Brandon Thompson Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I have been gettting more calls asking if I can fly a VariCam with my flyer. I haven't had a chance to get down to the equipment rental house to put one on my rig and was wondering if there is anyone out there who has successfully flown a VariCam with a Flyer. While I am asking what about a HDX900? Thanks, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Robert Starling SOC Posted April 1, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 was wondering if there is anyone out there who has successfully flown a VariCam with a Flyer. While I am asking what about a HDX900? Hi Brandon, realistically it's not going to happen with either of those cameras. I did manage to strip down a Varicam with a smallish lens on the Flyer once but by the time I added enough batteries on the bottom of the sled the Flyer arm was at it's limit and clearly the rig and vest were beyond. That's no matte box, no viewfinder, no nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members chris fawcett Posted April 2, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Hi Brandon, Here's a quote from an old post. "I have flown an 8.6kg camera on the Flyer. The arm was perfect on full tension. When docked there was 20mm of space between the docking plate and the gimbal. The camera c.o.g. was 75mm. A higher camera c.o.g. might have left no room to dock. (The sled weighed in at 3.8 kg with 2 IDX batteries) I flew that rig all day without discomfort. The total system is so light, I didn't bother to take it off during breaks." There's more in the archives on this subject. As for your cameras, I have flown both on a Flyer, including a stripped-down 790 Digibeta. Robert is right about accessories, you need a clip-on matt box, or none at all. I didn't find flying it maxed out to be uncomfortable. I had a ball. A question of taste perhaps. I often miss the Flyer when I'm shooting documentary. You needn't underestimate it. All the best, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Nick Bennett Posted April 2, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Hi Brandon, when I had my Flyer I had a new pin block made to allow connection with my Klassen vest and I found flying a digibeta OK, arm was maxed out but OK however post flex was issue with that much battery counterweight. Although economically speaking the vest cost me almost as much as the Flyer it made things much more comfortable than using the first generation Flyer vest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Thompson Posted April 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 Hi Brandon, when I had my Flyer I had a new pin block made to allow connection with my Klassen vest and I found flying a digibeta OK, arm was maxed out but OK however post flex was issue with that much battery counterweight. Although economically speaking the vest cost me almost as much as the Flyer it made things much more comfortable than using the first generation Flyer vest. Nick, Did you have a pin block made for the flyer arm or for the Klassen vest? And thanks to Chris and Robert for your insight. Maybe I can find some way to work in a few rubber bands? haha Thanks, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members chris fawcett Posted April 7, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 Hi Brandon, It is specifically recommended not to use the 'rubber-band' technique, if it may be called such, on the Flyer arm. The arm's weight-carrying capacity is the upper limit for the rig. All the best, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Seefreid Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I own an HDX900 and no, the Flyer will not fly it. As mentioned above, it's an issue of adding enough counterweights to the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Thompson Posted April 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 I own an HDX900 and no, the Flyer will not fly it. As mentioned above, it's an issue of adding enough counterweights to the bottom. For those of you who own the flyer and have tried to put a HDX900 or Varicam on it, what type battery mount is your flyer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members joe mcnally Posted April 25, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 25, 2007 The Flyer is not suitable for an HDX900 or a Varicam End of story Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Seefreid Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 For those of you who own the flyer and have tried to put a HDX900 or Varicam on it, what type battery mount is your flyer? Here is the HDX900 on the flyer arm and Artemis sled. 2 Dionic90's, aprox. 1/2lb additional ballast on the battery. Camera stripped of it's battery and viewfinder. Clip on mattebox with one 4x4 glass filter. The arm was one hair short of being maxed out and flew really well. As you can see, it's real close to the gimble. But it's balanced pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erik Brul Posted May 16, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 For those of you who own the flyer and have tried to put a HDX900 or Varicam on it, what type battery mount is your flyer? Here is the HDX900 on the flyer arm and Artemis sled. 2 Dionic90's, aprox. 1/2lb additional ballast on the battery. Camera stripped of it's battery and viewfinder. Clip on mattebox with one 4x4 glass filter. The arm was one hair short of being maxed out and flew really well. As you can see, it's real close to the gimble. But it's balanced pretty well. Hi Rick, Nice picture.., nice Sled. Looks like the Artemis DV Pro Sled, how are they match up ? I'm really thinking a couple of months now to use the same combination. Thanks for the picture.. Best, Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Seefreid Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 (edited) Hi Rick, Nice picture.., nice Sled. Looks like the Artemis DV Pro Sled, how are they match up ? I'm really thinking a couple of months now to use the same combination. Thanks for the picture.. Best, Erik The Artemis arm SUCKS, and the vest weighs about as much as a small automobile. <_< But the sled is very nice for it's price range. The Artemis sled and the Flyer arm are a nice combination. Edited May 17, 2007 by Rick Seefreid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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