New Clipper 312/324

[luis castro]

The 324 comes with the motorized stage standard

 

I was one of the operators brought in by Steadicam to help with demo's and I believe the motorized top stage is an upgrade. By all means check with Steadicam.

 

It is a very nice rig. We actually put a movie cam compact on the 324. But the top stage is not as wide as the Ultras and you might not be able to fly your bigger cameras.

 

 

 

 

solution to use a separating plate

[Imran Naqvi]

Going to chime in with Alfeo here.

 

I got a nice surprise when I found out about the 312 and 324 late friday night, and was very impressed with it.

 

I had plenty of time over NAB to play and I have to say, choosing between either Clipper now and an Archer really is a no-brainer.

 

The choice between the Clipper 324 and U2 is really tight now, setting aside the obvious things that come as options, but are as standard on the U2, it really comes down to two things. The top stage supporting a 35lb max camera package and the 4 stage post that comes with the U2.

 

Either way you end up with a very very sweet package.

[RonBaldwin]

I have to agree that there is some nice stuff coming out of Tiffen -- makes it a hard choice when it comes to buying a new system. It's good to see they are listening to Garett and Jerry.

 

rb

[Jerry Holway]

Philip-

 

FYI - you have the same "medium-sized" stage on your Clipper as on the new 312/324. It should easily handle the weight up to 35 pounds as specified.

 

I used to stand on the Ultra stage and dial myself back and forth (an interesting bit of balancing...), this stage is only marginally smaller that that one.

 

Motorizing the stage is optional, but upgradeable, as is adding the horizon board. All options/upgrades are plug and play.

 

These Clippers are 3 post models, and either 12 or 24 volt models (hence the 312, 324 designations). All options available to either model; the only thing I'm not sure about is whether one can upgrade from 312 to 324. One can always add a third battery to make 24 volts with the 312 version.

 

Somewhat light base, yes, to accommodate lighter cameras (similar to Ultra2) and keep gimbal high and the sled shorter. The weight can be added via stainless steel inserts for the battery rods (an option) and or additional weight on the lower dovetail or battery or monitor rods (wherever convenient for your set-up). With the enormous range of camera weights that can be carried well by the G-50 arm (12 - 50 or so pounds total, 0 to 35 pounds camera), ops now can weights to the camera or sled in various places to get a variety of lens heights and/or keep the sled short.

 

Jerry

[Erik Barone]

We have Peter Abraham coming in to give us a in house demo of the 312 at the World Wide Leader next. Looking forward to it.

 

On a side note to Jerry I look forward to meeting you when you come in for our training class in June.

OK side note over.

[chris fawcett]

Mmm, the Clipper 3.

 

I had my paws on the /24 for a few days, and adored it. It's a really perfect welterweight rig. Words almost fail me.

 

There will be a used Archer SE on the market soon, methinks.

 

Chris

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I used to stand on the Ultra stage and dial myself back and forth (an interesting bit of balancing...)

:huh:

 

ok, you gotta elaborate on this Jerry?!?

 

-Alfeo

[luis castro]

thank so much Mr Robin Thwaites

for you time and your family is great , they are the best thing are special, is honor to know its family. thank

 

the clipper 324 it is intelligent steadicam , fast, comfortable, adaptable an equipment, to any plane, perfect, balance dinamic, perfect gimbal strong fantastic, the arm is the best thing than I have felt, to raise and to lower great rank, he is magical, and as to comment he is the son of ultra 2 [/b]

[Alan Greene]

I just tried out the Clipper 312, and I almost hate myself for doing so. It's exactly the rig I want, at a price I cannot currently justify. But price aside ...

 

My understanding from these posts is that the Ultra2 top stage is widest, the Clipper 312/324 is slightly narrower, and the Archer is narrower than that. Can anyone verify this? I should have thought to measure.

 

I've been wondering if the move to a 312 would be enough of a jump from my Archer SE, or if I should wait a few years and go for the Ultra2. Imran's post basically confirms what I've been thinking, that the U2's main advantages over the 324 are the fourth post section and the wider stage. And the G-70, and the Ultrabrite monitor. Getting a Clipper means that I wouldn't have to replace my G-50, and I already have the U2 vest.

 

The other thing is that the Clipper 312 sled weighs more than my Archer sled. They both have a G-50, and although the Archer is rated to hold less weight, I've loaded it with ... uh ... more. It's no secret that these limits get tested. In any case, a lighter sled means more room for camera weight within the arm's capacity.

 

Just thinking out loud here. Tough decisions all around. The new Clippers are wonderful.

[Richard James Lewis]

The Archer and Clipper dovetail plates are the same size.

 

Rick.

 

I just tried out the Clipper 312, and I almost hate myself for doing so. It's exactly the rig I want, at a price I cannot currently justify. But price aside ...

 

My understanding from these posts is that the Ultra2 top stage is widest, the Clipper 312/324 is slightly narrower, and the Archer is narrower than that. Can anyone verify this? I should have thought to measure.

 

I've been wondering if the move to a 312 would be enough of a jump from my Archer SE, or if I should wait a few years and go for the Ultra2. Imran's post basically confirms what I've been thinking, that the U2's main advantages over the 324 are the fourth post section and the wider stage. And the G-70, and the Ultrabrite monitor. Getting a Clipper means that I wouldn't have to replace my G-50, and I already have the U2 vest.

 

The other thing is that the Clipper 312 sled weighs more than my Archer sled. They both have a G-50, and although the Archer is rated to hold less weight, I've loaded it with ... uh ... more. It's no secret that these limits get tested. In any case, a lighter sled means more room for camera weight within the arm's capacity.

 

Just thinking out loud here. Tough decisions all around. The new Clippers are wonderful.

[Jerry Holway]

I used to stand on the Ultra stage and dial myself back and forth (an interesting bit of balancing...)

:huh:

 

ok, you gotta elaborate on this Jerry?!?

 

-Alfeo

 

Alfeo-

When I designed the first U2 like stage, I used to literally stand on it (not attached to a rig) and turn the fore and aft and side to side adjustment knobs... quite easily and the stage kept working just fine (stiff and smooth). It was a little stunt I did to get folks to believe in the technology - less dramatic than the guy standing in a tank of water to prove his electrical shock protection system worked!

 

Also, I'll confirm the Clipper and Archer dovetails are the same width (and the stages and tilt heads are also the same).

 

Jerry

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

I just tried out the Clipper 312, and I almost hate myself for doing so. It's exactly the rig I want, at a price I cannot currently justify. But price aside ...

 

My understanding from these posts is that the Ultra2 top stage is widest, the Clipper 312/324 is slightly narrower, and the Archer is narrower than that. Can anyone verify this? I should have thought to measure.

 

I've been wondering if the move to a 312 would be enough of a jump from my Archer SE, or if I should wait a few years and go for the Ultra2. Imran's post basically confirms what I've been thinking, that the U2's main advantages over the 324 are the fourth post section and the wider stage. And the G-70, and the Ultrabrite monitor. Getting a Clipper means that I wouldn't have to replace my G-50, and I already have the U2 vest.

 

The other thing is that the Clipper 312 sled weighs more than my Archer sled. They both have a G-50, and although the Archer is rated to hold less weight, I've loaded it with ... uh ... more. It's no secret that these limits get tested. In any case, a lighter sled means more room for camera weight within the arm's capacity.

 

Just thinking out loud here. Tough decisions all around. The new Clippers are wonderful.

 

 

 

HI Allan,

 

I had a chance to fly that 312 for 2 weeks on a job, my Clipper 24 was in for repair, and I too thought about upgrading to the 324. The gimbal is great! But going from a Clipper/Archer to a Clipper seems like a sideways move. I?m saving my money for the U2. Its to bad Tiffen does not offer a trade in program.