Steadicam Phantom

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Well, the new Phantom hasn't gotten much love since the Tango and Zephyr were released.

 

It is like an Ultra 2 with a clipper electronics box and two section post. Comes with G-70 and ultra vest.

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

another pic

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Well, the new Phantom hasn't gotten much love since the Tango and Zephyr were released.

 

It is like an Ultra 2 with a clipper electronics box and two section post. Comes with G-70 and ultra vest.

 

 

Okay? but honestly I think Tiffen has waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy to many rigs

[RonBaldwin]

it is confusing

[Mikael Kern]

Well, the new Phantom hasn't gotten much love since the Tango and Zephyr were released.

 

It is like an Ultra 2 with a clipper electronics box and two section post. Comes with G-70 and ultra vest.

 

 

Okay? but honestly I think Tiffen has waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy to many rigs

 

Yes. They have to discontinue some of the "older" rigs. I remember Apple doing the same kind of bad marketing with too many models and confusing model names. That was in the middle 90´s and almost killed the company. Today there is only 6: 3 laptops, 2 desktops without monitor and 1 desktop with integrated monitor. Then you choose the version you need.

 

Keep it simple, or customers get confused, they buy the wrong rig or no rig at all. With the ranges of todays arms, you don´t need more than 4-5 rigs. Also I believe that as many components as possible should be interchangable between rigs. And all components sold seperately. A lot of companies think they can protect their brand making different sizes of everything, but I think in the long run it doesn´t work that way.

Do we really need more than 1 armpost size?

Do we really need more than 2 dovetail sizes?

Do we really need more than 1-2 socket block sizes?

Do we really need more than 1 socket block to arm connector size?

 

Mikael Kern

[BJMcDonnell SOC]

PRO 2 rig basically does it all. Im just saying. Small cameras to big cameras no problem. Add some Lisigav and boom!

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Same can be said for my XCS Ultimate. No need for 15 different rigs that can't interchange parts

[Frank Rush]

Hi:

 

Thanks for taking the time to look at the many Steadicam systems we offer. The line of Steadicam and the reasoning for existence is really quite simple.

 

We try to address all segments of the stabilizer market with reasonably priced feature rich systems.

 

MERLIN Handheld 5 pound cameras

Add Arm/Vest 7 1/2 pound camera

PILOT 10 pound camera

Uses small socket block/others offer no socket block in this market segment

Traditional 3 piece Arm/Vest/Sled configuration

 

FLYER Arm/Vest/Sled 20 pound camera / STD or HD

 

Zephyr Arm/Vest/Sled 20 pound camera with requested customer features

New Stage design-HD capable/TANGO Compatible/New Base with Movable components

No-Tools Operation - Two post system with many new features.

 

Archer 2 Lightweight folding/running rig - G-50 Arm suggested camera load to 28 lb.

Tilt Head - two posts - standard Steadicam Socket Block - No Tools Operation

 

Clipper312 Discontinued - See Clipper 324

Clipper 324 Low Cost 12/24V -Tilt Head 3 post-G50 Arm suggested camera loads to 35 lb

 

Phantom (New) Traditional two post sled with Tilt Head/Motor Capable /G-70 Arm/U2 Vest

 

Phantom offers capability in keeping with basic two post systems with added features - Used in all video and film applications. NO TOOLS Operation

 

Ultra2c Ultra with all base U2 features at lower cost allowing customer to add features as required. User upgradable to full Ultra2 configuration. Feature rich with many unique features only found on the Steadicam Ultra systems. 4 post / G70 ISO-Elastic Arm with Lift and ride controls / 70 pound load capacity/HD UltraBRITE 1400 NIT Monitor (Available Option)/ Full NO-Tools operation / Ultra Hi and Low operation!

 

Ultra2 Has all ULTRA2 benefits with 28 unique features only found on this system.

 

We appreciate that many people on the forum have various stabilizer systems that are considered to fit their specific needs. We offer and appeal to a generally wider audience and suggest that anyone should make an educated decision based on their specific needs and feature requirements. We provide Steadicam systems that are developed from suggestions of our customers and the unique developments and designs of the Steadicam Inventors and Tiffen Engineering staff. Each system is unique in the market addressed and offers added features and most importantly many benefits to the Steadicam Operator.

 

Never will we debate that one system is better than another! It is clear that each has its place and merits or the company developing and marketing the stabilizer would no longer be in business!

 

The Steadicam systems offer features and price points for all segments of the stabilizer markets on a global worldwide basis. The reason we appear to have many models compared to the ones referenced is that we match price points and offer professional features in all markets instead of a specific area.

 

If you need more detail there is a Steadicam Product Configuration Guide at www.steadicam.com that compares most of our systems. The newly introduced systems will be added soon. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our Tiffen Account Managers.

 

We appreciate the continued interest and support for all of our Tiffen products.

 

Frank Rush

Steadicam Manager

The Tiffen Company

[Jerry Holway]

All-

 

I've flown 5 pound cameras on my Ultra2 (added a few pounds via a plate or cage to get the weight up to 15 pounds or so). So yes, it can be done, and I don't absolutely need another rig, but....

 

It's a far more intelligent choice, if one is always flying light cameras, to have a smaller, properly sized to the task, professionally featured Steadicam (for less cash as well).

 

Frank and the website lay out the particulars, but I'd like to emphasize that the various models are a response to customers asking for differently featured rigs. The rig I use suits me well, and the same should be true for any operator in their professional situation.

 

I stress professional here, because it isn't only about price and weight carrying capacity; it's about having the functionality, feel and precision of the biggest rigs, arms, and vests no matter what camera one carries. That's the goal, which is not easy to achieve at all price points.

 

Also, in the options, a customer can swap out monitors, battery types (AB, V-mount), arms, vests, or motorize the stage or not, or buy anything a la carte... to each his own!

 

To the questions "do we need more than 1 arm post size, etc." I would say emphatically YES. There is no good reason to either grossly over or under spec a part just to fit an arbitrary standard. Adding unnecessary costs to lighter rigs really makes no sense at all.

 

For instance, the guy who buys a Flyer does not need to spend extra dough to mate his lightweight arm with a big (read expensive and over-spec'd for this task) socket block. Actually, the screw pattern for the block is the same, so he could mate the Flyer arm with any VEST easily! His choice.

 

Regardless, giving the customers what they ask for seems to be a pretty good idea.

 

Jerry

[Michael Sutton]

To Frank and the rest of the Tiffen / Steadicam crew.

 

You really need to get the Phantom on the tiffen site. You also need to get pricing and more info on each product to the dealers. I would love to sell Zephyr rigs (Steadicam Dealer) as well as buy one for myself to replace my Flyer LE but no information is available.

 

Help us make these new products successful so dealers and users can talk about them from an informed pov. Thanks and keep up the good work.