Jump to content

Zephyr first looks


Mark Schlicher

Recommended Posts

  • Premium Members

Did some tests last night pitting the Zephyr SD monitor against the original Flyer monitor.

 

Detailed notes and photos coming, but essentially the Zephyr monitor, at its default settings, appears less bright than the Flyer monitor. It does not exceed the Flyer monitor in any way that I could determine, and fell slightly short in a few.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 82
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Premium Members

It is the same size as the Flyer...in fact I believe it is basically the same plate.

 

The dovetail drops into place on the Zephyr, so it doesn't have the geared brass strip.

 

What it does have, importantly, is a safety stop pin screwed into each end. This catches in a groove on the top stage to prevent the plate from sliding off accidentally.

 

Is the wedgeplate for the Zephyr the same size as the Flyer... are they interchangeable, at the very least?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Andrew,

 

Haven't really looked into that. The only camera I have flown with iris rods so far is a Canon 5D and we used a Redrock Micro baseplate and extended rods, so that we could mount an A/B Hytron battery on a plate behind the camera for extra mass up top (I also used my 6.5lbs Janice Arthur weight plate and a Manfrotto QR).

 

So, I don't know of bolt-on solution to the rods deal, but I feel like someone must have that answer...when I bought my used Flyer the wedgeplate was marked on the front underside with the words "Letus rods" in china marker by the previous owner. So, it wouldn't surprise me if the existing hole pattern on the wedgeplate is designed to match with some existing bracketry.

 

Perhaps the folks at Tiffen know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

I found a funny typo in the manual! It tells you where much of the wording came from. On page 28 is the list of "Supplied Equipment and Accessores." The first three things on the list are the SCOUT sled, arm and vest.

 

Funny.

 

Wil

 

Andrew,

 

Haven't really looked into that. The only camera I have flown with iris rods so far is a Canon 5D and we used a Redrock Micro baseplate and extended rods, so that we could mount an A/B Hytron battery on a plate behind the camera for extra mass up top (I also used my 6.5lbs Janice Arthur weight plate and a Manfrotto QR).

 

So, I don't know of bolt-on solution to the rods deal, but I feel like someone must have that answer...when I bought my used Flyer the wedgeplate was marked on the front underside with the words "Letus rods" in china marker by the previous owner. So, it wouldn't surprise me if the existing hole pattern on the wedgeplate is designed to match with some existing bracketry.

 

Perhaps the folks at Tiffen know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Hi Guys,

 

I'm in the market for a Zephyr, but I really don't know what's the difference between the SD and HD models ... aside from the monitor and the $3,000 price difference. The monitor looks like a Marshall LCD, but can't confirm the specs.

 

I'm thinking about getting the SD version and then upgrading the monitor to the Marshall 6.5" ST series LCD. I'm wondering if there is a dedicated power & HDSDI coming out of the base?

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Yes, hdsdi and dedicated power. The rigs are identical except for the monitor, AFAIK.

 

The SD Zephyr monitor is junk. Absolute rubbish. Nowhere near worthy of an otherwise excellent rig. Worse than the 5-year-old Flyer monitor, significantly worse. Sadly.

 

Good luck getting specs on the HD or SD monitors from Tiffen, I think that getting the Marshall is a good way to go.

 

Hi Guys,

 

I'm in the market for a Zephyr, but I really don't know what's the difference between the SD and HD models ... aside from the monitor and the $3,000 price difference. The monitor looks like a Marshall LCD, but can't confirm the specs.

 

I'm thinking about getting the SD version and then upgrading the monitor to the Marshall 6.5" ST series LCD. I'm wondering if there is a dedicated power & HDSDI coming out of the base?

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Thanks for the reply! (and thanks for your pictures.)

 

The thing I'm concerned about is the cable that supplies video & power to the SD monitor. Would I need to get another cable specifically designed to carry the HD-SDI and power to the monitor? Or do I use the cable supplied (for SD) and take the power, and add a cable for the HD signal? (Hope this makes sense.)

 

DW

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Do you have a picture of the 5D on your rig? That's going to be my main camera, along with the RR Cinema Bundle. I'd love to see what it looks like.

 

Andrew,

 

Haven't really looked into that. The only camera I have flown with iris rods so far is a Canon 5D and we used a Redrock Micro baseplate and extended rods, so that we could mount an A/B Hytron battery on a plate behind the camera for extra mass up top (I also used my 6.5lbs Janice Arthur weight plate and a Manfrotto QR).

 

So, I don't know of bolt-on solution to the rods deal, but I feel like someone must have that answer...when I bought my used Flyer the wedgeplate was marked on the front underside with the words "Letus rods" in china marker by the previous owner. So, it wouldn't surprise me if the existing hole pattern on the wedgeplate is designed to match with some existing bracketry.

 

Perhaps the folks at Tiffen know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Dave,

 

Hope this will further clarify: Tiffen supplies two BNC connectors on the top of the sled: one is marked for HD-SDI and one for composite video. On the bottom (see pics above) the composite and the 12v power are supplied to the monitor via a cable that terminates with an RCA and a small consumer-type 12v plug. There is also a BNC connector for HD-SDI on the bottom. If using an HD-SDI monitor you would need your own short HD-SDI capable cable to connect the sled to the monitor.

 

They provide one HD-SDI video cable (which will also carry composite). So, on the top of the sled you connect that cable to HD-SDI or composite connector, whichever applies.

 

Thanks for the reply! (and thanks for your pictures.)

 

The thing I'm concerned about is the cable that supplies video & power to the SD monitor. Would I need to get another cable specifically designed to carry the HD-SDI and power to the monitor? Or do I use the cable supplied (for SD) and take the power, and add a cable for the HD signal? (Hope this makes sense.)

 

DW

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Hey Mark,

 

It was more like ... if I upgrade to another monitor that has a XLR or LEMO connector, where will I be able to draw that power from? I'm guessing I'll have to make a new cable drawing with power from the base, or something that adapts from the cable they supply with the rig?

 

I'm wondering if they have a different cable harness for the HD version of the Zephyr ... time for a phone call?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...