Which Pilot System to Buy?

[Douglas Clark]

I am wanting to purchase a Pilot Steadicam system to use with my EX1-R. There are several different configurations with battery mounts and batteries. Any recommendations as to which one I should purchase?

 

I will be using the system to shoot weddings. Also, are there other accessories I will need?

 

Thank you,

 

Doug

[Brian Freesh]

Welcome Douglas,

This thread should get you started, and there's plenty more if you take a search through the archives. The guys that posted to that thread (except for me, don't listen to me!) are good guys to talk to about the Pilot.

 

Cheers,

Brian |-)~

[Andrew Stone]

Hi Douglas,

 

What else are you going to have on the camera? Are you going to be using a light on it that requires 12V power? Wireless mics receivers? All this will contribute to your knowing what batteries you will need and if you have enough outboard gear on top of the camera that you may be getting out of the weight capability of the Pilot...

 

You will be able to power your EX1R from the onboard battery obviously. The batteries at the bottom of the sled will serve primarily as weight to keep the sled and the camera upright, that is, unless you have a bunch of 12V gear strapped to the EX1R.

 

If you're a wedding videographer, I would suggest taking one of the 2 day courses that TIFFEN offer that are focused on "flying" the Pilot and the Flyer. You will get a sense of what you are getting into and learning the right way to operate a Steadicam.

 

-Andrew

Edited January 15, 2010 by Andrew Stone

[Paul Kellett]

I've just bought a Pilot, it'll be used with my EX1.

The price for the AA mount, IDX mount or AB mount was all the same, so AA mount, buy some AA batteries,(cheap) and that's it ready to fly, or the IDX or AB, which means i had to buy a battery and charger, i was quoted £620, for a battery and charger, no way.

So i bought a Dolgin EX-V, basically a battery plate which fits EX1/EX3 batteries,BP-U30 or 60, or the swit battery, i've got a BP-U30, a 60 and a swit battery and obviously a charger so this works out the cheapest. About £70 delivered for the EX-V plate.

Link below

 

http://www.dolgin.net/EX-Vadapter.htm

 

You can take the AA battery box off the AA mount and easily fix the EX-V adaptor.

I run the EX1 from the on camera battery and the monitor from the BP-U30. The 30 will power the monitor for easily over a day, i know i've been practising with it.

This is gonna be the cheapest and easiest solution for you.

Some pics on the link below, this is where i got the idea.

 

http://www.pauljoy.com/gear/steadicam-pilot-bp-u-conversion/

 

Paul.

[Sam Morgan Moore]

If you have the cash I would just say get some proper batteries

 

I went AA, right PITA, just using AAs

 

Ended up getting 10aa pack rechargables from overlander batteries which is basically 10AA wired together

 

I have two packs and the regular cage in reserve

 

Works OK considering the cost was about 100ukp for the batts and charger plus an afternoon fiddling with wires etc

 

But for an off the shelf solution just pay up !

 

S

[Dave Gish]

See here for Pilot battery options thread:

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?sh...&hl=AA+pack

[Alex Dolgin]

I've just bought a Pilot, it'll be used with my EX1.

The price for the AA mount, IDX mount or AB mount was all the same, so AA mount, buy some AA batteries,(cheap) and that's it ready to fly, or the IDX or AB, which means i had to buy a battery and charger, i was quoted £620, for a battery and charger, no way.

So i bought a Dolgin EX-V, basically a battery plate which fits EX1/EX3 batteries,BP-U30 or 60, or the swit battery, i've got a BP-U30, a 60 and a swit battery and obviously a charger so this works out the cheapest. About £70 delivered for the EX-V plate.

Link below

 

http://www.dolgin.net/EX-Vadapter.htm

 

You can take the AA battery box off the AA mount and easily fix the EX-V adaptor.

I run the EX1 from the on camera battery and the monitor from the BP-U30. The 30 will power the monitor for easily over a day, i know i've been practising with it.

This is gonna be the cheapest and easiest solution for you.

Some pics on the link below, this is where i got the idea.

 

http://www.pauljoy.com/gear/steadicam-pilot-bp-u-conversion/

 

Paul.

Paul, glad it worked out for you. We make a variety of cables/adapters and would be happy to customise if possible to make the accessory work for your application.