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Hybrid Brushless roll cage on top of Steadicam.


Abad Rosa

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You guys are attacking the same problem that GB faced back in the day--different masses and their CG locations--this is why the gimbal has to move up and down to accomodate the differing CG locations. You can overcome the height differential with torque settings on the stepper motor that drives the 'cage' along the arc of travel but there will still be some inertial rate disparity due to the CG location relative to the top stage and gimbal to camera CG distance. Perhaps the arc rails are different based on known camera dimensions...along with rental rates and hourly fees!

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I know this is a bit off from the discussion and probably not a DIY idea, but would it work if the sensor itself was rotating in the camera body by a few degrees? I feel that it could be a great solution for specific situations. The lens is already circular (I am not talking anamorphic) and the matte box would be different, but it might be a nice piece of gear. What do you think? Sony is doing something similar for vibrations on some of their dslr http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/technology/technology/theme/alpha_01.html but only for up/down and side/side.

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Very interesting discussion and the section of a roll cage idea is exactly what I think about since a few weeks for using a camera like the Alexa on a Steadicam sled together with a brushless system. Actually it's going to be a 2 axis system for roll and tilt mounted to the topstage. Instead of the smaller tilt motors in the picture I plan to use two motors of the 5-kg-class per axis. The 2 motors for roll are going to be centered behind the camera and the front with the tilt motors will be supported by the 180 degrees cfk-arc as you can see in the picture:

 

 

1477665_10151912218058492_778769511_n.jp

 

 

A third axis for pan might be an option to extend the system to be used as a small stabilized head for crane or car-to-car shots. The two axis system alone will probably have a weight of 3 kg which still makes it a good addon for a common steadicam. With the third axis motor I've tested the whole system would be heavier and exceed what can be classified as portable device.

 

I also plan to offer a bracket to put my "Movi-style" three axis Portaheads 2 and 5 overslung on a steadicam sled (connected to the dovetail: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=17972&p=92441 ). It will be possible to change between the steadicam bracked and the handles within a few minutes so this is going to be the most versatile solution. To switch between underslung and overslung mode there will be preconfigured user profiles selectable with a menü button.

Portahead5.jpg

 

Last but not least there will be a version of the Porta Head 5 as two axis system only which will allow to roll 360 degrees from low to high mode on the steadicam sled (with stabilized roll and tilt and also a rotating monitor).

 

... still a lot of work to do ;). Off course all of this might be only necessary for really really difficult steadicam shots like i pointed out before. On the other hand I see the steadicam as a great device to improve the limitations of brushless stabilizers.

 

Best regards,

Andreas

 

 

http://www.portahead.de

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Keep in mind that the cameras longitudinal center of gravity may not be at the center of the lens. by sliding camera up down and left right until it is neutral is all that is required. Then slide the whole gag back and forth and side to side on the top stage to static balance it. Now spin the sled (if you dare) and slide battery/monitor to dynamic balance it. Now there you go. The most balanced rig EVER.

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I'm shocked that this would happen, shocked I say!

the key word is CAN be easily fixed in post--the question is, WILL it be.

 

Hands up here who have been promised as such when the keeper take is announced and you let them know there's a wobble? And then you see the finished piece and the wobble is intact?

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Ive been working on my gopro on my steadicam for most of the summer- bloody hell it is winter and still doesn't work properly!

 

the advantage of a gopro is that the whole gyro rig is the mass of a light camera, in fact light enough for some pretty interesting builds.

 

I did the opening shot of a little short I shot using this combo..

 

You may note the first shot is a 'lock off' inside a vehicle, I then pull out through the window, boom up over the roof and then boom down to shoe height..

 

 

Here is an early build, it is a bit neater now, but not much.

 

certainly it 'works'.

 

tangle.jpg

Edited by Sam Morgan Moore
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This topic is the occasion to introduce one of my forgotten Abracam projects. I studied this Automatic Bubble for Steadicam during 2005.

Auto%20bubble1.jpg

A first prototype was manufactured in February 2006.

Auto%20bubble2.png

Technical specifications sought:

- Angular compensation: +/- 5°

- Compatible with the Steadicam plates standard.

- 1" thickness, 7" lenght, 5" larg.

- All in one: motor, electronic

- Plug and play

- Only 1 switch for the on/off and 1 button for the Zero calibration.(not the Concorde's dashboard)

- Hi- mode and Low-mode capacity.

- 15 Kgs load capacity

 

For several reasons, unfortunately, this project stays without suite...!

 

Best regards,

Philippe

 

info@abracam.eu

www.abracam.eu

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