Which springs for PRO Titan arm?

[MichaelReedy]

Hi all,

 

So I'm looking at upgrading to the PRO Titan arm as an undeserved present to myself. Just curious as to which spring combinations will see 90% of the day-to-day work.

 

Obviously it depends on whether you're shooting feature or live. I'll personally be looking at narrative 98% of the time so assume the typical Alexa, RED, Sony chorus.

Weight charts help of course but I'd love to hear some real world experiences.

 

I know the easy answer is to just buy them all, but funds have to run out at some point and unfortunately that's pretty much my limit <_<

 

If you could choose only 6 canisters, which would you go with for the best range? I don't see myself flying a 3D rig any time soon so I'm leaning toward 4 blue and 2 black. Giving me 13-63lbs without gaps, which matches the Silver Spring I was originally looking at.

 

I can always sell body parts and get the other 2 black canisters if I somehow land a job that requires such a load.

So in summary, for anyone that had to ask the same question, what did you choose and are you happy with the results?

 

Thank you for taking the time to respond,

Michael.

[Tom Wills]

I'm in the middle of putting money together for picking up a PRO arm myself. And I will just say this - the difference between 6 and 8 springs is $1600. Springs are over $3000 each separately. It's a jump, but I think it's foolhardy to not jump at the opportunity to be able to fly ANYTHING - and have full redundancy as well for most weight ranges.

 

Just my thoughts. I think if you're gonna skip 2 canisters though, skip blacks. 4 blues is a sweet weight range, and 2 blues and 2 blacks will fly most everyday heavy packages.

[MichaelReedy]

Hey Tom, thanks for the response. I agree that all springs is definitely the best choice and am still trying to work toward that option. I'm stretching as it is to get this in my budget.

 

 

Hmmm, might look around the house to see what else I have to sell..

[William Demeritt]

I haven't loaded my black canisters into my arm in a while. Your mileage may vary.

[RonBaldwin]

just remember using a fully loaded Alexa (28 to 30 lbs) on a typical "big sled" (20 to 23 lbs) will get ya pretty close to the max of 4 blues. Definitely get at least two black canisters.

[William Demeritt]

Sorry, yea, buy the 6 canister setup because buying it later is stupid. However, be prepared to spend most of your time on 4 blues.

[Brian Freesh]

As someone who does not yet own a Pro Arm, I'm totally an expert and you should listen to me and not those two bozos above who actually have owned the arms for years...

 

I've found overwhelmingly that operators in the narrative world leave 2 blues and 2 blacks in their arms 90% of the time or more. It seems in general to cover the most often used range. That said, the past half decade or so has seen a generally lighter range of camera weights. Not across the board, just in general. So yeah, 4 blues will cover a lot. And in the live world 4 blues would cover everything (I assume). The exceptions will be: 3D, IMAX, Gyros, and any time some weight is added that is not standard, like recorders, ring lights, etc...

 

Look at the flip side, if you bought 4 blacks and 2 blues, your options are 13-24 lbs, 24-34 lbs, 39-63 lbs, and 50-72 lbs, leaving you a gap in a particularly useful range.

 

With 4 blues and 2 blacks you have no gap, just a loss of 9 lbs at the high end. My arm lifts 65lbs, and in 4 years I've never needed more (I've also never done 3D, or IMAX, etc...)

 

Minor correction to Tom's post: Canisters are over $3000/2, not each, when sold separately from an arm. $3300 for 2 blacks, still more than twice the cost of buying those two blacks as part of an 8 canister arm package.

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

4 blacks, 4 blues, you'll be good.....pretty much forever.

[MichaelReedy]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm still pretty sure to be going with 4 blue and 2 black at the moment as I'm also upgrading sled, vest and my van.

Just good to know I'm not making a catastrophic mistake for general operating weights and can always add it on later.

 

Appreciated.
:)

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

I have not removed my two blue, two black combo from my arm in years. That said, if you can swing the cash for eight, you are covered for all combos as well as backup and as Tom points out, its much cheaper to buy them upfront. Short of that, buy four blues, two blacks.

[Thomas English]

4 blue and 2 black will do you for anything except heavy AR rig, 3D or any other odd one. I've had 2 blue 2 black for ages and I do loads of AR.