Premium Members Mark Calver Posted April 4, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Hello everyone, My name is Mark Calver I have just joined this forum. I am currently a film student at Brooks Institute of Photography and need a little help. I have played with the flyer a couple times and dont know too much, but I do know that I am very interested in learning and feel that I really want to get on board with a rig. I havent taken any of the classes yet, but I feel that it would be more beneficial to own my own rig first. I have seen people post for and against this, so its a little hard to make a decision. I spoke on the phone a little with Steve Fracol and he gave me some good tips. I would like as much feed back as possible so dont be affraid to comment or say anything. thanks, Mark Calver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Robert Starling SOC Posted April 4, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 I do know that I am very interested in learning and feel that I really want to get on board with a rig. I havent taken any of the classes yet, but I feel that it would be more beneficial to own my own rig first. >>>I spoke on the phone a little with Steve Fracol and he gave me some good tips. Hi Mark, welcome to the Forum. It would likely be hard to top any advice an experienced operator like Steve Fracol has given you. In my own experience just being about nine months ahead of you, I'm a believer in education and you'd find it very time consuming to get started without attending a workshop or two or three. I started with a Flyer and two-day Flyer workshop, then within two months upgraded to a Clipper 2 and took the week-long SOA workshop and just completed the week-long Tiffen Lake Arrowhead workshop. I wrote a fairly long opinion on this in the following post: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...amp;#entry24094 Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Calver Posted April 4, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 I do know that I am very interested in learning and feel that I really want to get on board with a rig. I havent taken any of the classes yet, but I feel that it would be more beneficial to own my own rig first. >>> I spoke on the phone a little with Steve Fracol and he gave me some good tips. Hi Mark, welcome to the Forum. It would likely be hard to top any advice an experienced operator like Steve Fracol has given you. In my own experience just being about nine months ahead of you, I'm a believer in education and you'd find it very time consuming to get started without attending a workshop or two or three. I started with a Flyer and two-day Flyer workshop, then within two months upgraded to a Clipper 2 and took the week-long SOA workshop and just completed the week-long Tiffen Lake Arrowhead workshop. I wrote a fairly long opinion on this in the following post: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...amp;#entry24094 Hope this helps! I do know that I am very interested in learning and feel that I really want to get on board with a rig. I havent taken any of the classes yet, but I feel that it would be more beneficial to own my own rig first. >>> I spoke on the phone a little with Steve Fracol and he gave me some good tips. Hi Mark, welcome to the Forum. It would likely be hard to top any advice an experienced operator like Steve Fracol has given you. In my own experience just being about nine months ahead of you, I'm a believer in education and you'd find it very time consuming to get started without attending a workshop or two or three. I started with a Flyer and two-day Flyer workshop, then within two months upgraded to a Clipper 2 and took the week-long SOA workshop and just completed the week-long Tiffen Lake Arrowhead workshop. I wrote a fairly long opinion on this in the following post: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...amp;#entry24094 Hope this helps! Hey Robert thank you so much for the response. I read the post and it is deffinitley beneficial to hear that. It seams that a lot of operators start on a flyer and that is what is recomended to me. However the problem i have is that the flyer will not hold the weight load of the cameras I would be flying. I need something that can hold more, the only problem I come in contact after that is price. Even a used rig is very hard for me to do. Do you suggest getting a rig to practice with even though I wont get that many jobs or hold off save money and do a workshop or two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Robert Starling SOC Posted April 5, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Do you suggest getting a rig to practice with even though I wont get that many jobs or hold off save money and do a workshop or two? FYI, you might want to edit down some of the qoutes so the post doesn't get too long. Operating principles are the same between a Flyer and Ultra 2; technique, practice and good form. You could always rent a larger rig if you have a bigger camera/job but it's not like there are lots of rentals out there I don't think. It became very clear to me within two months the Flyer would not allow me to be competitive in the marketplace but it was a great place to learn, practice and get started. Rigs hold their value pretty well and I got a good trade from Tiffen when I bought the Clipper. Actually, I think Peter Abraham has two demo Flyers he's selling personally and the price is right. You could start there, move up in a few months and easily get your investment back out of it. Search Peter's name here on the Forum and send him a PM or email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Calver Posted April 5, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Well I guess im just afraid of not being able o get my money back within the rig. Thanks for the advice ill think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Puli Posted April 5, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Hey Mark Agree with everything Robert has said above. Would obviousley 2nd the workshop first lines that everyone has said. If you work regularly with heavier cameras I would look at a 2nd hand Provid or Provid 2 rig (have seen a couple at similar prices to a new Flyer). The main thing that lets the Provid rigs down is the arm which can be a bit funky at times, but personally I've never had a problem with it, and when its time to upgrade with a couple of mods you can use a 3a arm with the rig and go heavier. This is what I am looking at currently. Or the Glidecam V25 can carry a bit more weight then a Flyer but again the arm is not as good as the Flyer (from all reports - looking forward to playing with it again at NAB). Just do pleanty of research, and you will find that if you do of research and even read the Steadicam book (for some more history aspects) alot of these questions will be answered in the process. JP Melbourne Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Calver Posted April 5, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 If you work regularly with heavier cameras I would look at a 2nd hand Provid or Provid 2 rig (have seen a couple at similar prices to a new Flyer). The main thing that lets the Provid rigs down is the arm which can be a bit funky at times, but personally I've never had a problem with it, and when its time to upgrade with a couple of mods you can use a 3a arm with the rig and go heavier. This is what I am looking at currently. Or the Glidecam V25 can carry a bit more weight then a Flyer but again the arm is not as good as the Flyer (from all reports - looking forward to playing with it again at NAB). Hey James, Thanks for the advice. I will check out the provid rig. I was innitially going to go with the v25 but after talking to quite a few people they said I was practically throwing my money away and If i showed up to any professional set with it, i would be considered a joke and not taken seriously. This is crazy its even more serious then buying a new car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JobScholtze Posted April 5, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 I was innitially going to go with the v25 but after talking to quite a few people they said I was practically throwing my money away and If i showed up to any professional set with it, i would be considered a joke and not taken seriously. This is crazy its even more serious then buying a new car! Reeeeally. Well, thats funny right there. I would choose the V25 above the provid ANY day. But thats just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Nicolas Dorion Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Hi Mark, It depends more on what you could do with the rig at the point you are now... Let's say you show up with a brand new Ultra2 on set but can't keep your horizon... I second what Job said, the V25 is a good system to start with, not the best though but certainly not the worst. BTW if you can't afford the rig... Invest in the workshop and continue to play with the Flyer if you can... Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts