Premium Members Mark Schlicher Posted May 23, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 David, Bartech... http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16064&pid=76482&st=0entry76482 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Sydney Seeber Posted May 23, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Has anyone checked them out at the booth? I did. It is a piece of shit. It is unnaturally heavy and they refused to allow it to work in wireless mode, which is really why I give it such a low rating. No one else at the entire expo had no problems showing off their wireless capabilities. There were other minor issues but I think it simply boils down to the fact that they have marketed this thing to the ultra low budget indie crowd and no one else. I've got a few things made by Redrock and they can make quality gear. That FF is a mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Davis Posted May 23, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 David, Bartech... http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16064&pid=76482&st=0entry76482 Bargain, go for it, it's the next best thing to owning a preston, although I would seriously consider spending a little more and stumping up for the Digital receiver, has some really nice features, the 1 button auto-calibration being the most useful, such a time-saver and probably one my favourite functions on a Preston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brian Freesh Posted May 24, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 the 1 button auto-calibration being the most useful, such a time-saver and probably one my favourite functions on a Preston. You're just as bad as the ACs in LA! :P I've no complaints with auto-calibration, i think it's great. I love preston, and I'm happy there is a digital option for bartech's now-a-days. But this myth that digital auto-cal is faster than a bartech is getting annoying. In a single channel environment (say, focus only) it takes less time to manually set stops on a BFD than for a preston to calibrate itself. Since a Preston can calibrate all three channels at once, I imagine in a 3 channel environment the Preston would be faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Alex Kornreich Posted May 26, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Buy a Bartech. Customer service is just as important as a great product, and Jim has both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David M. Aronson Posted May 28, 2012 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 I just returned a Bartech that I rented for my last job. I see why it's the industry standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Flurry Posted June 3, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 But this myth that digital auto-cal is faster than a bartech is getting annoying. In a single channel environment (say, focus only) it takes less time to manually set stops on a BFD than for a preston to calibrate itself. Really? Its not a myth, a preston is just faster it's also easier and more consistent. All this translates to more time for your assistant to get marks and for you to balance and tweak your rig. (if your assistant is not doing that for you) With production demanding more of assistants and operators why would you not want to have every advantage you can. Don't get me wrong a BFD is a great tool, it just has its limitations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brian Freesh Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 Really? Its not a myth, a preston is just faster it's also easier and more consistent. All this translates to more time for your assistant to get marks and for you to balance and tweak your rig. (if your assistant is not doing that for you) With production demanding more of assistants and operators why would you not want to have every advantage you can. Don't get me wrong a BFD is a great tool, it just has its limitations. The Digital Bartech removes the "limitation" of manual calibrating. I do not know how fast it calibrates itself. So we're only talking about an analog Bartech here. There may be other limitations of a BFD vs a Preston, but none of that was my point. I love the Preston as well, and will likely own one some day. The quality of a Preston was never in question. Peter's new Axis focus seems to calibrate as fast or faster than manually calibrating an analog BFD My point was that ACs (in LA at least) bitch and moan about Bartech until I show them that calibrating an analog BFD is faster than a Preston calibrating itself. So yeah, it's a myth that the preston is faster to calibrate. I own two Analog Bartechs that get the job done very, very well. To have ACs bitch and moan, and mishandle my gear because they are unhappy with it is completely out of line. I tell them they are welcome to buy a preston to rent to production, and I will be happy to put it on my rig for them to use for the show. That shuts them right up. Nothing personal against any particular AC, I've managed to change many minds. It seems to be born out of ignorance, rather than actual distaste. They get spoiled by a fantastic tool and want nothing "less." I just get tired of hearing it when they're so blindly against it they haven't even tried. As far as easy and consistent, my BFD and every BFD I've ever used has always been easy and consistent. I humbly suggest any lack of such is user error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 Really? Its not a myth, a preston is just faster it's also easier and more consistent. All this translates to more time for your assistant to get marks and for you to balance and tweak your rig. (if your assistant is not doing that for you) With production demanding more of assistants and operators why would you not want to have every advantage you can. Don't get me wrong a BFD is a great tool, it just has its limitations. The Digital Bartech removes the "limitation" of manual calibrating. I do not know how fast it calibrates itself. So we're only talking about an analog Bartech here. There may be other limitations of a BFD vs a Preston, but none of that was my point. I love the Preston as well, and will likely own one some day. The quality of a Preston was never in question. Peter's new Axis focus seems to calibrate as fast or faster than manually calibrating an analog BFD My point was that ACs (in LA at least) bitch and moan about Bartech until I show them that calibrating an analog BFD is faster than a Preston calibrating itself. So yeah, it's a myth that the preston is faster to calibrate. I own two Analog Bartechs that get the job done very, very well. To have ACs bitch and moan, and mishandle my gear because they are unhappy with it is completely out of line. I tell them they are welcome to buy a preston to rent to production, and I will be happy to put it on my rig for them to use for the show. That shuts them right up. Nothing personal against any particular AC, I've managed to change many minds. It seems to be born out of ignorance, rather than actual distaste. They get spoiled by a fantastic tool and want nothing "less." I just get tired of hearing it when they're so blindly against it they haven't even tried. As far as easy and consistent, my BFD and every BFD I've ever used has always been easy and consistent. I humbly suggest any lack of such is user error. Hey Brian, May I suggest that the BFD works FOR YOU. I'm in agreement with Chris and I don't think that I would agree with your suggestion of User Error. Infact If I were you I don't think I would be suggesting that again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brian Freesh Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 I'm just calling it like I see it, it's not a judgement. I've seen a lot of equipment used properly and a lot used improperly. I see it with consumer devices as well. I don't think I could name names if I wanted to, but every time I've seen a BFD "not work" with my own eyes it was user error. That's not to say Chris does or does not use a BFD properly. I wouldn't know, I haven't seen him use one. That's why it was just a suggestion. Again, love Preston, love BFD and Digital BFD. My one and only complaint was towards the many ACs who complain when I show up to set with a Bartech because it's "slower." It's simply incorrect. If anyone wants to suggest that the fact I've seen so much user error with the BFD is proof that it's harder to use, fair enough. I've seen user error with the Preston and Red, and Arri, and Panavision. I've certainly had my fair share. It happens. I taught myself the BFD with the included owner's manual and have never had a problem since. Chris, if you read anything as a negative judgement against you, I apologize. As anyone who knows me is aware, I'm never out to offend anyone. Perhaps my wording was bad. I disagree with you (clearly) about the ease and speed of a BFD, but I think we'll both survive it that remains the case. I was simply debating your opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 I saw Peter's Axis 1 in action at the Stabilizer Expo today and want to point out that his system turns a lens faster than anything I've seen yet. I was very impressed. It's not generally that much of an issues for Steadicam due to the generally smaller diameter of flyable lenses, but for lightning-fast racks from near to far on a big honker like a 11 or 12 to 1. Peter, you should put up another video that shows a more aggressive spin of the knob than the one you posted above--it wasn't apparent in that video just how fast your motor can go. Would love to see it head to head with, say, the DM1X on the same lens and a stopwatch on both. Actually I just remembered an instance where this would have been handy for Steadicam--did a shot on Ugly Betty once that started with the figures on a wedding cake filling the frame, then boom up and rack to actors. We used a macro lens, as fast as the lens could rack from probably 8" to 8'. I had to modify the speed of the boom to accommodate the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Flurry Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 Brian, Thank You, I guess well just have to agree to disagree. I'm sorry to hear that camera assistants mistreated your gear out of frustration, that is never acceptable. You might not be aware but I am an assistant who also owns a rig, I hesitate to call myself and operator as it is not really how I make my living. I get caught between two worlds when it comes to this one. I owned a Bartech, and while It always got the job done, it didn't work for me. So I sold it and bought a preston. In my world it is the standard, and I realized that If I was going to operate that I had to meet that standard. I also realize that this is not an option for everybody. I know the frustration of investing tens of thousands of dollars in gear only to have producers brow beat you and friends ask for favors that are in the end costing you money. My preston has been the best investment I ever made. It has been invaluable tool for me as both an operator and as an assistant. I would argue that it will pay for itself faster than you think, remember that assistants can and do recommend operators. Two each his own. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 I saw Peter's Axis 1 in action at the Stabilizer Expo today and want to point out that his system turns a lens faster than anything I've seen yet. The BDR is even faster Just sayin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 The BDR is even faster Just sayin Really? Guess I haven't seen it. That must be lightning-fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted June 4, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 The BDR is even faster Just sayin Really? Guess I haven't seen it. That must be lightning-fast. It's amazingly fast, makes a preston look really slow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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