Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted May 2, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 After many years of tweaking, I finally have a piece of equipment that not only works great but looks pretty cool too. It's my 3rd generation HyperCam. After being asked how fast, low and crazy I could go with my steadicam mounted to various vehicles, I decided to engineer something that was a little more purpose built. Basically the idea was to use existing vehicle mounts and existing steadicam arm technology but put the camera on something that wasn't quite as at the mercy of inertia. I used the first prototype on a chase sequence I did for 'All About the Benjamins'. I then modified it and used the second version on '2 Fast 2 Furious' and 'Transporter 2' and have been using that version until now. It always worked pretty well but definitely looked a bit (home made) and lacked adjustability. After getting feed back from several other steadicam operators, along with my own experiences, I spent some time and money at a machine shop and came up with my HyperCam3 (HC3). The HC3 can go into proper low mode and can change dampeners for heavier and lighter cameras. It also has a more modular design and more built in safety features. I'm charging $1500 per unit for the first run of 10. Please let me know if you are interested or have any questions. I think I have 4 of the first 10 already spoken for. I have a few pictures of the HC3 prototype. They first run will have a few slight design modifications but will look essentially like this. More pictures to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted May 2, 2013 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Quickly realizing that while some of you have seen my old rig (the HC2) and know what this is, most of you would have no idea what I'm talking about. I'll put together a proper description of the unit and post it tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted May 4, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 Is this unit going to work for that kind of naturalistic handheld work we do so much in music videos and commercials? i.e. not on a tracking vehicle. Where the easyrig is a little too sloppy and un-precise in its framing. Looking forward to seeing the more photos. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Baldanza SOC Posted May 4, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 I have it. I use it . I like it. Feel free to call/email me if you have specific questions. If I can find any pictures I will post them as well. -James 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Alan Rencher Posted May 4, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 I would love to know how this works, and to see it in action. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Davis Posted May 4, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 Very interested to see more pics and detailed info. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted May 6, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 Been reading some of your literature. How do you get 4ft of boom out of it? Is it not limited to the book of your arm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted May 6, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 http://www.mikemcgowan.net/hypercam.html Still curious about how it works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted May 7, 2013 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Okay.... So I brought the new rig on my last job with the intention of taking some 'down time' and putting a camera on it and shooting some iphone video. Unfortunately there was no 'down time' in either of the 18 hour days. I'm off to the rental house Wednesday to set the rig and shoot some video. @Thomas, 4' was just me guessing. It has the same range as the arm does (I guessed about 2 feet below center and 2 feet above). Thinking about it now, it's probably more like a foot and a half each direction? Anybody know for sure? Here is a link to a VERY CHEESY behind the scenes video they did on one of my shows. It is a few years old and has some footage the behind the scenes guy took with his 5D. It does show the old rig (the HC2) and how it works (kind of): These are all the old pictures but basically you are doing this: http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=9014205025/a=15663314025_15663314025/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/ instead of this: http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/slideshow/AlbumID=9010622025/PictureID=381418754025/a=15663314025_15663314025/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/ Here is a link to my action demo reel. Not every shot was done on the HyperCam but all the moving shots were. Wednesday night with any luck there will be some video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted May 7, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 You seem to have carved out a hideously dangerous niche for yourself in the film industry! Good work though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted May 9, 2013 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 As promised. Here are 4 short videos that show the 'nuts and bolts' of the HyperCam3... First, how it works: The collar: Low Mode: Balance: For those of you that have already said you wanted one you can send the $1500 to my PayPal: mcgowanpro@aol.com For those of you that asked, for an extra $50 you can have your company name engraved on the top plate. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Osvaldo Silvera SOC Posted May 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 DAMMMM!! YOUU!!!!!!. now I have to work harder and come up with 1500 bucks for you this summer!!!!, CONYO!! WAY cool thing to have!!!!, Like WAY!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Davis Posted May 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Awesome bit of kit Mike, definitely something I'd like to own in the near future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted May 12, 2013 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted May 12, 2013 As of now, I have 6 sold and 2 mabies. I think I'm going to build ten and keep one as a rental which gives me one left for whoever wants one. Hopefully I can get in to see the machine shop guy and he cranks them out and I'm shipping by the 24th. Thanks for all the interest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike skipp Posted May 12, 2013 Report Share Posted May 12, 2013 Good luck with the machine shop guy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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