PIMP MY PRO I

[Dennis Noyes]

Hey few Ops,

 

I wanted to create a post for modifications done to the PRO ONE sled so we can all see what other have done and improve our operating or quick adjustment for shots.

 

Thanks

 

will post pics soon

 

Dennis Noyes

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I'm all for that

[Tom Wills]

I've done a few things to my PRO I. Nothing major, just some little touches.

 

I made up a custom monitor mount, based off of 15mm lightweight rods, I removed the "feet" from the battery cage, and I installed a Kipp handle on my topstage (an original DB1), making it totally tools-free now. Still working on a few other mods here and there, but it flies beautifully as-is.

 

Once I have a bit of time (and a camera handy) I'll get some better pictures of it all. Until then, here's a picture of the sled I took while on a job this weekend. Please excuse the crappy iPhone quality.

 

(BTW, the cable running from the camera to the monitor is HDMI... hate those connectors, but it's what I'm forced to deal with on DSLR shoots, so it'll have to do for now.)

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

" I removed the "feet" from the battery cage"

 

I'd put them back if I were you. Those feet can act as "crumple zones" and save your sled in a crash. I realize that most sleds don't have them, but I've has more PRO 1 owners (I've never owned one) swear they are the best thing since sliced bread.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I've done a few things to my PRO I. Nothing major, just some little touches.

 

I made up a custom monitor mount, based off of 15mm lightweight rods, I removed the "feet" from the battery cage, and I installed a Kipp handle on my topstage (an original DB1), making it totally tools-free now. Still working on a few other mods here and there, but it flies beautifully as-is.

 

Once I have a bit of time (and a camera handy) I'll get some better pictures of it all. Until then, here's a picture of the sled I took while on a job this weekend. Please excuse the crappy iPhone quality.

 

(BTW, the cable running from the camera to the monitor is HDMI... hate those connectors, but it's what I'm forced to deal with on DSLR shoots, so it'll have to do for now.)

 

 

Put the feet back on to protect yourself if you crash, also from your photo I'm betting that you're not in dynamic balance

[Tom Wills]

Interesting to know that they're crumple zones in case of a crash. Hadn't really considered that. Thanks for the tip, guys!

 

In terms of DB, I don't remember if I bothered to spin it for that shot (it was all straight line pushes), but it gets into DB easily, and It's spun flat with the sled in this configuration before, so it should have been close.

[James Davis]

These days as soon as people mention using a DSLR on steadicam, which isn't often anymore, I try and upsell them on renting an F3 instead, it's not a massive leap in price, but you get proper built in XLR's, you don't have to use a million brackets to make them work, and they aren't such a pain to take on/off steadicam quickly.

 

With the right adapter plates and cables I did a job a little while ago where I managed to build the preston and camwave all onto the camera build and it was simply a case of unscrewing my dovetail and putting a tripod plate on to go on sticks and just leaving the wireless FF on for the 1st AC.

The camera has a really low power draw as well (when not using an external recorder) and even the standard 35mbs file format is about a million times better than the h.264 that you get out of a canon DSLR right now.

 

The nice thing as well with the F3, is you can take a composite feed to your monitor (I assume it's composite judging by the redbyte on the back) and a HD feed to a camwave or similar wireless HD device at the same time, using normal BNC cables unlike with SLR's where you would need converter boxes to do the same thing and more cables.

 

If you have got a HD monitor (that can also take HD-SDI) and if you have also converted the post to carry a HD signal, then I would just get yourself a HDMI-HD-SDI converter from Blackmagic:

 

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/us/products/miniconverters/

 

Or rent one, they're quite cheap to rent over here, not sure about in america.

 

Then you can save yourself having to run all those cables outside the post, aesthetics aside you really are asking for trouble if you catch that cable or something, or an extra/talent catches it even if the cable pops and you don't cause an accident you could wreck the connector on your monitor, or worse the camera.

 

All that aside, I never bothered using the hdmi out for monitoring even when I got a HD monitor sorted for my rig, because I preferred the convenience of the composite out on the SLR's

 

It's a 7D right? do you need to use the HD out from the camera?

Because if not you know you can get a composite feed from it too?

There is really not much difference when viewing it on the monitor for framing and composition, thats what I usually did in the past, much less hassle, less cables, and more reliable than that god-awful mini HDMI connection.

The only way I ever trust that thing is when it's clamped down rock solid in a viewfactor/letus style cage, even then I would always have 2-3 cables spare and handy, they are so flimsy and easily broken.

 

Here is a previous thread with more info on it:

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=11064&st=30

Edited February 16, 2012 by James Davis

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Can't seem to get a pic up, but I attach an mk-v genesis monitor arm for an hd monitor when I'm not using the pro green screen. I kept the feet on the cage. Like the idea that I can put it down when away from the stand. Got the bartec right angle bracket and some cables from Terry. That's about it. No big mods.

[Martin Stacey]

A work in progress, Custom base plate for the lower box to enable mounting of both the Evolution battery base or a custom 15mm lightweight rod base for use as a running rig. Also can change out the dual stage post with a single section 19" post if needs be for extra lightness

Custom built monitor mount. Will take a Pro mount monitor or a 1/4" screw mount (pictured) depending on how heavy or light I want the setup to be.

I've have the base rewired slightly to enable the MK-V battery plates and no need for the jumper system as it is now 12/24v switchable and user slectable on outputs.

I built this specifically for a friend who was getting into sports coverage and wanted a lightweight rig for that but the option of a full rig if he did anything else. Unfortunately his finances fell through so now it unfortunately just catches dust in my workshop. Shame really as it is a really solid litle rig. Might sell it one day just so it gets the use it deserves.

[Rob Vuona SOC]

I've done a few things to my PRO I. Nothing major, just some little touches.

 

I made up a custom monitor mount, based off of 15mm lightweight rods, I removed the "feet" from the battery cage, and I installed a Kipp handle on my topstage (an original DB1), making it totally tools-free now. Still working on a few other mods here and there, but it flies beautifully as-is.

 

Once I have a bit of time (and a camera handy) I'll get some better pictures of it all. Until then, here's a picture of the sled I took while on a job this weekend. Please excuse the crappy iPhone quality.

 

(BTW, the cable running from the camera to the monitor is HDMI... hate those connectors, but it's what I'm forced to deal with on DSLR shoots, so it'll have to do for now.)

 

Is it me or does the your rig set up look wicked bottom heavy, whats your drop time with that set up? Just curious?

[Tom Wills]

Is it me or does the your rig set up look wicked bottom heavy, whats your drop time with that set up? Just curious?

 

Drop time was about 2 seconds, which is around where I like it. The weight plate on there is 15 pounds, and there's another weight in that stack of gizmos behind the camera, so I think it got up to 17 or 18 pounds of dead weight up top, plus all the gadgetry behind the camera there. The PRO batteries aren't terribly heavy, and the monitor weighs less than the ProFormer on the back of it, so it's not a super bottom-heavy rig. Also because of how thick my weight plate is (for better or worse), and the added height of all the DSLR brackets, the CG of the camera was pretty high, pushing the gimbal higher.

 

DSLRs rule up here for a lot of the work, with the only exception being the occasional RED for higher-budget jobs. They're far from perfect, but the DP I do a ton of work for for has figured out some decent setups that at least keep the cameras rigid and well-mounted. In terms of the HDMI setup, there wasn't the budget on this job to rent in anything extra (like a Blackmagic box to go from HDMI to HDSDI), and the DP was using his wireless HDMI transmitter for video village, so I was on HDMI. I really don't mind the cable though, so long as it's secured on both ends.

 

Sorry for my sled apparently pulling the thread off topic, Dennis!

 

(Oh, and the sled feet have been reinstalled. Here's hoping I never end up having to use their crash-absorbing properties!)

[RonBaldwin]

Is it me or does the your rig set up look wicked bottom heavy, whats your drop time with that set up? Just curious?

 

Drop time was about 2 seconds, which is around where I like it. The weight plate on there is 15 pounds, and there's another weight in that stack of gizmos behind the camera, so I think it got up to 17 or 18 pounds of dead weight up top, plus all the gadgetry behind the camera there. The PRO batteries aren't terribly heavy, and the monitor weighs less than the ProFormer on the back of it, so it's not a super bottom-heavy rig. Also because of how thick my weight plate is (for better or worse), and the added height of all the DSLR brackets, the CG of the camera was pretty high, pushing the gimbal higher.

 

 

that was one of the things about the pro1 that was so nice -- 7 lbs of batteries! That's like flying 4 hc90's on the bottom of the pro2 or 3. It had great weight distribution and you can get the gimbal way the fack up the post, very close to the camera (not as close as the xcs sled, but close!).

[Dennis Noyes]

I'm so happy that there are more operators out there. I will post the top stage mod, hd down the post, and AB modification today!! See what you guys think.