Zephyr first looks

[Mark Schlicher]

Here you go!

 

Viewfactor powered cage, Redrock rods and bracketry, Hytron 50 above for weight, JA 6.5lb weight plate.

 

[Mark Schlicher]

There is no separate HD version of the Zephyr, as far as I know. The video cabling is the same in both cases.

 

As for the power cabling for an HD monitor, no idea how Tiffen handles it. If you buy your own HD monitor...depending on your monitor, you may well need to make an adapter cable. Some lower-end monitors (Lilliup, maybe Ikan?) use the same consumer-type 12v power connector as the Zephyr SD monitor. Others will require you to find or create an adapter cable. In any case, the easiest way to get up and running, I would think, would be to use the existing power/video cable for power only (using the existing connector or an adapter) and then run the separate HD-SDI video cable, tidying it all up with velcro, cable ties, etc. OR...if you have the A/B version of the Zephyr sled, you could create a D-tap adapter cable for your monitor and run power from the D-tap on the battery plate.

[Mark Schlicher]

Posting my detailed Zephyr SD monitor test/comparison in the monitor section.

 

Bottom line: Zephyr monitor in general tested 2/3rds to one full stop dimmer than the Flyer monitor, resolution is the same (less than full SD) but looks worse due to different scaling engine, off-axis viewing is generally worse. A disappointing step back instead of forward.

[Amando Crespo]

5,4,3,2,1.... The days to receive my Zephyr...

I´ll do a diary with first look and more.

 

I´m nervous.

[Nelson Villamil]

Congratulations ...Armando.

 

I sleep all day withthe Zephyr.

 

 

Please share all possible information (photos, videos,. tips.)

 

The good, the bad, the ugly.

 

 

 

 

Yo todos dias sueño conel Zephyr.

 

 

Por favor compartir toda la informacion posible (fotos, videos,. tips).

 

Lo bueno , lo malo, lo feo.

[Mark Schlicher]

As promised, Zephyr vs. Flyer SD monitor pics. Shot straight on, in controlled conditions, factory default settings. Compare brightness. Also pics to compare the crispness of text between the two.

 

Flyer monitor also better off-axis brightness.

 

[Mark Schlicher]

I have completed my Zephyr minimum/maximum arm lift and payload tests, and will post the results in a day or two. I've sent a couple of questions to Tiffen before posting.

[Dave Wowchuk]

Just took delivery of my Zephyr ... all I can say is HOLY CRAP! What a beautiful piece of equipment.

[Craig Kovatch]

Hi Mark.

 

Any word on the min/max payloads for the Zephyr? I just got my Zephyr last week, and while I won't be taking a course until the end of June, I'm having a rough time cotrolling the sled with an EX1 mounted. I'm thinking the EX1 is too light for the arm. I've even tried adding additional accessories to the camera to bring the arm down a bit, which hasn't helped much.

 

Thanks.

[Dave Wowchuk]

Craig,

 

What do you mean "having a rough time controlling the sled ..."? The arm should handle the EX1 nicely ...

 

Dave

 

 

 

Hi Mark.

 

Any word on the min/max payloads for the Zephyr? I just got my Zephyr last week, and while I won't be taking a course until the end of June, I'm having a rough time cotrolling the sled with an EX1 mounted. I'm thinking the EX1 is too light for the arm. I've even tried adding additional accessories to the camera to bring the arm down a bit, which hasn't helped much.

 

Thanks.

[Brian Freesh]

A bare EX1 with a battery is barely more than 5 pounds. I would assume that is a few pounds too light for the arm. If you are noticing that with the arm dialed all the way down it is still significantly above horizontal, then it is indeed too light for the arm. Other than that, you may have too fast of a drop time. Regardless, if you've never used steadicam before, that's why you are having troble controlling it. :) Good luck, and enjoy your class!

[Fabian Meller]

hey guys!

 

I'm confused about the different facts regarding the weight I've found in the web. I'm well aware that it might vary little from system to system but it says that the arm can lift 30lbs. Right?

Thus if the sled is about 6 and a half as Marc claimed, the camera can weight ~ 23 lbs. But the other day I read something about 19 lbs payload capacity. Not much difference but still.

So if someone verifies that or tell me the results I'd very much appreciate it! :-)

 

And since the zephyr is 'tango ready' (upgraded with the g-40/50) the gimbal actually should sustain more weight, shouldn't it?

 

best,

Fabian

[Brian Freesh]

Fabian,

 

As mentioned earlier in this thread, the published specs don't seem to add up. Incidentally, with a 6.5lb sled AND a battery, the camera payload would be a max 22lbs with a 30lb arm. I am assured that the published spec of 24lb camera payload is accurate by Dan Ikeda.

 

Mark,

 

Where is 30lb arm capacity published? I haven't seen it anywhere myself, but I haven't gone looking either. Dan would like to know so it can be fixed.

[Carl Wiedemann]

Where is 30lb arm capacity published?...

 

Tiffen Zephyr page:

 

"Features include: 30lb (13.6kg) lift capacity", and "24 pounds net weight camera capacity"

 

http://www.tiffen.com/steadicam_zephyr.html

 

 

and the brochure PDF states: 30lb. arm lift capacity, 20lb. payload.

 

http://www.tiffen.com/userimages/Steadicam%20Zephyr%20Rack%20Broch-f(1).pdf

[Mark Schlicher]

A quick post to update on the lift tests I did. I've sent some questions to Tiffen and I've been promised a reply shortly. Until I do, it would be premature to post detailed tests.

 

In a nutshell, I found my Zephyr rig is able to fly the advertised 24lb maximum payload (with some limitations of post length and battery choice), but at the lightest end was not able to fly a payload lighter than about 9 pounds. (Not the 5 pound minimum advertised). This equates to about an 18 1/2 pound total arm lift at the light end. Sled is six and a half pounds, add three pounds of battery and Merlin weights, 9 pounds of camera, and there you are.

 

Here's a caution: I may have an unusually strong spring, and that is what some of my questions to Tiffen involve. But I'd rather have an over-strong spring than a too-weak one, since I can always add weight plates.

 

So, if you plan to fly a lighter camera mostly, the Scout may be a better fit, if my numbers hold up.

 

Speaking of numbers not adding up, Tiffen up-spec'd their camera payload from 20 up to 24 pounds a few months ago. They did not, however, change their stated 30 pound arm lift. My guess is that the arm lift spec should be increased also. Another pending question for Tiffen. There should be about a ten pound gap between payload and arm lift, to account for sled weight and the necessary battery/counterbalance.

 

Fabian, your thoughts on the gimbal capacity make sense to me, but I have not posed this question to anyone.