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G70 vs ACT2 vs PRO vs Silverspring


Tomas Riuka

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Hello,

 

i read arms forum to posts dating a few years but couldn't get clear opinions, so i thought i would bring up this again...

 

I'm about to step up to proper steadicam systems and currently trying to 'find' the best solution.

 

Both g70 and pro arms are amazing i hear you say, though pro's customer service and lifetime warranty gives much to think about, when buying such expensive equipment and not having proper service is bad...

 

but what about silvespring arm comparing to g70 and pro? can they even be compared? if not, why? Now as time passed, what those who had a chance to try or been working with artemis act2 arm, how this one compares to g70, pro and silverspring? of course, silverspring is almost half the price of g70, and half of pro...

 

I can get CF version of ACT2 26kg for around 13500$ or same arm alu version for around 11 000$... which one to choose out of g70, pro, silverspring and act2? Also is it worth paying 2500$ more for CF version just to save the weight?

 

Appreciate your comments...

Tomas

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Hi Tomas

Well you have read all the forum thats a great start. Next call all your local ops and go and try each arm then you will feel the difference, and learn why different brands have different prices . There is a BIG difference.

For me its all about peace of mind and I know what ever job I am asked to do I know my arm will do the job perfectly .

Good luck

Louis Puli

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The problems is that locally (lithuania) i can't try anything, as the only proper system we have here is 16 year old Cinema products PROVID and a few flyers, for this reason i go to CINEC in germany to try out as Sacthler, MK-V, Tiffen, though GPI is not participating. And then again, trying something for 1 hour is not the same as comments from someone working for extened period

of time, thus looking for any input from experienced ops..

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Seems like nobody is working with act2 arm... what about silverspring? if there is anyone working with it, please post your comments.

 

 

I do not use a silver spring arm but it is a quality product. It performs very similar if not the same as a 3a arm. The advantage is Hugo replaced all the steel parts with stainless for corrosion resistance and came up with an easy way to completely dismantle the arm for service/changing springs without having to wear a bomb suit or fear losing an eye or digit.

 

I have never heard of an act2. I would stick with what works and what had worked for years.

 

rb

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Thanks for your opinion.

 

ACT2 arm is sachtler's arm, here is the link:

http://steadyrig.com/Steadyrig%20Silver%20Spring%20Arm.htm

 

i read on arms section, somebody saying that act2 is based on 3a arm design.

 

pretty much everyone's arm is based on the 3a arm (you know the old saying, there's nothing new under the sun). Sachtler makes decent product, how is their customer service? You might want to stick on your side of the pond? But an arm rarely needed service if it's cared for well. You in Vilnius?

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Still yet to try PRO arm which everyone seems to praise so much...

 

Yes, i'm from Vilnius :) you're somewhere near?

 

As for customer service, never had to deal with sachtler steadicam department before, but i hear a lot of people say good things about Curt Schaller! and the price of ACT2 arm is around the same as silverspring's..

 

Tomas

 

 

pretty much everyone's arm is based on the 3a arm (you know the old saying, there's nothing new under the sun). Sachtler makes decent product, how is their customer service? You might want to stick on your side of the pond? But an arm rarely needed service if it's cared for well. You in Vilnius?

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Still yet to try PRO arm which everyone seems to praise so much...

 

Yes, i'm from Vilnius :) you're somewhere near?

 

As for customer service, never had to deal with sachtler steadicam department before, but i hear a lot of people say good things about Curt Schaller! and the price of ACT2 arm is around the same as silverspring's..

 

Tomas

 

 

pretty much everyone's arm is based on the 3a arm (you know the old saying, there's nothing new under the sun). Sachtler makes decent product, how is their customer service? You might want to stick on your side of the pond? But an arm rarely needed service if it's cared for well. You in Vilnius?

 

I know several people there in Vilnius, spent some time there about8 or 9 yrs ago. Beautiful city. You know Goda R, a producer, coordinator in Vilnius and Kaunus?

 

The pro arm is the best one in my opinion (most others will agree). It is pricey but you get what you pay for. The g series arms by tiffen are nice as well but I prefer the way the pro feels and I think it is less susceptible to dirt and will need far less service throughout it's life. You can literally pull the sealed springs out in less than a minute and hose off the chassis. It is super smooth and heavy duty.

 

The 3a arms are a proven design, that is why most pattern their arms after it. It's a design that works. You might not notice a performance difference in the 3a style arms except for the choice of springs the manufacturer uses. Don't buy it blind, try them all out/compare. Talk to ops about repair/service and how long they wait. In the end this is what really matters -- you don't want to lose your gear in shipping or to some catastrophic accident and have to wait for 3 to 6 weeks for a replacement.

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You lived in Vilnius, nice! Unfortunately i don't know Goda, as i'm really not long in this field yet.

 

As for the arms, yes, i understand PRO is very good, but unfortunately, it's out of my budget, will have to stick to act2 or silverspring arm for now. WHat about Luna arms? It's also priced the same..

 

I will go to CINEC show in germany, hopefully i can try all arms there.

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Hi Tomas

May I say you will feel a Great difference in a few minutes (even less)between the top end Pro /G70,G50 and the 3a type design arms .Of the 3a type arms I have only tried two Silver spring arm and Mov cam arm (Don't go there). Hugo didn't just copy the arm design which many have done Hugo looked at the best arms out there and incorporated many of there features in his arm . His redesign of removing the springs is outstanding .Hugo support is second to none not that you will need it.

The silver spring arm would have my vote .

Good luck .

Louis Puli.

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if you can't afford the PRO arm get either a Silver spring arm or a Master Series arm (I happen to have a perfect condition one that I'm selling for a operator that retired)

 

 

Ok, so PRO arm is the way to go, means work work work, and then get it sometime in a few years.

 

Eric, can you please send me photos and all other information on master arm to my email tomas.riuka@gmail.com?

 

Thank you.

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