The NEW steadicam Ultra2

[Steve Fracol SOC]

I normally do not post much on the forum but having spent some time the past 4 days with the Ultra 2 at NAB I feel it is an obligation to share the info with anyone that wants to know about it. My opinions might sound one sided but keep in mind that I was already an Ultra user? and this is not a direct endorsement for Tiffen (they are not paying me). I like a lot of stuff out there?but I personally like the ?creature features? available on the Ultra the best. It just works for me.

 

Most of you that know me know that I fly an original Ultra Cine as my main rig. Ultra Arm, Klassen Traditional Back Mount Vest as well as my original Ultra Vest? and I have a 24v modified EFP (still in construction mode) as a light weight running rig/back up. I have had my Ultra Cine for nearly 3 years and it has been very good to me. The few problems I have had (self inflicted war wounds) were taken care of very quickly by Kyle Young the Tiffen customer service rep. Again, I am not here to endorse Tiffen but I will quickly say they have treated me very, very well and I feel I owe them some gratitude for taking such good care of me.

 

Tiffen seems to stay directly on the cutting edge of Steadicam technology. They usually put more stuff than anyone needs on a rig. The sort of stuff you can live without but it is the stuff that makes your job easier, better and more fun. They have managed to put everything the original Ultra had into the new Ultra 2 + more. They also made the rig totally ?FIELD SERVICABLE?. That was a big deal that the original Ultra was missing. To get inside and work on or fix the original top stage or cabling was a real chore. You had to have several hours to spare and some very specific tools not to mention a ton of patience. I only know of a few people that would even attempt it other than Larry McConkey and Aldo at the factory. The new U2 is very field serviceable. Problems from the U1 for the most part seem solved. Time will tell for sure once they start delivering?but after 4 days of flying it and really looking it over, it seems to be a great system. The G 70 arm is everything that I expected it would be and with 32? of boom range, all I can say is WOW. You need to try it out to see how smooth it is, light weight it is and how you can actually adjust the ?ride? of the arm for whatever type of shot your doing or if you like the feel of a 3A or PRO arm. Very handy. The new Ultra Vest is also improved. I will go into detail on each item below.

 

 

Original UltraCine:

 

Some of the things that I absolutely love about my original Ultra are the post size flexibility from 28? to 72?, the on screen level indicator, motorized top stage and the tilt stage. Many other things come to mind but those are what pretty much sold me. Even though 85 to 90% of our operating is in a typical config. missionary position I still say all those options are a great way to sell what I can offer up as an operator and make myself a bit unique. It works well for me. Anyway?my point is to get to what is going on with the new Ultra 2. So here goes.

 

Ultra 2 Sled:

 

The sled has an all new super stiff camera mounting stage with ?go-to? motors, a modified from the original ?tilt stage?, and a wider range of adjustment than before. The electronics are on cards with no wiring harness. Easy upgrading with a sort of plug and play type set up. Definitely 21-century stuff.

 

The motorized top stage has the same fore and aft buttons but now also has 3 pre-set buttons. That means that you can pre-set a place for the motor to go during a shot to trim for a final lock or headroom along the way or anything you can think of as a need to make your work better. It has indicator LED's (red-green) thanks to Rob at the factory to let you know programming the move is locked in. It is very easy to program and it is a very nice feature. Nice upgrade from the original Ultra.

 

The ?tilt stage? is pretty much original design but a much better and more positive locking system. They changed over to Kip handles on one side and locked the other side together with an aluminum stint. Most of us that had the original Ultra made those mods early on because the top stage often slipped just a bit throughout a long day of operating. Glad they listened to us for that fix.

 

The gimbal is totally new. Larger bearings on both the gimbal itself as well as the side-to-side yolk. They created a very cool tool called the ?blue whale? that allows us as operators to very easily center the yolk when it gets out of center. Another great feature. The old one was also somewhat user serviceable but this is a much better system. My guess is that it can be centered in just a few minutes and this time it has screw on dust covers that only come off and go on with the pin registered blue whale. Nice stuff.

 

The top stage plugs have all the usual stuff but this time around it has 2 b&c connectors. One is an HDSDI cable that is a home run straight down the post to the bottom electronics box. The cleanest feed to your HD monitor. It also has a feed to the video DA that sends the composite video to all the necessary places we need video for transmitters, on board recorders, etc. Very smart. The reason why they missed that on the original Ultra was because it was brought out in 1999 prior to most cameras sending HDSDI out. It is basic stuff now days and I am glad they wired it this way. Personally I do a lot of HD work so I will use these features often.

 

The electronics box on the bottom of the rig is in the shape of a small shoe. It is a much smaller box than the original so I am fairly certain that it will perform better in the wind. It has a slide away ?diving board? for on board recorders with adjustable power tap right there and all the usual connectors that we typically need as well. It also has an integrated power meter that can switch between voltage from the batteries, the voltage from the DC-to-DC converter, and the AMP draw from the batts or the converter. Pushing a button on the side of the electronics box cycles through the 4 indicators. Cool stuff that I typically incorporated aftermarket items for.

Now standard features. I like that a lot.

 

The Battery system is probably the most significant problem solver Tiffen has come up with for all of us that fly the 435 or Genesis cameras. Tiffen together with IDX have developed a new battery specifically for the power consumption needs that we face when working with the 435 at high speed and the Genesis camera. These batteries together are are 29.6V 180 watt hour system to kick ass and meet the needs that a lot of us face on a regular basis. Yes?I know that most of us have figured out that a NiCad mix with Hytron works great for 435 work but these new batteries are 1.5lbs each. I heard Garrett tested them and one set will run 20 mags at high speed before depleting. (eager to test myself) Cool stuff. Jerry Holway also shot recently with the Genesis and had no power issues at all. Get this?.they also work with any of the IDX chargers already in service. Also very cool stuff.

 

The monitor (HD UltraBright) has also had some plastic surgery done on it. They took the electronics out of the monitor box and separated them so that the monitor at 1400 nits would not heat up so much and turn the fan on. I know I have had a few sound guys get a little pissy with me when working in confined spaces with actors and that damn fan kicks on. You had the ability to turn the fan off but if the auto system had turned the fan on in the first place then I figured it must need to be on. That made for a bad day in the past. In other words it was a great idea to separate the electronics from the heat that the 1400 nit brightness put out? so that problem is solved. (I am eager to test) This version also has an HD SDI input. Thank goodness. For those of you working with the VariCam and other HDSDI only cams? you?re now in luck. No more need for a downconverter. Most cameras had aftermarket converters anyway but it is nice to work with a clean HD image.

 

The new Ultra Vest is a very big improvement. New positive ?V? mount shoulder straps, and a better design on the spar overall. They seemed to move the belly plate to the front of the spar instead of under and the adjustments are much nicer. Easier to move and when locked everything stays locked including the socket block. My original had to be modified a bit to work well. This time around they have two locking knobs on the movable block assembly. Nice stuff and some really positive improvements.

 

Way to go Tiffen!!! Garrett, Jerry, Rob and all those people that work in the factory should be proud.

 

Well, that is pretty much a summary regarding the Ultra 2 from NAB.

 

THANKS FOR READING!

 

Very best to all of you,

 

Steve Fracol

[Andrew Jansen]

Any idea of the price ?

 

Andrew

[Steve Fracol SOC]

Any idea of the price ?

 

Andrew

 

Frank Rush said they are are going to try and price it at or just below the current Ultra price ($66,000 US). Call him and ask for detials.

 

Best,

 

Fracol PS- Sorry for the typos in my long posting on the U2. I am still recovering from the trip.

[Andrew Jansen]

Thanks !

 

Andrew

[RobVanGelder]

Thanks for posting such information, this is what we all like to see on the Steadicam Forum, so I hope you will do that more often.

 

It´s exciting to hear that the number 1 (in my opinion) brand of Steadicam is still working to make it better, to improve and to be ahead of the rest.

 

Innovation is what we need!!!

 

 

 

Rob

[Steve Fracol SOC]

Thanks for posting such information, this is what we all like to see on the Steadicam Forum, so I hope you will do that more often.

 

It´s exciting to hear that the number 1 (in my opinion) brand of Steadicam is still working to make it better, to improve and to be ahead of the rest.

 

Innovation is what we need!!!

 

 

 

Rob

I could not agree more with your feelings.

 

Having known Jerry and Garrett personally for about 3 years...they work constantly to make Steadicam better. Jerry never stops talking about how they are going to improve this or that. And best of all the factory is listening and delivering the goods. It was worth the wait. That is true dedication to a product. I look forward to the delivery of my new rig.

 

Steve

[Guido Lux]

Oh no Steve!

 

Don't tell me you ordered one too?! I hope you you that I ordered my G70 before all of you guys!!Just kidding!

Seems you got home safe!

Was good to meet you!So come here more often!!

 

Guido "I want the first G70" Lux

[Steve Fracol SOC]

Oh no Steve!

 

Don't tell me you ordered one too?! I hope you you that I ordered my G70 before all of you guys!!Just kidding!

Seems you got home safe!

Was good to meet you!So come here more often!!

 

Guido "I want the first G70" Lux

 

Guido,

 

It was your order that started it all. Well, actually Ruben mounting the U2 first...then sort of a free for all. It was nice of Jerry to give Ruben the first official flight. I think Ruben's order was first. (Jerry, giving him the first flight worked, HA! -Jerry alrady knew I would order one) Of course I ordered one...are you kidding. Can't wait for delivery.

 

yes, home safe. Kids and dog were happy to see Stac and I again. Life is good.

 

Likewise it was good to meet you. Hope all is well in your part of the world. Stay safe, fly safe! I will come and visit you at IBC.

 

Regards,

 

Steve "Steadi cutting edge" Fracol PS-A.K.A Steve "going out to cut the grass" Fracol

[Ruben Sluijter]

Guido,

 

It was your order that started it all. Well, actually Ruben mounting the U2 first...then sort of a free for all. It was nice of Jerry to give Ruben the first official flight. I think Ruben's order was first. (Jerry, giving him the first flight worked, HA! -Jerry alrady knew I would order one) Of course I ordered one...are you kidding. Can't wait for delivery.

Truth is that both Jerry and Garrett know me too well, they finally got me to give up my "Bitch". Anyway, am I to conclude that you'll finally be coming to say hi in Amsterdam this year? About bloody time Fracol!

 

Peace, Ruben "You had me at 'Hello'" Sluijter

[Steve Fracol SOC]

Guido,

 

It was your order that started it all. Well, actually Ruben mounting the U2 first...then sort of a free for all. It was nice of Jerry to give Ruben the first official flight. I think Ruben's order was first. (Jerry, giving him the first flight worked, HA! -Jerry alrady knew I would order one) Of course I ordered one...are you kidding. Can't wait for delivery.

Truth is that both Jerry and Garrett know me too well, they finally got me to give up my "Bitch". Anyway, am I to conclude that you'll finally be coming to say hi in Amsterdam this year? About bloody time Fracol!

 

Peace, Ruben "You had me at 'Hello'" Sluijter

 

 

Ruben,

 

Funny....you had me at Hello. You crack me up.

 

Well, I am not sure how your "Bitch" rig will handle you getting aquainted with a rig designed and built in the 21st Century. She might get a bit JEALOUS. Perhaps a good name for the new rig is "The Mistress". Gotta run.

 

Oh....As for Amsterdam...can't say for sure yet but I promise I will try to make it this year. I think that is what I said last year.

 

Steve "getting ready to haul around Haskell's BL 4" Fracol

 

PS- I should have just said NO!

 

"Just say no to BL work"

"Just say no to BL work"

"Just say no to BL work"

"Just say no to BL work"

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

In case anyone is confused I merged the two topics regarding the Ultra 2 into one thread. Please be more careful when creating a topic (they were both in the same category a mere few topics away).

 

Also, can we please do a little less quoting around here? Simply reply to the posts rather than quote the entire thing!

 

Thank you.

[Brad Grimmett]

Is the U2's compacted post length longer than the original Ultra or Master? It looks a bit long in the pictures I've seen. In that Tiffen group shot the bottom of the sled is almost hitting the ground. Just curious whether they had to lengthen the post due to a decrease in sled weight.

[Gustavo Penna]

Is the U2's compacted post length longer than the original Ultra or Master? It looks a bit long in the pictures I've seen. In that Tiffen group shot the bottom of the sled is almost hitting the ground. Just curious whether they had to lengthen the post due to a decrease in sled weight.

 

Remember that the arm they are using booms a little more than yours. to that you must add that the U2s lower sled is lighter than your masters lower sled. Now imagine if in order to counterbalance a moviecam sl which is very light camera, you have to extend your post. imagine if you have a hevier camera, you would need to extend the post even further making your sled so long that it will touch the floor before your arm reaches the lowest part of its boom range.

 

That was the felling i had when i looked at it. and that is what happens on my ALIEN REV. when i have it set up with a heavy camera. because the Nexus sled is way lighter than a master or an ultra.

so to answer your question when the U2 is fully compacted which is only enough to counter balance for a very very light camera, lets say an XL1 its the same length as your masters.

[Dave Bittner]

Best quote I heard at NAB about the new sleds the Tiffen era:

 

"Steadicam got their integrity back."

 

No more stiff arms, hamstrung by cheap bearings. No more super-curvy but impractical sleds. The new stuff works, and the attention to detail in the engineering is impressive. The torsional rigidity of the G70 arm, the boom range and smoothness, the addition of variable iso-elasticity. Really nice stuff. Even the low-end rigs are vastly improved over previous offerings. There's a lot of value spread across the entire line.

 

Congrats to Garrett and Jerry and everyone who helped bring these rigs to market.

 

Dave Bittner

 

(Who reminds Jim Bartel, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...")

[Kris Torch Wilson]

Just took delivery of my new Ultra 2. Pushing into service Jan 2. Can't wait! I will report back. Until then many thanks to Frank and Kyle for getting it out the door.

 

Kris "giddy as a kid" Wilson