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Zephyr roll call


Mark Schlicher

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Another Zephyr owner, here. It's also my first "real" steadicam, but I've used tons of lesser knockoffs for years. I'm glad that time is over with!

 

Like most here, I love my zephyr. I got the standard vest, because to me it felt better. I fly RED MX, mostly- and Epic soon, I guess.

 

I'll be using it with David Allen Grove's rickshaw later this week on a short film I'm directing. Which points up the only downside I've had with the zephyr- the socket's just not the same as the high end steadicams. It's a pita to deal with, but hey- for what it is, it's great. And I see the zephyr as a real bright star with the lighter high-tech cameras out there. I can get into places a big rig would have problems with.

 

I have been told by a couple of guys that I should replace the stage with a full-sized one. Not sure I need to, though.

 

Mark, I was also surprised about the safety stop. I see a hole for it, but nothing came for it. Ah, well. Thanks for the tip on the aux battery hanger!

 

Patrick

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The socket block size is a pretty easy workaround. If you don't already know, the mounting screw pattern is the same as a fullsize socket block so you simply swap it out. I bought an extra Flyer/Zephyr socket block for my Garfield mount so I can easily switch.

 

As for the safety stop, I'm not sure we're talking abou the same thing. A hole...? Sounds like you're talking about the arm-post-to-gimbal-handle connection. Dave and I were discussing the fact that you shouldn't be able to extend your main post far enough for the two sections to come completely apart.

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John,

 

Welcome! My post clamps don't swivel freely, but they do swivel, and so it required a little practice for me to work with them quickly and confidently. I did find that, from the factory, neither clamp was adjusted tightly enough to keep from slipping under heavy load, so I had to slightly tweak them, and I check them at every prep.

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Hello there.

I´m a Zephyr owner in Sweden since half a year now. Really happy with it. Using EX1 and Canon 5D mostly. With Janice WheightCage. Works

perfect for me. Done some Live "on stage" events with a IDX link hanging underneath the rig. Works really well.

I don't like the side to side adjustment screws on the arm. Would absolutely preferred doing this with a tool instead of my fingers.

 

The Zephyr is a great rig for todays smaller cameras. Thats for shure!

 

/ Martin

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Hello!

 

I´m using my Zephyr since August and I´m really happy with it. Use it with a Canon 7D (just for practicing). To increase the weight, I added some weight-plates from my old Glidecam X-10 (pic already postet in another forum here).

 

Zephyr is certainly much better than X-10. But what sucks is the SD-Monitor. On X-10 I used a really(!) cheap HD-monitor from ProAm (I know, embarrasing). But this monitor had a better, brighter picture than that of the Zephyr (subjectiv, not measured).

 

Wolfgang

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Upgrade to a Marshall 800 nit 7" (around $1000 US) or their 6.5" transflective. It makes a huge difference. :-)

Mark what's the model number of the transflective for that plug-n-play swap goodness? don't need any other adapters? just swap the plugs and screw it in?

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I don't recall offhand but all the options are on Marshall's website. The 6.5"s are on a page for sunlight viewable monitors.

 

You'll need an HD-SDI BNC cable of course, and either power from a sled-to 4pin XLR (just like the one that comes with the rig) or get a power/composite video cable (all but the very early Zephyrs have a 6pin Hirose power/video connector on the sled) You can get a cable from Tiffen or have Terry West make one up for you. Guess which is cheaper. :-) If you ever do live TV you can feed the composite video to a program return monitor.

 

The Zephyr HD monitor that Tiffen supplies is based on the 7" Marshall monitor, but not the high-bright version.

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