Archer

[Davis]

Hello All,

I have read all the info on the archer from tiffen. I was wondering if anyone has seen it in person and had any comments. Looks like it takes the place of the EFP but I have not heard much about it.

 

Thanks

Dan D.

[Brian Leid]

I understand the new Steadicam Archer model was introduced at NAB? Sounds nice. Did anyone see it at NAB? Any report? Any idea of when it will be out?

Cost?

 

Thanks.

Brian

[jay kilroy]

Hey Brian,

 

Jay Kilroy here, how are you? I think the Archer is available now. It replaces the provid. Better top-stage, better monitor and way better arm. The vest have a few up grades too. Frank Rush would be able to answer any questions you have. frush@tiffen.com is his email address. Have you been operating a lot? Keep in touch.

 

jay

[Brian Leid]

Jay,

I'm good, You? How's the family?

Haven't done much lately. Producers in our shop keep talking about possible uses, just never materializes. If I had a rig here, I know they would be all over it.

I can't get the guy upstairs to shell out the money.

I will drop Frank an email for more info.

Thanks.

Brian

 

Hey Brian,

 

Jay Kilroy here, how are you?  I think the Archer is available now.  It replaces the provid.  Better top-stage, better monitor and way better arm.  The vest have a few up grades too.  Frank Rush would be able to answer any questions you have. frush@tiffen.com is his email address.  Have you been operating a lot?  Keep in touch.

 

jay

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Afton Grant]

I just returned from a workshop where both Frank Rush and the Archer were in attendance. It's definitely a nice package, fully ready for HD. The G50 arm that comes standard with the Archer was one of the more popular pieces of equipment of the week. It drew more attention than the rest of the system. It was mixed and matched with all the other systems, from the Flyer to the Ultra and it worked beautifully, although the Ultra with a BetaSP weighed in at 45lbs - very close to the G50's max. Very nice arm, very nice system for what it's made for.

[chris fawcett]

Hi All,

 

You might have guessed: I work on documentary, and am delighted with the Flyer. My only concern was that when I had a Digibeta (or pretty much any broadcast video camera), Lockit box, radio reciever, and lens controller onboard, the Flyer was maxed, and I would need to strip the viewfinder off the camera to get balance.

 

The Archer is great, and what I like most is that the total system (LX vest, G50 arm, sled w/standard monitor & frameline generator) + one batt weighs only 12.2kg / 27lbs. This makes it only 2.2kg / 5lbs heavier than the Flyer + 2 batts (you need 2 batts to balance larger cameras, wheras the Archer has an extendable post). The camera carrying capacity is from 0.8 kg / 1.75lbs up to the stated 13.6kg / 30lbs (I make it a warranty-banjaxing 19.3kg / 42.5lbs!). On the Flyer, it's 2kg / 4.5lbs to 8.6kg / 19lbs (equally warranty-banjaxing). Of course, it's 3 times the price.

 

Didn't fly the bugger, though. Some air-resistance in the cabling. Let you know tomorrow?

 

I wonder if anyone reads these weight-obsessed posts of mine. Perhaps I should get out more (without the rig).

 

Chris

[Sven Joukes]

Hey Chris,

 

I try to read anything on this forum! So your post didn't escape my attention.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one maxing out the Flyer! <_<

I will be at IBC on Tuesday, I'll try to meet up with you. Are you at Howard's stand all day?

 

See you,

 

Sven

[chris fawcett]

Hi Sven,

 

More likely at Tiffen.

 

See you tuesday!

[Lars Erik]

Hey there. Just wanted to let you know that I finally got a chance to test the Archer. Many of you might have tested it before, but I haven't. And I really liked it. The rig was nice to handle and I was very impressed with the monitor. It was really bright even in direct sunlight. Think the vest needs some more paddings in the chest area though.

 

It wasn't as hard to balance as I thought it would be, the rig being so simple in many ways. I tried the new progressive DigiBeta on it, SDX900 and a XDCam. All with J11 lenses. Also tried it in low-mode, the rig acting very nice.

 

So I thought, what the hell. I got about $25.000 lying in a drawer at home, so I ordered it today.

 

God, what have I done? :blink:

 

This is my first rig. Looking forward to it anyway. :lol:

 

I'll get it in the first week on January. Then I'll take it on a job that will last 5 weeks. I'm also DP'ing, so I'm not actually shooting Steadi for the 5 whole weeks. But I will be enjoying myself. Steadicam here I come! Yohoo!

[chris fawcett]

Well done Lars, I also love that rig.

 

Don't forget the workshop, and good luck!

[Colin Donahue]

Lars,

Congratulations on your first rig. I have owned an archer for about two months. I agree with you that the vest might need more padding, but I found the problem around the hips. It does not seem to have enough velcro to hold the padding in place, and I find myself re-adjusting the padding once in a while. I am curious about the battery configuration on the rig you tested. Were you able to dynamically balcance the sled?

I found I could not do a dynamic balance with a propac or Hytron 120, because the battery is too far from the post. I had some custom weights made for the base that slide onto the rods and I use a hytron 50 on the base. Now it balances no problem. Good luck.

 

Colin Donahue

[Lars Erik]

Hey Colin. Thanks. I am very pleased on purchasing it. Tiffen said they'd ship it on the 22nd of December. Nice little Christmas present to myself. Maybe I should put it under the tree?

 

Yes, I was able to dynamic balance it. I used Sony BP-L90 batts. Had Sony BP-L60's on, but couldn't balance it then.

 

http://www.tv-team.no/tv-team/open_document.jsp?id=581

 

I shoved the battery all the way in. Had no cam batt and pushed the viewfinder all the way forward and slightly to the right. It was in perfect balance actually. I did this with XDCam and a SDX900. I had the dovetail pretty far up front attached to the camera plate. Also made sure the c.g. of the cam was directly behind the sled.

 

Have you used the cam with 16mm? Have a job on a short in March. Have you also tried it with the Pro35 adaptor?

 

How heavy are the weights you made?

[Kurt Warner]

Hello Archer owners

 

I just recieved my Archer the first week of the month and I've been able to Dynamic Balance my DSR-450 only after velcoing my Modulus on the back of the monitor. I tried to "DB" a Panasonic DVX-100A today and I'm having a time of it. I have a BFD reciver and a Modulus on the top stage to add some weight and a IDX-10 battery suppling power on the lower. The gimbel is just shy of half way down the post with the lower section all the way up. It's close but not perfect ;) . Do you guys have any ideas or expeience with this size camera with-out a cage?

 

Kurt Warner

Level86

Albany,NY

[Jerry Holway]

Hello Archer owners

 

I just recieved my Archer the first week of the month and I've been able to Dynamic Balance my DSR-450 only after velcoing my Modulus on the back of the monitor. I tried to "DB" a Panasonic DVX-100A today and I'm having a time of it. I have a BFD reciver and a Modulus on the top stage to add some weight and a IDX-10 battery suppling power on the lower. The gimbel is just shy of half way down the post with the lower section all the way up. It's close but not perfect ;) . Do you guys have any ideas or expeience with this size camera with-out a cage?

 

Kurt Warner

Level86

Albany,NY

 

Kurt-

Hope this helps: dynamic balance with one camera. If you don't change the monitor (and acc) and battery positions, nor the overall length, just static balance with the new camera and you will be in dynamic balance (or very, very close to it). Gimbal position irrelevant, just get a slow drop time so your static balance is very good. Do not spin very fast. For a full explanation, read the dynamic balance primer available on my site or Tiffen's.

 

Jerry