converting the Ultra2 from normal to super-high mode

[Evrim KAYA]

Hello Everybody,

 

As promised on a recent discussion on the forums ( http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=17981&page=4 ) about super high mode conversion of Ultra2 rig, I share with you the video of me converting it to super high mode using its 4 stage telescoping post. Camera on the sled is a loaded magazine 435 along with 35mm Zeiss super speed MKIII lens and Arri clip-on matte-box.

 

The conversion starts at 0:14. In total, going from normal to super high takes about 1 minute 45 seconds. Lens height achieved is 2,25 meters (I’m 1,75 meters tall) with the socket block raised on my Ultra2 vest and 23cm long arm post on my G-70 arm. If I were to put a 3^rd battery and/or a dummy weight at the bottom of the sled I could have raised the camera another 15/20 cm using the full extent of the built-in super-post.

 

The process of conversion is very strait forward. I first extend the telescoping posts fully –just shy of marking lines turning red- below the gimbal thus giving maximum amount of counter balance, then I extend the post located above the gimbal until I got neutral balance and I shorten it to give the rig a slightly bottom heavy balance. I check and correct the static balance using the motorized stage, do a drop test. And done!

 

Normally I would also adjust the integral tilting stage; you can give me a time penalty of 15 seconds for it. This brings us to 2 minutes of conversion time from start to finish.

 

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!

 

PS for newbies: the drop time of 4+ seconds in super high mode might seem slow to you but with a sled this long you have huge amounts of inertia acting against the tilt and roll axis. So, a normal drop time of 3 seconds would be too bottom heavy for this kind of setup.

 

PS for imperial system lovers: suck-it! Metric rules! Pun intended :)

 

https://vimeo.com/64580595

[RonBaldwin]

wish it was spun on the stand in both lengths

[Evrim KAYA]

my original claim was the conversion time being under 3 minutes. but you are right i could have worked on the dynamic balance. on the next one the rig will be in db. we will see how much time it takes as well as if i can keep the dynamic balance on a non co-planar setup(i doubt it). But i bet it still be well under 10+ minutes.

 

edited to correct phrasing.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Evrim KAYA

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

wish it was spun on the stand in both lengths

When he did his first drop test the batteries were trying to pass the monitor, it wasn't in dynamic balance

[Evrim KAYA]

The rig isn't in dynamic balance in neither normal nor the long mode.

[RonBaldwin]

The rig isn't in dynamic balance in neither normal nor the long mode.

I saw that -- after all the discussion (as well as me painstakingly proving once and for all that "Eric" and "Jerry" do not exist) I assumed the rig would at least be dynamically balanced in the shorter mode so we could see what happened when extended.

[RonBaldwin]

ok...I did this and posted pics, findings and equations in the "2013 New Rigs - Real World Improvements?" thread.