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First job with a 535b


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I just wonder if that other operator that you know and the normal operator for this DP also works with the viewfinder on the 535?

 

That would make it even harder for you to stress the need for a 100% video top: " but our regular op. doesn´t make a problem of that!"

 

So i agree with you, that we are not always in the position to demand better gear, sometimes we just have to go for it. :(

 

Rob van Gelder

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I was preping today a Camera package that started out as a 535 B (Video top, Steadi mags, Klipp on) set up with Hawk lenses, Shooting Anamorphic and in Black and White, but they have a Color video tap...

 

Was that your show Brad???

 

Anyhow, it turned into a Moviecam Compact, but...

 

They want to do a speed ramp, great I have an MDR2... Clairmont does not own a Adapter box for that Camera, so I'm stuck with a speed box and a Moviecam Lens motor on the Hawks.

 

The wired parts about that set up is that even dough I had to extend my Center Post only to 17 inches with 3 batteries, versus 23 inches with the Panavised CineAlta and the 8-75mm Zoom and 3 batts, my Pro Arm was perfectly adjusted with the 4 Black springs in it from that show... So the rig with the two cameras weighs the same ?!?!?!

 

(BTW: I have not removed the Black cannisters from my arm for the last 5 shows... shiver... I heard a rumor that the Cameras where supposed to get lighter...)

 

So matter of fact the 535B would have been actually lighter then the Compact. (In that specific instance...)

 

And ergo the 535B is not actually the worst Camera you can end up with... you could end up with a 535A or 35-3 witha cook 5-1, or an Ultracam, or a PANA 35-3 without the Steadi conversion with bridge plate and sliding base plate...

or a Platinum without conversion and without steadiplate... no that was not me, but I lent my arm to that operator after his 3A arm just fell throught at the highest setting... He called me, as he was shooting just a couple of blocks away from me, on a night shoot... Since then he calls me the "Steadicam AAA".

 

 

Erwin "still scrap metal flyer" Landau, SOC

www.landaucamera.com

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I just wonder if that other operator that you know and the normal operator for this DP also works with the viewfinder on the 535?

 

That would make it even harder for you to stress the need for a 100% video top: " but our regular op. doesn´t make a problem of that!"

 

So i agree with you, that we are not always in the position to demand better gear, sometimes we just have to go for it. :(

 

Rob van Gelder

Honestly, I don't know what the other operator is asking for. I assume he would ask for 100% video, but I don't know for certain. You're right though, sometimes we just have to do the job and endure whatever it entails and make the best of it. If everything were always just the way we wanted it life wouldn't be as interesting......right?

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I was preping today a Camera package that started out as a 535 B (Video top, Steadi mags, Klipp on) set up with Hawk lenses, Shooting Anamorphic and in Black and White, but they have a Color video tap...

 

Was that your show Brad???

No, that wasn't it Erwin. The job is already shooting, and the operator that they mentioned wasn't you. Although you do fit into the "nice guy that deserves the work" category! :) Thanks for asking though.

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Hi Peter,

 

I'm hoping for your sake that you are talking about the 535B and not of the 535... It's a monster.

The 535 is a 48lbs camera versus the 535B (29lbs, both times Body only with optics.)

 

Anyhow...

 

The 400 foot coaxial mag is 9lbs and as the name says it its coax... BL-4 flash back, but with the Ultra (as I can see in your signature, see guys that's why I'm ranting about signatures!!!!) you can adjust with your motorized stage. (for the weight shift).

 

The Steadicam (plastic mags) are 5.5 pounds.

 

A 535B with 100% optics and Steadimags is actually lighter than a Moviecam Compact MK. II. (by about a pound, I had to crank down my arm for the 535B). But its about 3 inches wider... (1.5 on each side)

 

Personally I would not accept the job unless they find you the Mags, it makes a huge difference, also next time they hire you they will get them again. It's not going to happen the next time because they will be like: "But it worked for you last time". Or my personal favored: "The last guy was able to do it!!!!"

 

Good Luck,

 

 

Erwin "What the Hell are they thinking" Landau

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Hi Carl,

 

It will be in the camera section, just give me a couple of days... I was working and they tried to kill me on that one... (As we have you... we canceled the Dolly... kind a job).

 

 

See ya.

 

 

Erwin" Let's do a full rehearsal of the whole song... shit we should have shot it... again" Landau

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Thank you for the quick respons Erwin.

 

The job is in Oslo, Norway and I´m located in Stockholm, Sweden and I don´t know the renting situation there. If the production can´t find the mags I´ll probably rent them here in stockholm before I leave.

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Hi Peter,

I second what Erwin stated above, just adding another reason to avoid it.

With the regular 400ft mags the camera will become extremely back heavy.

I used the 535B with 100% top, regular mag and Hawk C-series lenses on a student short, a steady mag wasn't available that day - favor for the DP. It punched me into the ground.

The distance between the topstage and camera base was suboptimal. They overlapped only 50%. This resulted in vibrations that reminded me of a doorway dolly. With spheric lenses chances are good it will be worse.

Sitting in a screening room watching this shot is embarrassing and again it punches.

 

Still shrinking

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I have used it on my Masters with the original coaxial mags and with the steadimags, either way i like it more than the Moviecam compact which is a heavy and complicated pig. The other day i flew it for the first time with my MK-V, And i loved it.post-286-1147479495_thumb.jpg

 

HER IS A CLOSER VEW.post-286-1147479729_thumb.jpg

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Back from the job. Of course it was a 535A, about 5 lbs heavier than the B and no 100% optics... Glad I got those steadimags as my ultra arm was maxed out for this setup. Fortunatly it was a pretty strait forward shot, a few "follow the actors through a house" kind of shots, no stairs :) ...until the last setup when the DP came over and asked me "Can you put it in low mode?" well, I suvived that too and now I know, always demand steadimags... thanks everybody for the input.

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