Pro Atlas/Titan vs. G-50X/G70x

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Link to Larry's article in other thread:

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16412&st=15#entry81150

[Juan M.Ramos SOC]

 

Amen for Erwin words....

[chris fawcett]

Welcome back, Larry!

[Dustin Heindl]

I'm in the market to upgrade my arm. I have the G50x, and it's either the G70x or the Pro Arm.

 

Tough decision, I do like my steadicam arm, but I've never tried a PRO

 

I'm going to try out the Pro arm tomorrow, but I will only really be able to compare it to my old G50x not a G70x, but I'll let you guys know!

 

QUESTION FOR PRO OWNERS

Is there a performance difference to using 2 instead of 4 canisters if you're flying less weight? Or you you recommend using 4 canisters of weaker resistance?

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

QUESTION FOR PRO OWNERS

Is there a performance difference to using 2 instead of 4 canisters if you're flying less weight? Or you you recommend using 4 canisters of weaker resistance?

 

no difference

[JobScholtze]

Well? How did you like the pro arm

[Joshua Gitersonke]

I think I can speak for Max V. and myself that I love my Action Products Arm.

It has a great weight range 11-77lbs, a great boom range of I think it's 37 inches.
It's pretty light weight. It's really easy to change the weight capacity. no tools required. just a couple of thumb screws. It's quick to change as well.

It's super smooth from top to bottom. It's machining is top notch.

I'm positive the Pro and Tiffen arms are great, but the Action product Arm kicks butt and hasn't ever given me a reason to trade to one of the others.

[Marc R. Berger]

I love my action products arm too. After I took a Tiffen workshop I was looking for a quality rig min. comparable with a Archer 2 (G50X arm). Actionproducts was the one who was winning in my eyes if it comes to a comparison price-quality for my budget. Without compromising high-end quality (and service) they offer two super smooth arms. I startet with the raptor and could not be happier right now. I loved the high end Tiffen rigs at the workshop (from Archer upwards) and I´m sure Pro and Betz are great, but I can honestly say my Raptor arm is as smooth as a G50X (at a fraction of the price).

[Joshua Gitersonke]

What is the boom range of a pro arm and a Tiffen arm?

[chris fawcett]

32" for the G70s.

[Karsten Jaeger]

i think the better boomrange is a big advantage of the G50x. While you can work around seeing footsteps via good operating you cant ad the few inches in boomrange if you realy need to.

 

actualy i have footstep problems with slow movements. I had it with my old Sachtler Artemis arm and with my Tiffen G50 (performance upgraded) arm. I never tried a Pro arm (besides a quick hands-on before i started my operating career, so i couldn't estimate pros and cons) but to be honest i hope that i will get rid of that problem by continously improving my skill rather than buying a Pro. I realy like the opportunity to tweak arm settings discrete while going back to one, the additional boom range and the lightweight and compact form factor. The clearance above your upper leg is great when doing awkward operating positions (which just happens...) while having your socketblock at the lowest position.

 

The weightrange is perfect for me and the industry/movies i am working in. Arri Alexa, Red Epic everything is fitting perfectly in the range. I even had the oldfashioned Arri D-21 on the sled, i have no idea what it's weight was, but it certainly was way over my feel-good weight while the G50 wasn't bothering.

 

The bottom line is, i love the great flexibility of the G50(x) while (obviously) having the problem of a higher friction/footprints.

Anyway. Back to the topic.

Does anybody know if the weightrange of the Atlas arm is realy ending at 45lbs? I am worried about the missing 5lbs to the G50x (as i think i sometimes need exactly these 5lbs). If it would match (inofficial) the G50 range i definitely would give the Atlas arm a try.

[JobScholtze]

Funny thing is, we all have an opinion about our gear, wich is fine. BUT, you cant compare the arms without having used them both. I have used a G70 and a G50 for over 4 years or so, and now using a pro for over 2 years +

I honestly can say the difference imo. And the reasons you are writing in your post arnt any issues for me. The smoothness and the booming of the pro have made me a better operator. Delicate shots, small booms, slow walks, all things i couldnt do in my G50/70 days. I dont have an opinion about the X serie's becose i didnt use those. ( i didnt do that upgrade becose it pissed me off that we had to pay for it for so much, so the lost me as a client ) Improving your skills is always good, i just wonder why you wouldnt go for the best tools helping you improve ......

 

My 2 cents

[chris fawcett]

i think the better boomrange is a big advantage of the G50x. While you can work around seeing footsteps via good operating you cant ad the few inches in boomrange if you realy need to.

 

actualy i have footstep problems with slow movements. I had it with my old Sachtler Artemis arm and with my Tiffen G50 (performance upgraded) arm. I never tried a Pro arm (besides a quick hands-on before i started my operating career, so i couldn't estimate pros and cons) but to be honest i hope that i will get rid of that problem by continously improving my skill rather than buying a Pro. I realy like the opportunity to tweak arm settings discrete while going back to one, the additional boom range and the lightweight and compact form factor. The clearance above your upper leg is great when doing awkward operating positions (which just happens...) while having your socketblock at the lowest position.

 

The weightrange is perfect for me and the industry/movies i am working in. Arri Alexa, Red Epic everything is fitting perfectly in the range. I even had the oldfashioned Arri D-21 on the sled, i have no idea what it's weight was, but it certainly was way over my feel-good weight while the G50 wasn't bothering.

 

The bottom line is, i love the great flexibility of the G50(x) while (obviously) having the problem of a higher friction/footprints.

Anyway. Back to the topic.

Does anybody know if the weightrange of the Atlas arm is realy ending at 45lbs? I am worried about the missing 5lbs to the G50x (as i think i sometimes need exactly these 5lbs). If it would match (inofficial) the G50 range i definitely would give the Atlas arm a try.

Hi Karsten,

 

My G50 lifts 55 lbs +. The 50 rating is a conservative estimate. You'll probably find that the PRO canisters lift more than their specified range.

 

On your handling points, I also prefer the G arms over the PRO for the reasons you state.

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[James Elias]

Not that it really matters, but the official specs on the GX-series state a 29" range not 32"

http://www.tiffen.com/steadicam_g70x_arm.html

 

Regards,

James

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

"I realy like the opportunity to tweak arm settings discrete while going back to one,..."

 

The PRO arm gives you the same feature.

 

BTW, I just finished an 8 week project (Alexa/Leica primes) and once the arm was adjusted properly on day 1, I never touched it again. It is very forgiving.