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3D Steadicam


Pedro Guimaraes SOC

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I wish I could post more than 3 pics at a time....

 

here's a few more....

 

View from the top....talk about freezing cold hanging out in that open door!!!

 

Picture4.png

 

The pilot was a vietnam veteran, he flew cobras.......he landed us in the most sketchy areas that day like he was pulling into a seven elven......probably the best pilot I have ever flown with. Pilot is the one on the right...

 

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What we were shooting......yes, that skier is doing a back flip over the wheelhouse of a skilift. Later they were doing a 130ft jump...some of the best skiers in the world that day.

 

Picture6.png

 

 

Good times....

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Yesterday I had the chance to test the upgraded P+S Freestyle "Evolution".

 

They have moved the "roll" adjustment to the bottom camera that simplifies the upper camera mount. Then they have redesigned the upper camera mount. It is bigger. Has a new method to lock down the adjustment. Also features a new mirror for better optics. (

I did not est the mirror)

 

The rig does adjust much better and easier than before. It also locks down your adjustments without affecting your alignment.

 

So basically this is now what the original should of done.

 

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp221/1602racer/3D_steadicam/IMG_1817.jpg

 

I heard Steve Fracol also just tested this upgraded Freestyle for a upcoming 3D feature.

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If your familiar with the original camera mounting/adjustment plates then you can quickly spot the differences.

 

If your not you have to looks closer.

 

here are some detailed shots of the upgraded camera mounting/adjustment plates

 

IMG_1772.jpg

 

IMG_1769.jpg

 

3D Roll alignment adjustment is now on the bottom camera.

 

IMG_1774.jpg

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The ultimate test of it's improvements was to align the rig in "normal" mode. Then then go to lowmode and see if anything went out of alignment.

 

When you flip over gravity pulls down on things differently and before it would alter the alignment drastically. Even with a superlight camera as the Si-2k.....with heavier cameras it was a disaster = unhappy stereographer.

 

Below some pics of the test with the new mounting plates, Si-2k Cameras and Arri Ultra Primes PL mount lenses, Focus, IRIS motors and 2 Camin's.

 

 

As you can see in normal mode....the rig was aligned very well. Pay attention to the door frame if it was out of alignment you would see a red or blue color fringe(monitor was in anaglyph mode)

 

IMG_1825.jpg

 

 

Now all I did was flip the rig over to low mode and as you can see instantly you can see that there is flex somewhere that still created a mis-alignment. (Note red fringe on door frame.)

 

IMG_1829.jpg

 

 

Now....let me say this is a significant improvement on earlier version of this rig. It would be off waay more before. Also before it was a PITA to re-adjust. Now there is much less movement and much easier to dial that out.

 

So it's still not 100% but it's now more usable from a "3D/stereographer" point of view. As far as steadicam operation it remains the same as before.

 

Given the fact that the rig is now more usable it is more likely you will see it in use more now than before.

 

Here is quick video I took where I show off how the bottom camera plate hits the gimbal handle preventing you to pan 90degrees. Once again this happens on all the rigs except Element Technica Dark country and neutron rig.

 

 

 

 

 

New stuff happening every day right now in 3Dland....I'll keep the post updated.

 

 

I'm testing these this week as well....1080 HD, C-mount lenses, 2/3"sensor, HD-SDI out and genlock and they make a really good image.

 

These cameras on a Element neutron rig might be a great combination! Let's see how the testing goes and what the colorist says about the quality of the images it makes.

 

IMG_1763.jpg

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As far as the Panasonic rig goes you can actually shoot things closer than 10ft it is just that they will appear to be coming out of the screen at you. Correct?

 

I did a greenscreen music video shoot with this camera and it was a dream. 3D light enough to require a weight plate and no real worries about alignment, etc...

 

Of course it is limited but not nearly as bad as I expected. The deep depth of field actually seems to be a good thing for 3D.

 

As far as the 21st Century 3D rig goes did they finally come up with a good solution for having the front camera shoot up instead of down? I flew a very early version with 2 EX3s and that was not an option.

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As far as the Panasonic rig goes you can actually shoot things closer than 10ft it is just that they will appear to be coming out of the screen at you. Correct?

 

 

Hey I remember you from NAB earlier this year! Hope all is well.

 

You can't.....well you can but you absolutely shouldn't. You'll melt peoples brains. The problem is that with that fixed 2.5" IO and shooting at the distance object in the background will exceed maximum allowable divergence limits......It results in too much parallax. Objects will start ghosting and you will be produced really bad 3D footage.

 

If you are working with people and they are shooting with that camera closer than 10ft. They basically don't know what they are doing or they are doing it on purpose? (for some odd reason)

 

Also the 3D networks have set parallax limits of 3% total with and additional 1% for titles. So if they are shooting for broadcast with that camera it can be very easy to exceed those limits due to the large fixed IO.

 

 

I did a greenscreen music video shoot with this camera and it was a dream. 3D light enough to require a weight plate and no real worries about alignment, etc...

 

 

I have worked with the panasonic's alot and they do go out of alignment. There is a feature on the camera that lets you adjust but reverts back to default if you touch ANY button on the camera after. Any permanent re-alignment has to happen back at the factory.

 

 

 

 

As far as the 21st Century 3D rig goes did they finally come up with a good solution for having the front camera shoot up instead of down? I flew a very early version with 2 EX3s and that was not an option.

 

Yes your referring to the BX2....early version

 

Yes his new rig the BX3.5 will allow you to mount the camera in any position. If you look at that video I posted of Phillip Martinez you will notice the camera is on the bottom. Better config still heavy.

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ATOM + EPIC + Steadicam = 5k 3D on the move

 

SWEET.

 

IMG_1963.jpg

 

Joey and guys over at Element Technica were nice enough to invite me to test fly the Atom Rig with the Epics today. Also checked out the neutron and scarlet combo.

 

I have worked with the Neutron alot this year on my steadi and was anxious to try the Atom/epic on my steadicam rig.

 

It's important to note that GPI maker of the PRO steadicam rig which the majority of A level operators use in the industry is coming out with a updated battery module that will allow greater battery movement. This will allow me us reduce battery weight from what you see in the pictures/video. Also, in place of that battery you see hanging off the back of the rig I'm excited to announce that Element Technica is currently working on a "balance module". It will be a device that will attach roughly on the back of the rig and will compensate for IO movement. It will have some unique design features allowing smooth "IO pulls" by the stereographer and provide the best IO balance system I have heard of. Just like the guys at RED, they are very busy over there and it will probably not be ready right away but they are working on it already. Can't wait to test that out!

 

IMG_1977.jpg

 

The other advantage of this system is that it will place some weight were we need it...on the top camera towards the back. So it will serve few functions.

 

Right off the bat, I noticed just like the neutron with the gimbal at the top of the post (where it needs to be) the Atom/Pulsar allows the operator to pan past 90 degrees! This is currently impossible on all other 3D rigs since you hit the bottom camera way sooner. This is made possible on the Technica3D rigs because they have a very low profile bottom camera plate. In fact the only thing making contact with the gimbal handle is the dovetail. So in cases where you are using primes or other short lenses you can use a shorter rig dovetail and achieve 360 degree free rotation while operating or balancing. Frankly the close to 120 degrees it gives you normally without having to shorten the dovetail (I showed this in the video) is enough to do a very common "profile" walk and talk shot. This allows the operator to walk forward and point the lens 90degress towards the actor. Right now this simple task is not possible on other rigs.

 

I tested the rig with a few lenses,

Angeniuex Rouge 16-42

Arri UlraPrime

Superspeed

 

Main reason was to see what effect the different lenses had on rig balance because of weight and size.

 

Surprisingly, as a operator and sterographer I have to say there are the Angeniuex zooms are a good combination. Slightly longer post, but the flexibility of the zoom saves alot of speed on set especially a 3D set. Since the Epics are fairly light moving the weight back a few inches is not as bad as you think since you need some weight towards the back anyway!

 

Naturally, if I was preparing for a feature I would test some more and would improve further after some modifications.

 

IMG_1985.jpg

 

The setup I threw together for the test can be improved on and made even lighter. While the setup is not lightweight around 60lbs (for everything including my steadicam post, monitor, batteries etc and rig) as it is, still a night and day difference from any other rig with RED One's or Alexas!! I know we can lighten that number alot. Especially if you take into account they are making a magnesium version that will be around 5 lbs. lighter!

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and low mode was no problem...

 

IMG_1994.jpg

 

The other options currently being used on set right now all have less resolution and 20lbs.+ more weight. All of them max out a PRO arm which means they are around 80lbs+. Also they all have the pan/gimbal issue. So when you think about it the Atom is a great step forward.

 

IMG_2011.jpg

 

Complete specs on the Atom here;

http://www.technica3d.com/3D-rigs/Atom.php

 

exciting times...excited to be a part of it.

 

enjoy the video!

 

 

 

or on vimeo

 

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If I remember correctly we did get a little closer than 10ft and the 3D guy said it was okay as long as nothing touched the edge of the frame but this was all greenscreen so there was no background to worry about.

 

We had a giant 3D TV as video village monitor so it was rather easy to spot problems. One interesting thing I learned from the experiance was that certain framing that I would normally avoid because it awkwardly stacked the actors and props they loved in 3D thanks to the seperation that it provides.

 

-Jess

 

-Jess

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That is somewhat vaporware....I know the guy who's the lead designer on that project and I know it's coming....but they are shooting to be a much better camera than the Panasonic. The sony with have interchangeable lenses and most importantly variable IO from 1.5"-3".

 

That will be a very nice setup for broadcast 3D. !/2" imagers....nice.

 

Not good enough for feature work. Just like an EX3.

 

They are working hard but it's still sometime away.

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The rig with the epic on it looks like the best I've seen. I hope this is maybe the answer to a lighter weight 3D rig that isn't a major pain in the arse. I know they are using it on spiderman 4. Until I try this rig I still have no love for the current 3D rigs lol. I hope this one changes my outlook on it. I'm stoked I actually have a feature in two weeks shooting film!!!! woo hoo!!!!Pedro if you are testing the epic rigs at all in the next two weeks I'd love to check it out.

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I'm testing these this week as well....1080 HD, C-mount lenses, 2/3"sensor, HD-SDI out and genlock and they make a really good image.

 

IMG_1763.jpg

 

 

Hey Pedro, thanks for a great thread.

 

What's the IA (IO) on this little baby? I wonder if a super lightweight setup could be achieved with these to work off the Tango (under 6lbs.)

 

This is about the best we could get on the parallel rig a few years ago at Paul's first workshop in '09.

post-284-0-72438700-1293929418_thumb.jpg

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