Swapping rigs

[Stefan Baltz]

I own a zephyr and I'm still quite happy with it, but what bothers me most is the unmodularity of this thing. So I'm thinking about switching to an EFP/3A, which is for sale right now in the marketplace. But as I do not have much experience with bigger rigs, I am still not quite sure if this is a good idea.

 

The package contains of an updated 3A sled, but not HD wired, which don't bother me much. The arm is a blue spring and the vest an EFP. Plus many extras and all for a reasonable price.

 

The question that bothers me most is: if I buy this rig, is it all switchable in the future?? F.e. if I'd like to upgrade to a better arm, vest or even just a gimbal?? Is this EFP/3A compatible with all the pro, xcs, steadyrig etc. stuff out there??

 

How about the arm?? I know it carries more than the zephyr, but how is the performance?? Are those older blue springs arms very smooth. I know every op might have a different opinion to this but Id love to hear some thoughts about this. Same goes with the vest and sled/ gimbal.

 

I'm also gonna go to test it out if it feels right for me, but it would be very nice to hear some pros/contras for this rig, ideally from people who also knows the zephyr. :)

 

 

For me it feels right to switch, but like I said it would be nice to hear some thoughts from you experienced guys about this :)

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Stefan,

We have all upgraded from smaller rigs into bigger rigs. This rig will fly everything you need for a long time, unless of course your planning on going into 3-D anytime soon. You may want to have it upgraded to HD, but a decimater will do the trick in the meantime.

 

The EFP Blue Spring arm is a great arm. I snapped my old EFP arm years ago and had Robert Luna redue my arm with Blue Springs and at the time I was demoing a G-50 and a Steadirig arm, I was convinced I was going to buy a New G-50, then I got my arm back from Robert and realized my EFP arm was just fine.

 

Fly safe , hope that helps

 

When and if you do upgrade let me know I have an HD monitor for sale at a great rate =)

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I had an EFP and found that I was trapped in a world where I couldn't upgrade from it because it wasn't really modular. I found a used Pro sled to be a much better investment since it is super modular and is made by a company still in business, unlike cinema products.

 

I found the EFP vest to be absolute junk in the way it fit and it's lack of control. The arm however behaved really nice and was the best part of the entire rig. I kept the arm as long as possible while trading the sled and vest. Eventually trading the arm because I was pushing the weight capacity of it on each new job.

 

By all means piece together a rig from used rigs, but read A LOT of the archives on this forum to determine which components work best for you. An EFP sled can be flown by most arms, and the EFP arm can fly most sleds and mate with most vest. But getting down to gimbals, electronics, top stages, that's where it well be limiting since an EFP can be almost 25 years old.

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Geeze Kev

Harsh on our EFP. Lol

 

I still have mine, I fly it twice a year, for three weeks each time and it is still fun to fly

 

It is my Amazing Race Rig and it still kicks ass and is perfect for that show

[Andre Trudel]

I agree with Rob. I would argue that the efp was the last modular system steadicam ever made. No silly proprietary diameters on the center post and gimbal handle. The first mod I had done was pull the old post out of the lower electronics housing and replace it with an Mk-v 1.5” carbon fiber post. It is now compatible with all pro post as well. I also swapped out the 3a/efp gimbal for a Pro VZ. With a little ingenuity and a lot more cash, the rig has a ton of possibilities. Sending anything down the center post is so simple. I know Terry West here in LA can pretty much modify all the electronics (HDSDI, 24v, etc.) Companies like Rig engineering have battery hangers that bolt right on to the lower electronic housing. Hugo is also one of the nicest guys in the biz.

 

The vest was only second to my pro vest in comfort. Granted I had all new padding. I liked how you could adjust the center spar and socket block independently to be exactly where you needed them. A word of caution, the center spar aluminum thickness was a major flaw. It was made to thin and would often bend and brake if you weren’t careful about how much weight you had on your sled. I had some 3A vest components like the thicker steel spar and upper portion of a vest ready just incase I needed to replace the original. Again, just a bolt on swap. Modular.

 

The arm is awesome. I have flown red ones, Arri SR’s, heavy eng cameras from 10 years ago with no problem. I’m looking to replace it with a 3A arm for the extra weight capacity to fly my pro sled until I start working and can afford a pro titan arm. Sadly unlike Rob, I don’t think I can afford to keep two rigs. I will be putting mine on the market soon. It will definitely be bitter sweet.

Edited February 26, 2014 by Andre Trudel

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Ha, I know Rob. It was the first big rig I owned. Cost me a lot to get out of it. I still say that vest was miserable. Like mounting a socket block to a t-shirt.

[Andre Trudel]

“Like mounting a socket block to a t-shirt.”

 

Kevin, I literally just laughed out loud. That was good. I guess maybe the new padding and velcro on my really made a huge difference. I went to the workshop in 07 and preferred my efp vest to the entire arsenal of Tiffen vest available there. I ended up buying a pro vest not long after and put the efp in storage. To me, it always felt like a leather glove that was perfectly broken in. Super comfortable.

 

Everyone has different preference and experience with gear. Obviously, if you have the chance to try it for yourself, do so. Make your own judgment. Sorry to hear you had a negative experience Kevin.

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

Andre, my efp vest was in a great shape for its age, but the thing twisted like crazy under load. Screwed up my operating pretty bad. Dan let me demo an LX vest once and I remember saying to myself, Oh this is what it's supposed to feel like? I had control of the rig with my torso for the first time. I use a Pro now. Would like to give the exovest another try.