The ALIEN / Alien Revolution - All about...

[Guido Lux]

Hi Erwin!

 

After having the AR/Nexus for more than half a year, I can just second what Ramon and Gustavo said!!!!It is a great piece of equipment and once you're used to it it works great!The slight drift in level every once in a while(as pointed out by my two colleagues) will probably be gone with the V2 electronics!!

Also the Nexus without the AR is the best sled I've tried so far!The gimbal is the best and I love the 4stagepost!!

And NO discount on the AR!!!You want EXTRA,you pay EXTRA!!!I'd rather leave it at home than give it away for free!!

The only problem I have with the kit is the Panasonic monitor!But Howard knows this and is looking for the perfect mating of picturequality and lightness!! He'll find the right one soon and I was even promised the upgrade for free (same as the V2 upgrade!!!)

So only some very minor complaints(if you can call it that!?) and a lot of good (even great) things to say about the AR/Nexus!

Customer service is good!Sometimes a bit slow but we all know that Howard is doing so much developing and testing...!But I bet if you really need a livesaver Howard and his crew will be there!!!

 

 

 

Guido Lux

[Bryan Trieb]

This is great to hear .....would love to hear more testimonials from other ops using the AR.

I have a question: How much vibration shows up in the frame when flying full sized cameras?

Been debating this with some of my steadi-bretheren....because we noticed vibration in the frame in the AR demo videos. Also saw some of Will's work in "Rent", and didn't really notice any vibration, but I wasn't viewing it from a clean DVD source (web clips).

 

Of course we all realize that 1st generation technology will have bugs to work out....however the issue of any vibration in the frame would completely eliminate my desire to purchase the AR. We're spending so much time and effort to eliminate vibration from steadicam frames, for many years.

 

Another question: I noticed in some pics of Will's rig, that there is a cable snake going from the bottom of the sled, up the outside of the post, to the AR cage. Do cables have to exist this way when flying the AR? Does it make a difference if the rig is an MK-V Nexus, vs. an XCS Ultimate?

 

Last question (for now....): Has anyone op'd the AR on a live multicamera event...with the dreaded Triax cable?

 

 

Thank you all for sharing your valuable input of experiences!

[Dave Bittner]

The thing that puzzles me about the AR is that it seems to have trouble with things that Lynn's original Alien prototype had solved years ago. For example, the AR freaks out if you set the camera completely nose down, so they've added a switch to disengage the system for when you want to do this. But Lynn's system never had any trouble with this, didn't need a switch, and never drifted in the time I saw it operating or the time I spent flying it. I've heard that the AR uses less sophisticated (and therefore less expensive) sensors than Lynn's original Alien, but I'm afraid my understanding of the true differences between Lynn's patented original and the production AR is limited, so hopefully others with a more detailed understanding can post here.

 

We've seen postings from AR owners who seem to be pleased with the rig. I'm curious to know why those who sold thier ARs did so. Other than the previously mentioned nose-down freak-out, the AR seemed to perform fine when I saw it at NAB this year, when Alec J. was putting it through its paces.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

" course we all realize that 1st generation technology will have bugs to work out....however the issue of any vibration in the frame would completely eliminate my desire to purchase the AR. We're spending so much time and effort to eliminate vibration from steadicam frames, for many years."

 

Bryan has echoed my own feelings on this one. There is no question that the prototype I tried on two occasions (a year or so back & again at NAB) had what I consider excessive vibration (just zoom the lens in and jog in place). Being a prototype, I have refrained from commenting on this in public out of respect to Howard - I always appreciate the opportunity to test any prototype and give feedback (I obviously mentioned my concerns to him). At NAB, I also had the opportunity to try the V2 production unit and I was eager to see if this vibration was still there. Sadly, it was a pointless exercise because the video camera in the AR's cage was mounted on a shoddy quick release plate (not part of the AR system, but a standard camera plate) causing ample vibration. So, I too, am curious from those in the field. I hope that in the future, Howard choses to demo the unit with a more rigid camera and plate set-up.

 

Regarding rate. I think a few hundred more is not enough considering the cost. In order for me to justify the expense, I'd have to have a lot of people willing to pay a solid $1000/day for the extra gear. Sadly, in this day and age of cheapness and wanting to be ready yesterday, I am skeptical of the extra cost and set-up time. I have spent years simplifying my gear.....

 

To me the most exciting thing about the AR will be when HD cameras are very small and light (it will happen... someday) and they will nestle in an AR cage nicely weighing less than the set-ups we are accustom to.

 

The future is an interesting place.

 

Oh, regarding the cables on Will's rig from "Rent." I believe he has had his XCS sled modified to run all AR data lines up the post (Greg Bubb leaves extra lines/pins up his post for custom needs). The cables you see are from his Preston Follow focus as he moved his MDR2 to the bottom for better weight distribution (but obviously, his motors are still at the top!).

 

Cheers,

[Guido Lux]

From what I know,will put his Preston on the lower sled in order to move more weight to the bottom!Therefor he had to extend his motorcables and run them up his post! This is no problem (you don't feel a difference while operating) as long as the cables don't interfere with you hand and grip!

I have done live shows on a triaxcable and it worked great!The only thing is that they let you stand there for almost 3 hours without giving you a real break : "Guido,maybe you can use the commercial breaks to hang up the rig and take a break!?" Believe me, after 3 hours on the show without a real break(all this after 3 hours of rehearsal before...) you decide that maybe you should have told the director/producer how seriously important breaks are with this piece of new equipment!!

 

 

Guido "back to steadicam for long liveshows" Lux

[Charles Papert]

As a general rule, one who owns gear from a given company is not likely to draw up a public list of complaints for fear that they will get second-rate service when they need it. And even after a negative experience, they may opt not to speak out about it in depth as they don't want to deal with the drama.

 

I'm posting this in this thread but it is just as applicable to most of the different brands of Steadicam related gear. And the industry (and probably the universe) in general.

 

To the large number of folks who lurk in the shadows of this board, do your research before buying anything based on cheerful thumbs-up on a message board. Make phone calls, send private emails. You may find a whole new picture emerging, or you may find it to be consistent with what you have read. Either way, it will help your decision-making process.

 

Remember--politics are everywhere!

[Gustavo Penna]

So far i never had any kind of vibrations when using the AR with any kind of the film cameras that i had to fly, a Moviecam SL, 435 sr3 sr2 and 235. regarding the fear of posting about any flows with the system, i never had a problem with the AR, so nothing to comment. i guess time will tell.

 

i did a job with the 535 on the NEXUS, without the AR of cource, and the sled behaved beautifully, since i had to move at a very very fast pace from a kitchen to a living room to a beadroom and finished on a bathroom on a lock off on the main mirror.

 

I was not blown away by the panasonic monitor either, so i switched the BOLLAND 8" from my master to the nexus. THIS MONITOR (WHEN IT WORKED,)WAS GREAT UNDER ANY KIND OF LIGHTING CONDITIONS EVEN AT THE BEACH IT BEHAVES AS GOOD AS A GREEN SCREEN. AND AS LONGEST IT DOESNT BURN IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SHOT.

 

I HAVE TO MAKE THIS CLEAR!

THE BOLLAND IS NOT A MONITOR YOU CAN RELLY ON.

MINE HAS BLOWN SEVERAL TIMES, AND SINCE THE BOLLAND COMPANY SAID THAT GUARANTY IS NOT COVERING THIS,

I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR $560.00 US, 3 TIMES ALREADY. THEY SENT IT TO ME THE LAST TIME AND IT BLEW UP ON THE FIRST MINUTE, I SENT IT BACK TO THEM ALMOUST 3 WEEKS AGO, AND THEY WANT TO BILL ME THE SAME AMOUNT AGAIN. SO I CAME TO THE POINT THAT I DONT WANT IT BACK. THEY CAN KEEP THAT PIECE OF CRAP AT BOLLAND. SINCE IT DOESNT WORK AT ALL.

 

GUS( LOVING THE AR, HATING THE BOLLAND) PENNA

[mattmarek]

what is a bolland?

[Jason Torbitt]

Gus is talking about the Boland LCD monitor, which MK-V sells to go with their rigs / AR. I think it does HD-SDI.

[mattmarek]

how is something that is as unstabel as this thing sounds, actually on the market?

what does it offer?

[Howard J Smith]

Hi Matt

 

For the record.

The Boland's we do are modified for us and have an extra power converter built in.

 

The standard 8.4" is for 12v only - most rigs with the new batteries can pump out 17+v

So a standard Boland which is designed for studio work etc. does have a problem with the excess power.

This is why we had them change it for us.

Therefore the one I have had for 2+ years has been fine and I have had no problems.

 

Hope this helps

Cheers

Howard

[Michael Stumpf]

Charles, I second your sentiments and advice in the above post.

 

People are always willing and eager to publicly praise something.

But are not so eager to negatively review/bash something they've

been uphappy with.

 

In this day and age of production cheapness where rates are continually

being driven down and rental rates are being hacked away too.

I occasionally get calls where producers want to pay regular operator rate

for Steadicam (with a minor bump in rental rate to "compensate")

Of course I turn it down, but know people (and who) takes these jobs.

 

 

I suspect this might be one of MANY reasons the "pioneers" who originally

bought an AR have sold it too.

I also agree with Alec's assessment of the required set up time as being another.

 

Erwin, I've heard and have been told many of those "rumors" you listed too.

[Jordan Rubin]

Bryan, for someone who (as you say) has spent a lot of time thinking and debating the AR, you are doing yourself a great disservice by not having seen Rent. There is no vibration whatsoever in any of Will?s shots. It?s a great film too.

 

Also, could you please specify where exactly in the AR demos you noticed vibration ? Please let us know so we can all see.

 

Dave, it still amazes me that there are people out there who still think that an Arricam LT or a Millenium XL2 would work on Lynn?s system? Simply put, Lynn?s ?L? base did not allow for a verical magazine. Additionally, the single point of attachment and support on the back, would never survive a vehicle mount over rough terrain.

 

The amount of heat that Howard is getting from this forum is mind-boggling. I?m wondering if the same would be happening if he was an American.

 

Thank God the Internet was not around when Garrett was showing up on those film-sets with his ?Brown Stabilizer?. The concept would never survive with all the slandering and rumourology.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I know that it has been said before but People should talk to those that are know to have, had or be involved with the project/gear that don't post here...

 

Caveat Emptor

[Gustavo Penna]

Hi Matt

 

For the record.

The Boland's we do are modified for us and have an extra power converter built in.

 

The standard 8.4" is for 12v only - most rigs with the new batteries can pump out 17+v

So a standard Boland which is designed for studio work etc. does have a problem with the excess power.

This is why we had them change it for us.

 

Well that was the first upgrade that tara at Bolland offered me when it blew the first time, and i went and got it. and 800 dollars and two weeks latter it blew in white smoke again. i got my Daybright Bolland LCD before i got the AR, from bolland in LA, and i have not beaing treated according to the amount of money that i paid for it.

Then i went to Noel"s at transvideo and his great customers service when i was there made me regret that i didnt got the transvideo from him.

i hope i can get it to work with out paying more money since it already cost me a small fortune in repairs in just 5 months.

AND THE REZON WHY I COMMENT ON THE MONITOR IS TRIGERED BY CHARLES PAPPERT"S COMMENT ON PEOPLE NOT WILLING TO COMPLAINT OR INFORM ON A RECENT OR BAD PURCHASE EXPERIENCES, AND THIS FAILURE HAPPENED TO BE ON TOP OF THE MY AR. EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

 

Are you OK? MR Efletcher. no need to amail anybody now. and everything on the size that you like. Why dont you remove the FONT, SIZE menus from the forum windows, that way this wont happen again, i thought they are there for a reazon. to make a text, any size or font type someone freely wants. Please accept my apologies