batteries?

[Trenton Hoshiko]

I have been searching for an answer to these questions to no avail, so I now have turned to the forums.

 

Are the AB batteries and V batteries powering the steadicam or the camera or both?

I'm very confused on how this all works and need a good explanation. Also if I buy the Flyer le complete package,

does it come with the batteries that I need to power the camera, or the steadicam or both, or do I need to purchase them somewhere else?

Also, would the Flyer LE work with the Canon Xl-H1s? If not why not?

 

Thanks, best regards,

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

 

Youtube.com/masterofthefreeworld

[Brian Freesh]

Hi Trenton,

 

welcome to the forums!

 

The batteries power whatever you need them to. 1st you will need to power the monitor every time. So the AB or V-lock batteries you get will power that. From there, it depends on the camera. The XL-H1 is light enough that adding a battery to power the camera will be a benefit, as it's weight will not be too much for you or the steadicam, and your steadicam batteries will last longer. One battery powering only the monitor will last you all day.

 

I don't believe the XL-H1 has a 4pin XLR power input, so out of the box there's no way for you to power it from a Flyer anyway. I'm sure you could modify something to do the trick though. The nice thing about powering the camera through the Steadicam is that you only ever need to change one battery throughout the day. Do what works for you. Out of the box you'll have to put a battery on the XL-H1 and a battery on the steadicam.

 

I believe you can buy an LE package with batteries, check with your vendor. Should be simple enough to check their website and look at the package contents. Or call them.

 

Hope this helps, fly safe!

[Trenton Hoshiko]

Thank you for your information! It was very very helpful, and exactly what I needed described in very good detail! Maybe you could explain the 4 pin thing you mentioned. I'm glad to hear that you can use the battery that's for the camera to power it so you don't need to waste the other battery.

 

Just to make sure, not all othe the models or packages come with the battery to power the staedicam moniter, and I will have to buy it myself or find one that does?

 

Thank you for your help, hopefully now that my questions are being answered now I will be able to finally add the steadicam flyer to my list of gear!

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

[Brian Freesh]

Thank you for your information! It was very very helpful, and exactly what I needed described in very good detail! Maybe you could explain the 4 pin thing you mentioned.

 

...

 

Just to make sure, not all othe the models or packages come with the battery to power the staedicam moniter, and I will have to buy it myself or find one that does?

 

Happy to help. The standard power cable that comes with the Flyer to power a camera is a 4pin 12 volt XLR, that will come with your package regardless. It's used mainly for ENG cameras. If your XLH1 had an input for that, you could power the camera through the Flyer without buying anything else or having custom cables made

 

The Flyer LE is sold with or without batteries as far as I know. You can either buy a package that includes them or a package that is cheaper and does not include them. I could be wrong about that. The vendor you purchase from can answer that for you. Check their website, or call them and see if they have a Flyer LE package that includes batteries and a charger.

 

Good luck!

[Trenton Hoshiko]

Thank you for all your help, I only have a 3 last questions before I think I'm set. One, do you know if there are step-down transformers or a simmilar device that is made to reduce the amount of volts to the proper number. Two, what are the batteries that would be used in the {lyer LE called, so I can look for them in the packages. and finally, Three, is there a place where I can give you a profile review or something of the sort because you deffiently deserve a 10/5 stars! You have been a tremendous help answering all my questions.

 

Many thanks,

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

[Jonathan Parris]

Thank you for all your help, I only have a 3 last questions before I think I'm set. One, do you know if there are step-down transformers or a simmilar device that is made to reduce the amount of volts to the proper number. Two, what are the batteries that would be used in the {lyer LE called, so I can look for them in the packages. and finally, Three, is there a place where I can give you a profile review or something of the sort because you deffiently deserve a 10/5 stars! You have been a tremendous help answering all my questions.

 

Many thanks,

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

 

I recently purchased a Flyer LE and am trying to work out the voltage step down myself. Check my post in this forum for responses on that.

 

For the batteries, you must choose between V-Mount or Anton Bauer mount (though you get an adaptor plate to use one on the other). When you order your rig, you will pick which battery mount you want it to have on it. I run the Anton Bauer Dionic 90s on my rig. There are countless other forum posts about which battery mount people prefer. I personally like the meter built into the Dionic 90s that tells you how much time you have left on that battery.

 

For your third question, I wonder that too. The members of this forum are more than helpful to beginners!

[Trenton Hoshiko]

Thanks for your input! That helps me a lot, so are the power cube things compatible with the v-mount, or are they a/b? I'm more of a visual learner so I have to learn everything peice by piece lol. I actully went to the a/b website and did their "help me choose" process and it told me for my camera (canon xlh1s) I should use the dionic 90 battery to run it. So I am kind of confused, does that mean I would be putting the battery on and it would run my steadicam, and it would be able to work in my camera, but I can't use it to power my camera while on the steadicam, due to the step down issue? Meaning that either way I went with batteries I would still need to power my camera off its own battery?

 

Other than that, what do you think of the flyer le? Does it do its job well? How easy was it to set up?

 

I'm hoping that when I get mine ill be using it with the canon xlh1s and the redrock micro m2 encore dof adapter (which will be about 16 pounds, the origional reason I looked in to the flyer le instead of the pilot)

 

I do appreciate everyones help I can't belive how fast and easy it was to get my questions answered here, hopefully when I get my own steadicam I will be able to learn about it and pass the knowlegde on, through these forums!

 

Have a great day guys,

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

 

*note, please excuse errors in my posts, all of my posts have been typed on my g1, most of the time while outside with lots of glare, so it is hard to catch/edit mistakes I made while typing.

[Brian Freesh]

Hi Trenton,

 

You're over-complicating this for yourself. I spent 20 seconds checking with a vendor, BH Photo, and found a Flyer package that includes batteries

 

I'd forgotten the power requirements of the XLH1 previously, but regardless we established that you can power the camera off of it's own battery. Why are you confusing yourself more by trying to match your steadicam batteries to it?

 

As mentioned in another thread about the EX3, if you build your camera big enough, taking the battery off can help save weight. If you do that though, you will need a converter regardless of the battery on the steadicam.

 

Converters are not something I can help with, as mentioned by Jonathon, there is a thread you can find more info about that.

 

There are several threads in the archives debating V-mount (IDX brand) and AB mount (Anton Bauer brand). It comes down to personal choice. I prefer AB. And frankly, you're probably fine with Hytron 50s. Save a little money, add a little weight (a good thing with such a light rig) and still plenty of power to keep the monitor going all day on one battery. If you will ever fly a different camera though, or with added accessories that need power, you'll probably want to go ahead and at least grab Dionic 90s or Power Cubes (depending on your battery mount) There are also stackable IDX batteries to get you more power and more weight. You won't need those, but again, if you ever do a different camera set-up, or want to keep the post shorter, it's not a terrible idea.

 

It all comes down to personal needs and preference.

 

The Flyer is a great little rig. I loved mine.

 

It seems you are extremely new to the world of steadicam, heck, video production. Have you ever tried on a steadicam? You may find that it is not for you. Around here we always recommend a workshop. It'll accomplish one of 2 things: (A.) you don't like steadicam and are only out $500 (for the 2 day flyer/pilot workshop) instead of having to get rid of a $10000 investment or (B.) you love it, and want to invest in a rig and all it cost you was $500 more than your $10000 investment, AND you got proper training so you actually know what to do when you put it on.

 

Good luck, let us know what you end up doing

[Trenton Hoshiko]

I understand now, thanks, I guess I was over complicating. I have been in video production for a while but with a lot smaller camera, and I have been a photographer for a lot longer so some of the technical terms and equipment that is specific to larger cameras and systems is somewhat new to me. I have never actully tried a pilot or flyer, but I have used a merlin for a while(no vest or arm). Thanks for the workshop idea I will look into that.

Everyone has been so helpful, I just want to thank the both of you for your help, insight, and patience.

 

now that I understand the battery situation, and that I was over complicating it, I feel a lot better about the package I was looking into.

 

Take care,

 

Trenton Hoshiko

[Jonathan Parris]

It will probably be cheaper on you (and MUCH less complicated) to just power the camera off of it's own batteries. Less cables and adaptors to mess with too.

 

I primarily use a DSLR on my rig, and have to add weight to it just to get it to reach the minimum weight requirements (I bought the rig with RED use in mind). This also means I have to run the post as short as possible, and can only use one Dionic 90 battery at a time. The one battery will last me all day running just the monitor though. My setup and low weight is less than ideal for the LE, but it still does a fantastic job. It is very quick to balance and trim, and though it is not very forgiving on the low weight end, your setup will prove to be just right for it. You are going to have a wireless follow focus, right? You're going to need it with that dof adaptor.

 

As Brian said, a workshop is your best bet for now. You will experience how to set up a rig, and learn about what you will need to make it ideal for your needs.

[Trenton Hoshiko]

I came to the same conclusion as you did Jonathan. I am going to look into the workshops also, sounds like something that would be a good idea. I really appreciate both of your help and patience with my battery questions. Both you Brian and Jonathan have helped more than you can imagine, esspeccially with me being new to steadicams.

 

Thanks for the info about your rig and how you compensate for it being to light, Jonathan, seeing as mine will be light it helped a lot and actully made me not have to do more research.

 

Thanks for both of you guys' help, if I do find a rating button for profiles, I'm going to rate both of you highly because you have helped so much!

 

Take care,

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

[taras]

 

 

I'm hoping that when I get mine ill be using it with the canon xlh1s and the redrock micro m2 encore dof adapter (which will be about 16 pounds, the origional reason I looked in to the flyer le instead of the pilot)

 

I do appreciate everyones help I can't belive how fast and easy it was to get my questions answered here, hopefully when I get my own steadicam I will be able to learn about it and pass the knowlegde on, through these forums!

 

Have a great day guys,

 

-Trenton Hoshiko

 

*note, please excuse errors in my posts, all of my posts have been typed on my g1, most of the time while outside with lots of glare, so it is hard to catch/edit mistakes I made while typing.

 

Hey Trenton, I am a new in steadicam business myself, but one think I am sure that you don't need DOF adaptor on your steadicam, because you will run out off focus all the time or you will have to buy wireless follow focus plus hire assistant to pull focus for you on constant basis. And wireless video transmitter by the way.