DavidMcGill Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 The Betz looks very similar to the one on the MKV. Are they the same basic design? I recently worked with a DP who did his own steadicam and he had a MKV. I really liked the top stage and am considering switching. (I currently have a DB3) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jens Piotrowski SOC Posted January 31, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Mk-v copied the design, buy the original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted January 31, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Mk-v copied the design, buy the original. Really? I never would have guessed that Howard would copy someone's design. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard James Lewis Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 The Betz one was / is sold with the MK-V also. Howard at some point decided he wanted his own, and had the design copied with some subtle changes and did a run of them. The MK-V copy are all black, the genuine Betz ones are silver / black and have "Betz" on them. I'm fairly sure the copy went away and no more are being made. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members quincy paglaro Posted February 1, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 The Betz looks very similar to the one on the MKV. Are they the same basic design? I recently worked with a DP who did his own steadicam and he had a MKV. I really liked the top stage and am considering switching. (I currently have a DB3) David, i will buy your DB3 if you switch. Let me know. Cheers Quincy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JobScholtze Posted February 5, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 And again, I like that wrench as a safety feature. Steadicams are whipped around, handed off, etc. a quick release can be dangerous. Again, the tool is ONLY used to mout or dismount the camera. All adjustments are tools free. I whip around as fast as i can, hang it upside down, even used the AR with that topstage at no single issue at all. The clamp is 100% and wond let you down. There is no way this topstage isnt safe, becose it is. Never heard of a failure in all those years. It all comes down about taste. Use whatever you like, with or without tools, for me its Betz, betz and agian betz. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Milan Holec Posted March 9, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 I'm using BD3 for 4 years now and never have any problemart all. I never try Betz that I can't say anything about it, but I believe is very good too. I'm very happy with my DB3! Good luck and have great fly with your new tops stage don't meter which one you choose. All the best :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Juan M.Ramos SOC Posted March 17, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Sorry,PRO and XCS sleds are the best,I have ten rigs but about topstages,after working with all kind of cameras,including 3D....Betz is the best topstages ever!!!!!!! And customer service from Christian and his team is icredible!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rich Cottrell Posted September 6, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 this is an old thread, but I recently visited GPI-PRO's web site and see that they are now selling the Betz top stage, so I am now wondering about this old thread. I do not even see the DB3 on their site now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Orlando Duguay Posted September 6, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Yes they stopped making the DB3 a little while ago. The DB3 also does not work great with the new cine-live electronics due to the wider profile of the new upper junction box. So they decided to go with Betz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Osvaldo Silvera SOC Posted September 17, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 How is this thread holding up? Any other Converters to the Betz? I have had a DB3 for years, and before that the DB2 for years and before that the DB1.2?, 3A, 3, Model 1, etc... I have the Betz Wave, and the Betz Handheld shoulder rig. and I'd love to have all the mounts be the same. What is everyone thinking at this point 7-8 years later after the Betz top stage came out? I have at one story of vibration from the Betz top stage, causing the op to switch sleds all together. trying to gauge the current thoughts out there before plating some $$$ to TEST something out. If I went with the Betz, I'd always have a set of short rods on there to have the Hill MDR bracket on there. Ozzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members axel ebermann Posted October 31, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 I literally just got a Betz top stage. Machining seems extremely nice. I wish there was a 'hard stop' for the clamping mechanism and a safety release that kicks in when the dovetail plate is not already sliding. Make sure you have those little safety screws on your plate. I have seen a fully rigged alexa just slide out of a betz stage and crash on the sidewalk when a grip who was carrying it accidentally got caught on the release lever. wasn't pretty.currently contemplating a DBIIIs for my second sled / superpost. But they seem to be 'slightly' delayed .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members axel ebermann Posted December 16, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Just got my DB3s. Can only say they are both fantastic top stages. The DB3s feels like it is built like a tank. I do like the easy 'secure lock' locking mechanism. This top stage is slightly longer and presumable a little bit better with potential dovetail flex. I do like the way the 15mm LW rods attach. They are only screwed in on the Betz, which means if you put a motor on on of them without an additional bridge bracket the rods will most probably get torqued off by the motors and become loose. The Betz stage has a little bubble level in the back that I dearly miss on the DB3s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Osvaldo Silvera SOC Posted December 30, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 Axel... the DB3 that you got. Was it from GPI? Or the modified, tooless one from Optical? Ozzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Osvaldo Silvera SOC Posted June 23, 2020 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 23, 2020 Finally got the Betz Stage 2 weeks ago. Been working with it for the last 5 days. Great Top stage! Thinking about doing the Cramped Attic modification to lower the whole thing just a bit. Ozzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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