Premium Members Ari Gertler Posted January 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Welcome to 2004. After four years of flying my rig, I think that it is time to purchase a Video Low Mode bracket. Previously, I never had to worry about it since Panavision and Clairmont have supplied thier own designs. What different designs and makers are out there? Does Brant still sell one, what about Jerry, did he ever make one, who else should I consider? All info will be greatly appreciated, this is an area that I really don't know much about. The one time that It was neccesary to fly low mode and there was no bracket supplied, we did the "upside down camera trick", which may scare the producer and piss off the director if there is no inversion switch on the playback monitor. I need a handle L/M bracket that will work with Sony, Panasonic, etc. What do you use? How do you like it? What else is out there and who do I contact to purchase one. Thank You, Ari Gertler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Honesty is the best policy. ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Hruboska Posted January 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 I have found that clamping anything to a plastic video camera handle to be a mediocre solution at best. All of the Hi Def Cameras at the big three rental houses here have some sort of flat metal handle adaptation which accomoidates the lo mode plate.....Many video handles are not flat, and the structure is not beefy enough for anything but slow walking work. If there is any speed involved , maybe a lo mode cage,.. I use one with oversized riser posts to reduce the flex. In reality, I have had the best results inverting the camera where there is no solid "metal" handle to affix to. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Murphy Posted January 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Both Optex and MK-V also sell their own HD/Video low mode brackets but i believe they are both only suitable for Sony cameras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Monk Posted January 29, 2004 Report Share Posted January 29, 2004 The Panasonic Varicam has a neat little trick for low mode. In the menu settings, there is an option for Scan Reverse. This will reverse the image (up-down, left-right) and there is no low mode bracket needed, just a few seconds to move the monitor and gimbal. Just make sure you have a good quick release plate that won't let go. Chip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted March 20, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Gents-- Finally, I have some Video Low Mode Brackets (VLMB) in stock and ready to ship. Cost is US$350. plus shipping of your choice. Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Steadicam/Camera Operator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted March 20, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Gents-- Sorry, forgot to post a picture with the notice. And yes, this unit fits most HD camcorder rigs. Check to make sure that the bracket can attach to the handle close to the CG of the fully built-up body and that you have a dovetail plate long enough to make it balance just right. Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Steadicam/Camera Operator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted April 24, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Ladies and Gents-- I am proud to annouce the debut of a new bracket for video low mode use. The VLS. This new bracket is simple, sleek, dependable, versatile, and rigid without bulk. This system allows the placement of a dovetail plate just above the CG of many cameras with a minimum of fuss and additional weight added. The VLS grabs the entire camcorder chassis and still allows regular, non-sled mounted, usage without removal. The VLS will fit the following Sony camcorders: F900 Cine Alta, D600 BetaSP, DigiBeta, and more. The VLS will fit the following Panasonic camcorders: Varicam, SDX-900. There are more camera head and back combinations and camcorders that the VLS will fit, but so far the above are guaranteed to function. I am arranging more test fittings as this is being written. There may be additional components added for certain setups if necessary. I will make a deal/discount available to a portion of the first production run. This run is expected to be completed in about ten weeks or the third week of July. More details to follow early this week. A prototype photo will be posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 so watch for more posts! The delivery date and final cost will also post on Monday. Get your question and checkbooks ready! I have been working on this project for almost a year and am excited to make this a reality at last. Stay tuned! Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Steadicam/Camera Operator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted April 24, 2006 Moderators Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 Brant, Sounds great. Let me be the first to congratulate you and ask for photos! On another note, forgive me, but I deleted your redundant posting under "General Discussion." This is a much better area for this thread & we are finally getting the house in order around here! Please help us out; it serves no one to have two dueling threads on the same topic and when we sign in we will see that a new topic exists in any given thread. Thanks & looking forward to more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted April 24, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 brant, will this bracket superceed your other bracket you posted a month or so ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jason Torbitt Posted April 24, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 I'm also interested, Brant your current VLMB design looks very well manufactured and I was considering buying one to compliment my Baer-bel low mode cage. Looking forward to pics and prices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted April 25, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Gents-- Here we go! This new VLS will perform in such a manner that the older VLMB product is not superceeded but rather supplanted by a different mouse trap. The VLMB can still perform a valuable service in that it fits "any" handle, video or film, whereas the VLS is designed and manufactured to fit a specific style and shape of camera/handle/chassis arrangement. Check the picture below. The VLS will give operators a solid, correctly positioned attachment point for a dovetail plate for reliable and rigid low mode functionality. It will also pack down to a covenient storage configuration for travel and shipping. As you can see, the VLS requires the removal of the shoulder pad to provide a direct holding surface for the VLS stirrup beneath the camera. Production units will offer a choice of either a flat or radius surface for chassis engagement. Production VLS units will have a slight change from the prototype pictured here in that the threaded hole pattern on the T-plate, where the dovetail plate is to be attached, to allow the T-plate to be attached in a more forward located fashion. That is, the T-plate will land some 1 1/2 inches further forward to allow better clearance for some cameras' tape doors and BNC connectors. Also, this will allow better dovetail placement usually directly above the camera's CG rather than cantelevered out. The VLS T-plate will provide both 3/8"-16 and 1/4"-20 holes for dovetail plate attachment. Of course, the production units will be lightened up and annodized to deliver a finished look and performance that is unmatched. Production VLS units will also include two (2) knurled locking nuts to be located beneath the knurled stirrup-rod adjusting grips. These nuts will be a security system to ensure positive placement and adjustment of the stirrup-rod length which ensures a positive grip on the camera chassis. As always, I recommend careful tightening of the stirrup rods to hold the camera securely but to NOT overtighten them. Snug works just fine. Overtightening would be bad for some plastic parts on some cameras. I am checking into various additional camera sizes to confirm fit-ability with the VLS. For folks using the Panavision EC system, most of those CineAlta rigs come with a nice dovetail based handle replacement low mode bracket. While my VLS hangs on to that camera just fine, why not use the PV system since it offers direct chassis engagement. But go ahead and buy mine anyway to avoid surprises! That brings us to cost. Production VLS units are selling for US$1,000.00 plus shipping of your choice. I will offer a discount to the first fifteen (15) paid buyers at US$850.00, plus shipping. The VLS can be shipped in a padded FedEx envelope since the VLS weighs in at just over a pound! I will be accepting checks drawn on US banks in US dollars, wire transfers to start. Online payment through PayPal may be available soon if costs can be covered by purchasers. Delivery time is expected in about 6 weeks. I will be accepting orders by email (firebrand@fmis.net) or phone at 603-826-3445 9-8 EDT. Please be patient with email as I am still saddled with only dial-up service so I am not online at all times so if you are troubled with that, just try the voice line. Thanks for all the interest and I welcome feedback and suggestions. Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Steadicam/Camera Operator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted April 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Gents-- Just a note here on some email problems that have complicated things a bit. If you have had email -to- me bounce back, try sending a message to me at: brantfagan@hotmail.com. Please include any error messages that may have resulted in returned email so I can troubleshoot that with my local ISP. Also, the VLS can be mated with many of the DVCPRO class of cameras. It looks like some may require the use of shorter stirrup rods to grasp the chassis. If you have specific needs, please feel free to contact me. Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Steadicam/Camera Operator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Kareem La Vaullee Posted April 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Hi Brant, I have a friend who tried to contact you by mail to get infos about the Antlers and had no reply, maybe because of that same problem, If you want a free, safe and reliable mail account I can send you a Gmail invite More here : About Gmail or here : Wikipedia Gmail Cheers, K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted April 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Kareem-- Please pass my additional email address on to your colleague along with my appologies. The hotmail account is up and running for those who may need it. I found out that I do as well. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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