Alan Chapman Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 (edited) Had a bit play around in the house with my Pilot, it's the first rig I have used and it's a very strange feeling, fun but strange and very very hard, it's going to be a long road I can see. Having just spent £8k on all my gear including camera I am pretty much out of cash for training since I live a long way from London, so until the Calumet training comes to Northern England I just have these message boards and the excellent Steadicam Operators Handbook to help me. So I have a few questions. As I will be shooting quite a few walk and talk shots how do you use the focus? Auto or Manual (I can't afford the remote focus) I find walking a problem, I keep wanting the camera infront of my body, should it be in line with my left shoulder. I am currently reading the handbook on this matter but would like any other tips on this. On setting up the pilot arms I noticed that once loaded they were both pointing slightly downwards from horizontal. I adjusted the lift as instructed but when I tried adjusting the arm nearest to me I found even on maximum lift it was just say getting level. Is there anything else I can do? My cam is just a Sony Z5 with external mic. Edited April 26, 2009 by Alan Chapman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Morgan Moore Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 (edited) Im only a couple of months in so pinch of salt required.. the arm at flat is correct do you have weights added (see the other thread) you might want to reconfigue - I reckon none at the top and some at the bottom enough to make the springs require full tension but not so much wight to cause the arm to sag other think different Maybe you have a big battery that could go Walking you start with it kind of at 45degrees to your body and it just kind of ends up sitting next to you - youll kick the sled and knacker your back following it - set it going befor you move your feet - very gently Focus I would go manual if your shot is sustaining a fairly consistent ditance or AF if you are going to vary the composition S Edited April 26, 2009 by Sam Morgan Moore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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