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How to Judge if Your camera will work on your rig


Janice Arthur

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Hi all;

 

Here is my new barometer of what fits what. . .

 

If the Steadicam costs less than the camera, it won't fit.

 

Steadicam pilot $3500 will not fit any thing that costs more than that.

DSLR with good lenses and follow focus costs about 6-8k, won't/hard to work. say no.

DSLR with cheap lenses and no follow focus yes about 2k but don't try to do much.

 

Steadicam Flyer $15k-ish will not fit a Red (extreme exceptions which proves my point).

Steadicam EFP $15k when new, again, extreme exceptions.

 

Go up the list, and I think the equation works.

 

(This also takes care of the knock-off rigs better than a weight discussion.)

 

So the weight thing is one thing everyone uses, now I think it ought to be $.

 

Works for me.

 

Janice

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To be honest there's a whole crop of cameras in the $6-8000 range that work on the Pilot that aren't DSLRs. Sony, Canon, Panasonic, etc. all have various models within that price (And Pilot weight) range, all (Well most) of those cameras produce a fantastic 1080p image. Personally I'm not a fan of the Pilot - I think it's simply too lightweight overall - but I was able to help a production co. shoot their entire show with some prosumer cameras, much of which was shot on a Pilot. That was after they initially bought the Merlin/vest/arm combo and I convinced them to use the Pilot sled instead. The Merlin is fantastic, but has a very specific use.

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As a rough barometer that makes sense, but as an EFP user I'll have to jump in on a particular. The EFP was about $25k in 1994 and I regularly fly 30 pounds of Red cam gear on mine. But this additional data does support the original thesis.

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As a rough barometer that makes sense, but as an EFP user I'll have to jump in on a particular. The EFP was about $25k in 1994 and I regularly fly 30 pounds of Red cam gear on mine. But this additional data does support the original thesis.

 

1994 dollars are worth about $1.50 today so your $25k '94 dollars would be about $37.5k today.

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Hi all;

 

I know there are exceptions. Don't know much about the Zephyr but really its 10k thought is was more like 13-15k and the "bigger" camearas were down in that price range. Obviously have to check. Does the Zephyr have a real junction box for FF and access.?

 

The REDs I've had lately have been very heavy and with all the junk and expensive lenses the theory does hold I still contend.

 

The Pilot I have is really good but I thought there was an HD version that was more like $8k so back in line with my theory.

 

Hey I'm bored.

 

As cameras get cheaper it may work out to hold on as a theory.

 

I'm thinking 1k / pound is about what you pay for cameras/stuff these days.

 

JA

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Standard def Zephyr $9k. HD version $13k but better to spend $9k and upgrade the monitor yourself (Tiffen is using a Marshall on the HD Zephyr, you can get it for $900 plus a hundred or so for a cable. Price doesn't include batteries...you could add $2-3k for a battery system (or less if using generics.) So you could say $15k for an HD kit.

 

As for junction boxes, the Zephyr currently ships with two 3pin lemos on the topstage for power, enough for camera power and BFD. It's pre-wired to allow an additional lemo for power, and the manual seems to imply that they will begin shipping them that way.

 

Down below, there's a dedicated composite/power hirose cable for monitor, and two 3pin lemos for power (one is plugged into the battery so only one is open.) On the AB version you have a Powertap, too.

 

I figure most broadcast HD cameras are north of $30K, some substantially higher, depending on the lens. Yes, REDs can get heavy and some configurations are definitely not going to work. But with a prime, clip-on mattebox, CF card for media, and strip off unused bracktry it's a decent platform for RED.

 

So this $15k rig can reasonably fly $30-50k+ camera packages. It also flies cameras that fit your theory more closely: the AF100, F3.

 

I think the Zephyr is just an outlier. Your theory fits Pilot, Scout, Archer, and above very well.

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??

 

Who's comments are you calling "pretty dumb"? Do you understand the hostile and insulting tone you are conveying?

 

And what exactly is your point about the LE for RED, and the Pilot?

 

 

what your saying is blasphemy.... i dont even know where to begin.

flyerLE for RED is 15 k - pilot is around 5000 if you actually want to use it...

 

what you said makes no sense and is pretty dumb.

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what your saying is blasphemy.... i dont even know where to begin.

flyerLE for RED is 15 k - pilot is around 5000 if you actually want to use it...

 

what you said makes no sense and is pretty dumb.

 

 

SIX total post's and you're the expert.... Post's like that and you might find it hard to make friends here....

 

Just sayin

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what your saying is blasphemy.... i dont even know where to begin.

flyerLE for RED is 15 k - pilot is around 5000 if you actually want to use it...

 

what you said makes no sense and is pretty dumb.

 

 

back to glassblowing you go. Vote for Pedro

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