New Fawcett/Tiffen exoskeleton vest

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Dear fellows lucky enough to be at NAB,

Would love to sneak a peek at some pics of this new promising vest. Can anybody, before getting too drunk, upload some pics for us folks not attending?

Have fun there

Fabrizio

 

http://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/the_wire/2012/04/16/steadicam-takes-a-quantum-leap-forward-in-anatomy-gear-with-new-fawcett-exovest-%E2%80%94-on-display-at-nab-2012-at-the-tiffen-booth-c8818/

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Uh, already on Tiffen website!

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

Here is the PDF

 

This vest looks lightweight and comfy, will it beat WK and Pro vests?

It definitely deserve a ride to find out. For the time being, well done Chris.

Steadicam_Fawcett-ExoVest_Broch.pdf

[James Davis]

Very interesting design, would love to try one out when they have one knocking around in the UK, Must give Robin a call......

[James Davis]

Also if anyone knows anything about price, what it can handle in terms of payload, if it's made to fit the larger gentleman ;) etc also would be useful info.

 

Cheers

 

James

[Jerry Holway]

James et all -

 

It fits everyone, it's light, it puts the weight and torque properly into your body - it holds the heaviest cameras, and supports a new 3rd arm segment - you've got to see it to believe it - 50% more boom range.

 

Jerry (not at the show, but I've tried it all).

[James Davis]

James et all -

 

It fits everyone, it's light, it puts the weight and torque properly into your body - it holds the heaviest cameras, and supports a new 3rd arm segment - you've got to see it to believe it - 50% more boom range.

 

Jerry (not at the show, but I've tried it all).

 

 

Sounds/looks amazing, I will be harassing Robin to test it when he gets back!

 

3rd arm segment....50% more boom range.....i'm sure there is a dirty joke in there somewhere....

Edited April 16, 2012 by James Davis

[Brian Freesh]

How does one utilize the extra 50%? My arms aren't that long.

[Jerry Holway]

Let's hope we use the extra boom range creatively!

 

Jerry

[Brian Freesh]

Hmmm... Maybe there are other advantages to a third arm segment that I'm not thinking of, but 50% extra boom range that I can't reach doesn't sound appealing. I suppose it would help smooth out any booms that reach the old limit, so as long as it's bulk isn't annoying there's one minor advantage there. I'd love to hear from people at the show over the week what other advantages they find with the 3rd segment.

 

Otherwise the vest itself sounds cool. I'm not at NAB, but I look forward to trying it out. I know Chris has always paid special attention to how to lessen the negative effects of wearing a steadicam, so I'm very curious to see what he's come up with here. If it's priced with the Ultra 2 and Pro vests it could be a strong contender. If it's any more than the Klassen Universal hopefully it doesn't price itself out of the market.

[Jerry Holway]

Brian-

 

I thought you weren't serious about the reach - of course you can reach further (and still grip the post properly) than the boom range of a two section arm allows you to do. I can reach about 54" without strain; a typical arm 2 section arm reaches about 30 inches... so this third section gets us closer to what a human arm can do.

 

The trick with the new arm section is how it behaves (nicely!) with the other two arm sections of a regular arm vs. simply adding another regular arm link into the mix - which is not so good as you can't control how the sections move with each other and it gets really big, etc.

 

At the very least, at the ends of the current boom range, an arm can't absorb shocks, so the effective reach is also extended. Hardmounted, the 3rd arm is also extremely useful for bigger bounces without worry, and better mounting. It no longer needs to be mounted between your legs or right next to you, due to a greater lateral reach.

 

As there are no pictures, yet - I should explain that this is a laterally fixed arm link that any regular arm docks into - It is not a dedicated 3 section arm. It's an extension, an accessory to use when you need it.

 

The 3rd arm segment and support structure mates with the back of the Exovest and lives by the operator's side (essentially in the space as the Klassen arm) but it moves vertically. Both the adjusters for the arm segment (lift and ride) and the "threads" for the regular am are at the working end of the the 3rd segment, so the operator can adjust these himself.

 

Jerry

[Brian Freesh]

Thanks Jerry, I never joke when I can just be stupid instead.

 

I definitely see the suspension benefits, and we both agree on the end stop thing.

 

I guess as far as physical human arm limit I was thinking more of booming down. As the arm is mounted below mine, the end of my reach happens before or at the end of the arm's reach. When booming up, I 'm not as worried about gripping the post as I am gripping the gimbal the handle. As it is, to reach further I'd have to start pushing from below, rather than pull from the top.

 

Regardless, at both ends I'm bound to have difficulties operating at the extremes of my reach. Both because of my arm positions, and because of my ability to see the monitor. Moreover, I don't see a steadicam as a booming device. Booming is a side effect of it's function, and while it can and should be used to boom for particular shots, if I ever have a shot that requires a 45" boom that I cannot recommend a better solution for than using a 3 section arm and limiting my ability to control the rig at the extremes, I think I will have failed the production. The notable exception being the suspension benefits of vehicle shots.

 

I reserve the right to prove myself wrong on the reach issue whenever I try this on. I'm just going based on my current experience with a 2 section arm, with which I do struggle to comfortably and successfully operate the rig at it's extremes.

 

I can also see the versatility in mounting the arm for any hard mount shot. It doesn't necessarily gain you boom range for the shot, but allows you to mount the arm elsewhere for convenience.

 

I like to hear that it is an accessory, not a whole new arm, I think that's as it should be. This question may not be for you: Is it only available with the exovest? I could see people wanting it for the hard mount solutions, but who are happy with their existing vests. (Myself included, though I do not have a compatible arm anyway, if only because my sections will behave differently, not in sync)

 

As an aside, I heard your old vest that I sold a year or so ago made it's way to Arrowhead this year and fun was had by all!

[RonBaldwin]

Thank goodness the viewing angles on lcd's are so good!

[Jerry Holway]

Brian-

 

points taken, but i think you'll see that the increased boom range can be very effective - imagine in low mode going from the knees to eye height, reducing the need for radical tilts... How often have you ridden a dolly to extend your boom range?

 

And I've always thought that if you can't deliver a solution, the director won't ask for it, or at least he won't ask for it twice.

 

Regardless, I'm sure the third arm link could be easily attached to Walter's back mount vest - you've have to make a block or a bracket, but the arm link is pretty straightforward at that end.

 

Back to the Fawcett Exovest... it's very comfortable, and because of the pivots, your walking doesn't disturb the socket block nor lift it with each step - it makes for less work. No pressure on your bladder (it's not designed as a weight bearing structure!)- and it weighs about 8 pounds!

 

Jerry

[Matthew Fleischmann]

Here are some pictures I snapped of the three section implementation today.