Premium Members Afton Grant Posted July 6, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Personally, I can't see myself trusting such an important piece of my kit on a consumer product. I know some sound mixers and even DITs are using apps for certain things they do, but keep in mind they are always able to protect themselves from the elements. Our gear is frequently exposed to extreme heat, extreme cold, wind, rain, dirt, etc. iPhones, iPads, etc, are hardly environment proof. Not to mention they tend to slow down as they age, they become buggy, they need updating, they need replacing, etc. I want to be able to show up, prep my gear without having to even think about it, do my job, and go home. The more time you have to spend thinking about your gear, the less time you have to focus on the true task at hand. Basically, make me an iphone and an iphone app that works rock solid in all conditions for 10 years without the need to be updated or serviced, and I'll buy it. That benchmark has already been set by XCS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted July 6, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 I was more thinking as a backup in case your level goes down (which happened to me with the Marshall stupid USB connector) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted July 6, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Along with what Afton has said...I am surprised as hell that after using my xcs level nearly everyday since 1997, it still works flawlessly. It is the main reason so many still use down converters...well, that and being able to see an image outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Van Campen Posted July 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Anyone happen to know when the Wagner BG hits the streets? I emailed Dan @ Tiffen a couple of days ago and haven't heard back yet. Still in development? And, what happened to the second version of the Wagner? Just curious... thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members GrantCulwell Posted July 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Chris: I'm meeting with Dan tomorrow morning. I'll ask and get back to everyone with an answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Van Campen Posted July 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Chris: I'm meeting with Dan tomorrow morning. I'll ask and get back to everyone with an answer. Thanks Grant! Wasn't meaning to throw Dan under the bus or anything; he's been more than helpful in the past. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Frederic Sturm Posted July 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Robin lately said that the Wagner BG should be shipping alteady, or at least very soon, but maybe there some new info? As far as apps go: gyrostabilized level apps on the iphone are pretty cool for steadicam - at least as a fun gadget. I tried them all - literally - and liked "Sailboat" the most of those currently available. It is pretty solid in acceleration compensation. The free version (less cluttered than the pro), can be made to show a +- 12 deg scale by using the 3-finger tap zoom from iphones accessbility options. That way it'll kind of work with peripheral vision - although nowhere near perfect. That said, I tried to contact the developer a while ago on the subject of making a steadicam interface for his code (which he already has like 10 purpose-made interfaces for) - but havent heard back yet. Putting my phone on the steadicam with this app and a ram mount went a long way in helping me to develop the "level-feeling" of my operating hand at any possible point - so at the vers least its a great and cheap training aid! some may use it as some kind of backup - although I guess I wouldnt regularly show up on set with a phone-toy-level on my steadicam. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jens Piotrowski SOC Posted July 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 Talked to Dan yesterday, it is available. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Tom Wills Posted August 19, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 After talking to some other operators who have owned or tested one of the Wagner levels, I tried to get one last week from Tiffen. Quite frankly, for the price, I think it will do what I want, which is be slightly better while moving (although still not perfect, from what I hear) than the bubble levels I've been relying on. I was told by Harry in New York that the factory is doing a software upgrade on them, and didn't want to send any out until the upgrade was complete. Anybody know what the upgrade was about? Would love to know if it's actually centered around the level, or just the display. Once I've got mine in hand, and I finish up this round of days on the feature I'm starting tomorrow, I'd be happy to let anybody in the northeast test it out, should anyone want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jens Piotrowski SOC Posted August 19, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I WAS TOLD THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS RELATED TO THE DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Frederic Sturm Posted August 26, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 Got mine a few weeks ago. So far it seems like a very nice tool, but one problem remains: mounted directly next to the post (also tried mounting it dead-centered under the post to test, makes no difference) a whip-pan will throw it out of balance and it will take several seconds to re-center. Not too much of a problem but annoying, still. The indicator will then slowly move from whereever it is outside the range towards the center, and is unuseable for several seconds - and can even be misleading when you think you should believe it again just a moment too early! Regarding the update, I have been told by Tiffen UK, who asked the factory for me, and I quote: "There has been a patch upgrade for the software, but something that is factory has to do. It’s to do with display correction on an extreme tilt 45 degrees or so, but shouldn’t affect your day to day operation." I will send mine in sometime this fall, but I guess I'll wait for the next few updates... Another little point, with almost any electronic device now being USB-updateable, and these units obviously requiring updates (being updated already...), a USB-port for firmware-updates might have been a good idea, probably even saving them money from not having to do factory-updates in the long run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members quincy paglaro Posted September 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 Just wondering if anyone has the cinetronic level yet or know anything about the mounting brackets/solutions offered in the paypal request form? I am curious on how to mount it to my rig and asked Chris for photos of these brackets to no avail. Cheers, Quincy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members steve wagner Posted September 19, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 The latest Wagner Horizon (WHM-BG) software update--now shipping--, has a few nice improvements: enhanced compensation for static horizon angle error over temperature, down to fractions of a degree -- Once you zero it to your rig it should be good all day long. Also improved: after a very dynamic and/or large tilt roll pan move the unit recovers true level even more rapidly-- typically less than a second. Finally: upgraded rejection of acceleration errors while rotating about any axis -- even if sensor box mounted away from post center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Sanjay Sami Posted September 19, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Hi Steve, I have one on its way to me from Robin in London. Would this be the latest version ? Regards Sanjay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinThwaites Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Yes it will! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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