Premium Members Imran Naqvi Posted October 2, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 Gentlemen, I own a red spring 3a arm with an EFP, and while it's fine for video jobs SD to HD, I finding that I'm starting to get a little bit of 16mm work. No problem right? Well not quite, I have a set of ProPacs which run to 2.5KG each plus with my Blackbird LCD that is heavier than the green CRT that it replaced, a fully loaded SR3a is just too much for my arm. That leaves me needing to hire in a gold spring 3a arm, which at the level I'm currently working at tends to cut into my fee a little. So, I'm looking at potential upgrades. As I won't be able to keep my old arm as a spare, I'm wondering how much my arm would fetch on the open market. It'll at least give me an idea how much I'll need to save. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Monk Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 Gentlemen, I own a red spring 3a arm with an EFP, and while it's fine for video jobs SD to HD, I finding that I'm starting to get a little bit of 16mm work. No problem right? Well not quite, I have a set of ProPacs which run to 2.5KG each plus with my Blackbird LCD that is heavier than the green CRT that it replaced, a fully loaded SR3a is just too much for my arm. That leaves me needing to hire in a gold spring 3a arm, which at the level I'm currently working at tends to cut into my fee a little. So, I'm looking at potential upgrades. As I won't be able to keep my old arm as a spare, I'm wondering how much my arm would fetch on the open market. It'll at least give me an idea how much I'll need to save. Check out the Rig Engineering page. They have some basic trade in prices on their site. Also, if your looking to upgrade with them, you won't have to find a buyer for your arm. Chip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 2, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 Imran, I'll second Chip's advice and raise it by on web link (in case you don't have Rig Engineering's info): http://www.steadyrig.com/ A red spring arm is not worth that much in and of itself, so the upgrade really puts value back into it as well. Oh, I noticed you mentioned HD as well. Not sure what HD set-ups you've been flying, but most of the ones I've had on my rig are at least as heavy as 35mm work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Howard J Smith Posted October 2, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 Hi Imran - chaps As Alec and Chip have said the Rig (www.steadyrig.com) arm upgrade is a very good option. I have done about 4 arms with them. If this is a little pricey we can offer you a spring change - this will give you more power with you arm, but keep most of the rest of you arm. If you are interested please email me at howard@mk-v.com and we now have new numbers +44 (0)1204 547900 I have a couple of Silver spring arms in stock if you wish to try one. All the best Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Imran Naqvi Posted October 3, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Imran, I'll second Chip's advice and raise it by on web link (in case you don't have Rig Engineering's info): http://www.steadyrig.com/ A red spring arm is not worth that much in and of itself, so the upgrade really puts value back into it as well. Oh, I noticed you mentioned HD as well. Not sure what HD set-ups you've been flying, but most of the ones I've had on my rig are at least as heavy as 35mm work! I've had a Sony 750 with a genio and Canon HD zooms and primes. If anything the 750 being effectively an HD replacement for digibeta feels like a slightly lighter body, but needing heavier lenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 3, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Lucky you..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Imran Naqvi Posted October 3, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Lucky you..... Well yes, yours is bigger than mine...... I'm still stuck doing the jobs where I only get called the day before with students or self-financed projects that are never quite as well organised as they claim, and they never have enough money for a video sender let alone a 900/Cinealta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 3, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Imran, Wasn't trying to imply anything in my post other than HD can suck. I was just curious as to how you could get an HD camera on such a light weight arm. I'm afraid, I've never heard/seen of a 750. I'm glad you are getting more work and able to upgrade the arm. I just had to post those pictures because I chuckle every-time I see them and think to myself, "this is progress?" Of interest, the last HD job I did with a Sony F900, they had a new (at least to me) Miranda back to the camera that acted as both an SDI converter and a down-converter. Size and weight was considerably better than the SDI converter of old (pictured above) and again, built in down-converter. Frame delay was on par or better than other Miranda models. Also on this show, they ran a separate DAT and just had one small wireless receiver on the camera carrying the mixed signal. This combined with primes made for a much better set-up. I went from this greatly improved set-up to an Arricam LT though and barely touched the adjustments on my arm (I think I actually backed off the bones a turn or two - and I was flying my heavy/antiquated Sony mini-DV deck). The LT set-up was still a tad lighter (with Zeiss S. Speeds - obviously this make a big difference). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted October 3, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 I am on this feature at the moment, because I am only days here/there panavision were unwilling to give a proper miranda for the f900. What they found was this tiny tiny downconverter that sits in the side of the plugs, its NTSC but is the same size and weight as a small box of matches! It s brilliant! The image can be a bit funny.. split screen on super fast pans... but nothing at all to worry about, really made up by the lack of weight and size from this thing. Ill take a photo next time I am in (the 18th). But attached is a bad (camera phone photo) you can just see the box on the back corner of the camera. It s tiny! I think they have stopped making them. The 750 is like the f900 but does nt do 24p (only 25p and 50i in europe), doesn t have proper curve control but does have an inbuilt downconverter. Essentially a digibeta on steroids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted October 3, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Of interest, the last HD job I did with a Sony F900, they had a new (at least to me) Miranda back to the camera that acted as both an SDI converter and a down-converter. Size and weight was considerably better than the SDI converter of old (pictured above) and again, built in down-converter. Frame delay was on par or better than other Miranda models. Also on this show, they ran a separate DAT and just had one small wireless receiver on the camera carrying the mixed signal. This combined with primes made for a much better set-up. Alec, Was that a Panavised F900? I'm currently flying the pig you pictured above on a feature and would love the setup you mentioned. Just curious where that package and downconverter came from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 4, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Brad, Long time, no see. Hope all is well. No, sorry, it was a privately owned camera by a DP. Nice package; he had an after market handle with tapped 3/8-16 holes, etc. Very slick set-up. Thomas, I've used the Miranda you mentioned, but I find it very helpful to have an SDI converter onboard so you can rehearse with a single (lightweight) BNC cable. The great advantage of this new Miranda back is that it is smaller and lighter than the Sony SDI box, but/and includes a down-converter. It also generates frames-lines, etc for ALL monitors on set to see (both via the SDI outputs as well as the NTSC ones). Just did a web search. Here is the info form Miranda's site: http://www.miranda.com/product.php?i=226&l=1 Also, a video that explains their line of products: http://www.miranda.com/demos/dvc/index01.html Brad, Panavision NY did not have any little Morandas when I did that job - just the icon or whatever box you see wedged between my dovetail plate and the camera (in the soldier curve). What a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted October 5, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Brad, Long time, no see. Hope all is well. No, sorry, it was a privately owned camera by a DP. Nice package; he had an after market handle with tapped 3/8-16 holes, etc. Very slick set-up. Brad, Panavision NY did not have any little Morandas when I did that job - just the icon or whatever box you see wedged between my dovetail plate and the camera (in the soldier curve). What a pain. Thanks for the info Alec. I'm doing well. Hope you are too. I've at least got the small Miranda on the back right of the camera instead of the icon, but it would be nice to have the combo unit you mentioned. I've already got my assistants on the case, so hopefully we can find one. I'm sure there are some around, but finding one that's available is probably the real issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Monk Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Gentlemen, I own a red spring 3a arm with an EFP, and while it's fine for video jobs SD to HD, I finding that I'm starting to get a little bit of 16mm work. Imran, I have found a set of Black Springs that I bought from another operator a few years ago, and never installed them in my arm. I've since upgraded to a Rig arm and no longer need them. Let me know if you are interestd in them. It's a cheap and easy upgrade. Chip chip@cmsteadicam.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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