Premium Members Edward David Posted September 16, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Seeing if anyone has thoughts on buying a used master series kit vs a newer system? old and tested vs new and more bells and whistles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Rogers Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 The master is an Analog sled designed for when we used NTSC and PAL cameras. It will not pass HD-SDI without modification. Its shape is also a drawback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alejandro E Fuenmayor Posted September 28, 2018 Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 With the help of several generous veterans I have a master series sled and master arm that fly's great. It is humbling the amount of support I found in here and in the facebook groups. Don't discard the classics. The HDSDI upgrade is intimidating to do, but not impossible. Most Broken parts can be machine locally. And companies like calicocam can completely MOD the k-section and electronics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted October 18, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 Man whatevs.. its a pole and weight. I'm still rockin' a Masters sled (Terry hooked it up with HD-SDI down the post) and still getting calls. The young cats pullin' focus are like "what kinda rig is this..." :P :D 90% percent operator, 10% rig.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Sander Blok Posted October 28, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 28, 2018 I'm a beginning operator and just bought a Master Series (also the arm). The HDSDI was fairly easy to do, the guys at my local camera rental did it. I find it perfect to get started. It's sturdy and heavy enough to fly nice. They also replaced the old battery plate for a V-lock. I just think if you can geg it fairly cheap, it's worth the hassle with the upgrade stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members John Buzz Moyer Posted October 29, 2018 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 29, 2018 Great sled... still using the arm that came with it from 1994. Many add ons and tweaks possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted October 30, 2018 Moderators Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 Part of a bigger discussion but some relevant points; 1) Everyone has a fixed amount they can spend. They aren't suddenly going to get an elf to drop 10k more on them so make a choice. Here are the variables.. I need to start making money and in my market I'm going to outgrow this rig in 18 months or three years? Over 18 months or three years can I get established and have some clients? At the end of that time; I might have more money saved up and I can start to look for a bigger rig for my needs? Do I need to buy other things like a Follow focus or transmitter or not? Am I committed to this as a career path or am I bored and want to move on? What the resale on my current stuff, do I just need a sled or is my vest ok? If you're looking at used it means you can't buy new, question answered. If used is where you are, are these available rigs any good? Do I have to buy the pieces separately? Vest from one and sled and arm from another and another? Is the master series sled ok? SD and really you're buying the post and top stage. Someone modified it for HD, do you trust their mod and is it OK? The arm and vest probably fine, but how do you judge? Everyone used to want (still do) a PRO 1 they can modify but they are mostly gone and hard to find so now everyone is modifying Master Series. That's a good start on your decision process. It's always, how long can I use this sled (you answer, 1-3 yrs) before I outgrow it? Does it fit what I need and my clients for now? What might I have to "adapt" if I put an HD camera on it? Good luck and keep asking. Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 31, 2018 Moderators Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 What Janice says! Nothing wrong with older rigs - just make sure they don't vibrate or are so different from newer models that ACs want to run away (don't under estimate how much work they get you). Indeed, look at used PRO sleds too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alejandro E Fuenmayor Posted November 1, 2018 Report Share Posted November 1, 2018 The advice and help experience operators have given me.in.here and in the facebook groups is invaluable. I can say with confidence that a MS rig With the HDSDI upgrade, the 12v/24v wiring/switch/fuse, new monitor mount and a gyro can handle just about anything. Consider Mauricio at Calicocam if you want to.get rid of the k-section. Currently saving.up to.get one.of my.MS to Mauricio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Kisling Posted June 12, 2019 Report Share Posted June 12, 2019 I posted this on facebook, but I also wanted to ask here as well. Besides Calicocam and MK-V who mods Master Series? Anyone in Los Angeles? For servicing, does anyone still service the Master sled in Los Angeles? I've been told Tiffen no longer does and Cramped Attic services them in Canada. I'd like to find someone nearby. Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Soh Posted September 26, 2019 Report Share Posted September 26, 2019 On 10/31/2018 at 6:15 AM, Janice Arthur said: SD and really you're buying the post and top stage. Someone modified it for HD, do you trust their mod and is it OK? Hey Janice! I'm looking at potentially purchasing a master series myself, hence why I'm scrolling through these old threads. I am curious as to what you mean by you're buying the post and topstage? Like is there something wrong with the master gimbals? thanks! Joel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Kisling Posted September 26, 2019 Report Share Posted September 26, 2019 5 hours ago, Joel Soh said: Hey Janice! I'm looking at potentially purchasing a master series myself, hence why I'm scrolling through these old threads. I am curious as to what you mean by you're buying the post and topstage? Like is there something wrong with the master gimbals? thanks! Joel Hey Joel, I bought a Master Series back in July of this year, I don't know if anything is "wrong" with the gimbals, though I just had my serviced by Robert Luna. So far I've been very happy with my rig. Feel free to message me if you want to talk more about what using a Master Series Rig is like nowadays! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Soh Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 Hey Kevin :) Thanks for the reply, I do have a few question about the master gimbal, and I'm sure they have been talked about throughout the forums, but I've been through 20 pages of the forums when typing "master" in the search bar -anything more seemed to turn the search too broad. I've spoken to a fellow Operator who doesn't own a master, but has used one before and he did mention the weight is crazy (compared to modern rigs) what were your thoughts on that- like have you found it a problem, or have solutions (like I saw recently someone removed a tone of internal electrics and stuff that wasn't being used to lighten the bottom K section) or is it something you kinda just deal with? I've also read a lot about vibration issues, have you found that to be a problem, have you found solutions other than changing the entire top stage etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Kisling Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 Haha, I've also been on that search as well! The weight actually isn't that bad, I'm sure it's heavier than more modern rigs, but my rig also has the electronics from the k section removed. The k section does make the rig feel LONG, even when the post is as short as it goes, it feels long. But I'm also coming from an Aero30, which is much shorter. The k section also acts as a sail in the wind. So far I think the gimbal has been great. And I don't think I've had any vibration issues caused by the sled. If you are in LA, feel free to message me and you can check out my rig and see how you like it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Soh Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 Ahhh that’s fair. I guess if I do, I’ll just need to go to the gym more if I do go with a master sled Ahahaha. I’m based in Melbourne Australia, so if I do come to LA i’ll Definitely hit you up! Thanks Kevin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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