I'd be curious how many went G50 and are now in a G70 or Pro because of weight.

 

 

I know quite a few and it had little to do with the weight range...

 

Good to hear from you Erwin. Are you saying there's a design flaw or something bad about the G50 that hasn't been brought up?