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Ultra2 vs Pro GPI vs XCS2


Alex Kornreich

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Hey Matt,

I gave Jerry Hill a visit today and got the pieces you mentioned (two 2" gorelock forks, one 2" dock ring and one 1.5" id 2" dock ring). I'll let you know how it works when I use it on Monday. It allows you to get the gimbal about 5/8" higher than you can using a dock ring under the post locking ring. Here's a picture showing the gimbal back to the pro1/xcs ballpark.

post-98-12691440566755_thumb.jpg

 

the only bummer is the size of the new larger ring on the post for low mode...it seems to be almost the size of a dinner plate -- but it may add some lift or at least whistle during fast moving shots!

post-98-12691449100516_thumb.jpg

 

here are the 1.5" and the 2" next to each other:

post-98-12691454862002_thumb.jpg

 

rb

 

 

Thanks for the picts and testing this out Ron!

 

Oh, and last thing we need is a Lisagav-free sausage-party, but it would be fun to see you run over stuff with your Humvee!

 

-Matt

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Premium Members

Hey Matt,

I gave Jerry Hill a visit today and got the pieces you mentioned (two 2" gorelock forks, one 2" dock ring and one 1.5" id 2" dock ring). I'll let you know how it works when I use it on Monday. It allows you to get the gimbal about 5/8" higher than you can using a dock ring under the post locking ring. Here's a picture showing the gimbal back to the pro1/xcs ballpark.

post-98-12691440566755_thumb.jpg

 

the only bummer is the size of the new larger ring on the post for low mode...it seems to be almost the size of a dinner plate -- but it may add some lift or at least whistle during fast moving shots!

post-98-12691449100516_thumb.jpg

 

here are the 1.5" and the 2" next to each other:

post-98-12691454862002_thumb.jpg

 

rb

 

 

Thanks for the picts and testing this out Ron!

 

Oh, and last thing we need is a Lisagav-free sausage-party, but it would be fun to see you run over stuff with your Humvee!

 

-Matt

 

 

did the same conversion today: it takes about 15mm or 0.6 " off the distance between the Gimbal and Topstage. shortens your post and brings the camera weight closer to the pivoting point aka Gimbal

 

web album

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  • 2 months later...
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not sure where to put this, but since this subject has been discussed here (ad nauseum)...

 

a progress report -- so far so good on the dock ring on the knurled post ring. I haven't had the ring unscrew yet, been keeping an eye on it. This really makes a huge difference to me coming from the Pro1. I have been flying a 35 lb F-35/OB-1 package for the past several weeks and I haven't needed to extend the post at all plus I could still get the 1 to 1.5 sec drop I like **(in addition to the higher gimbal, the extra .8 lbs of Fracol's "foot" no doubt helps this as well). I have a feeling that the U2 or MK-V with the same weight/conditions would be at least 6" to 9" longer (not a bad thing to many and I'm not dissing any manufacturers, I just prefer a shorter sled like the XCS or Pro).

 

I did stop by Erwin's just before he left town and did the "weigh off" and "gimbal off" -- we were both surprised at the results. The first conclusion we came to was that we were both geeks doomed forever to playing with our equipment...instead of someone else's. Second, my Pro2 was heavier than I thought -- with Steve Fracol's foot/pro plate it was about the same weight as the Ultimate (Eric was right about the helium actually adding weight). Third we measured the maximum gimbal height to the bottom of the thinner camera dovetail plates and as expected the Ultimate was better, but only by 5/8" (the rig could still be squeezed in/out of the Gorelock). We thought it would be much more. Again, this is not a competition but a comparison of the Ultimate and the Pro2.

 

I am over-geeking out at all the configurations and possibilities since moving to the my new sled (I know I am a late comer). Soon I will again be bored with my new sled and return to sinking money into the bottomless pit where it belongs...my truck.

 

rb

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  • 3 weeks later...
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Hey, BTW, for you newbies, ever notice how it’s always the guys with $100G in their rigs who spout this falsehood: It’s not the rig, it’s the operator. Steadicam is 90% operator. Maybe for them it is.

 

So are you saying that the falsehood spouted is the 10% difference or the whole thinking of technician vs his tools? There are a lot of great shots done on model 1's, 2's, and 3's. Hell, Larry flew a 3A until 10 yrs ago (Goodfellas was done with his 3A and a BL-3 if memory serves). Look at Garrett's work on The Shining shot with prehistoric gear and a tiny 2" monitor (but at least viewable in direct sunlight, as you said) -- the monitor shootout showed many why some still like to carry an extra 3 lbs of power sucking greenscreen. There is also a lot of bad work done by some pretty nice gear.

 

Nice gear might get your foot in the door but being a good operator will get you called back. Pretty funny about the SOC awards.

 

rb

 

Couldn't agree more about nice gear helping -- it certainly does. But the quality of any shot is 90% operator - no "falsehood" whatsoever. Put Scott Sakamoto on a hideous Frankensled from 1982 and compare his work to some 19 year-old jock whose daddy bought him $150K in gear. If you can't figure out who does the better shot, you should spend less time on the computer and more time practicing with your crappy gear.

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  • 6 years later...
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Hi!.

I agree all opinions about this 3 sleds.

It is like choice between Audi/BMW/Mercedes. All are the top and works really well.

My choice... I´ve been working all my life with STEADICAM products.

Yes, sometimes I had issues like all of us, but the end is... I love my ULTRA2.

My 2 cts.

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