Real world use of the Sachtler Artemis Trinity released at IBC 2015

[Paul Cook]

Hi all,

 

I am new to the forums and keen to hear feedback from steadicam operators all over on something I produced this summer. I am a beta/product tester for Vitec Videocom and as part of a Kickstarter project I have launched I was lucky enough to have Curt Schaller operate the prototype SMX 20 'Artemis Trinity' on my pitch film.

 

It has been getting some good and bad feedback, all of which I understand, but I wanted to hear from actual operators in the industry. As a DoP I have my issues with the end product that we created but I think it's still a really decent effort given the ambitious one-shot nature of it.

 

The Artemis Trinity has actually now been adapted to iron out the imperfections that are visible on my pitch film, but I'd love to know what others think of the prototype's efforts. Any and all feedback is great, and I will actually pass it on to Sachtler.

 

Please check out the pitch film here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulcook/magpie

 

Thank you for your time.

[AndreasKielb]

I tried the Trinity at the IBC for the first time and have the feeling that the joystick control of the tilt axis was already improved compared to the version of the MagPie promo. At least I think it's possible to maintain a good headroom in a one-shot with that joystick control after a few takes and the chance to learn what is going on.

 

But I do have an issue with the direct connection between sled and pan axis. With a vertical sled the direct connection is of course a good thing but with the low inertia of a horizontal sled in mid mode it's really difficult not to add unintended movements to the pan axis.

 

But I guess the 'around the corner looking function' is an integral part of the rig and is caused by the arrangement of the tilt axis being the outer and roll the inner axis. If it's not a given mechanical fact I'd say it would be better to have the pan axis fixed electronically and not connected to the rotation of the post. Then you'd have the entire inertia of the long post to keep pans perfectly stable in mid mode (...by pointing the rig in the desired direction).

 

But if I'm not mistaken it is a mechanical thing and it would be necessary to reverse the arrangement of tilt and roll completely, having roll as outer axis and tilt inside so that the tilt motors are always level together with the camera.

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I did notice some twitchy panning movements during normal operating conditions that seemed out of place.

[Chris Loh]

BTS of the pitch film.. Not sure I see a reason the camera needed to go from low to high mode during this shot. It couldn't have all been shot on a traditional steadicam?

 

[Shawn Wang]

it can pull the camera from outside the window to interior without the use of movi etc.

 

or it can go underneath the table or car then up to reveal whatever.

 

its better than AR cuz from feet to head straight tracking you dont have to go to the side and come back.

 

more or less like Larry Mcconkey's hybrid combination of steadicam and movi, except trinity doesn't have the 16lbs weight limit like movi. so it carries pretty much majority of the cameras.

 

I assume the best use is you dont have to have a superpost to achieve certain shots. and you hands is always in good position.

 

btw, panning speed is great.

 

but still, to me its like a cool addon, not essential. more like a rental item.

 

my 2 cents.

 

cheers

[Paul Cook]

Thanks so much for watching and feeding back your thoughts everyone.

 

I would agree that the pan movements in our pitch film were 'twitchy'. That's the perfect word I've been looking for to describe it.

I also checked out the final product at IBC and it has improved dramatically. I would agree with Andreas still that by having the pan axis controlled electronically it would be a further improvement.

 

I am not a steadicam operator or an engineer but I am certain that the Trinity could have an electronically controlled pan axis - it could still be controlled by the post but then dampened by the gimbal. The same way a Movi or Ronin does. I love the theory and concept behind the Trinity though, and the final product, being shorter and lighter than the prototype used on my film, is definitely a big improvement. It seems far more controllable because of those changes.