Premium Members Thomas English Posted March 30, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 still not seen an FBX. Got a software upgrade on my Marrel , I absolutely love it... everything is so changeable from Battery monitor position to bubble damping... love it. don t know how i managed without it. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Karavite Posted June 1, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Have you compared the Marrell bubble to the FBX bubble yet? Late last year I attempted to get an FBX for demo. This was right before the Marell unit came available. I wired funds to FBX in late November for units that were "in stock". I finally cancelled the order after waiting 5 weeks for a unit that was never delivered. After several emails and phone calls, I finally received a refund for the full amount, over 2 months after cancelling the order. Now I am not interested in bad mouthing anybody, these are simply the facts of my experience. I gave Ben Fisher the benefit of the doubt that there may have been extenuating circumstances with my order, but his time frame was unacceptable to me. It seems that FBX has some interesting products, but I think as big an issue with purhcasing gear (besides products) is simple customer service. We own proprietary equipment, and there is not alot of back up gear available to us. We rely on our vendors to react instantly to any equipment issues we might have. I think people like George Paddock, Greg Bubb and Jim Bartell set the bar very high in customer service (as it should be). I wish other companies would follow their example of excellent products AND excellent customer service. I ended up with the Marell bubble. It fit my budget. I am very happy with it, and the service that I have received from Marell has been great. I never had the chance to compare the Marell to the FBX. They seem like very similar products, with the XCS bubble being the standard. Bottom line, do some homework on a company before buying their gear. Other operators are very helpful in giving you input on how companies have serviced them in the past. Mark Karavite Steadicam Owner / Operator mkaravite@comcast.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JimBartell Posted June 1, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Speaking of which, has anyone (Gus? Job?) heard anything from Mr. Fisher? According to the "Members" page, he has not logged in here since January 9th. Jim "curiouser and curiouser" Bartell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Gus Trivino Posted June 1, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Speaking of which, has anyone (Gus? Job?) heard anything from Mr. Fisher? According to the "Members" page, he has not logged in here since January 9th. Jim "curiouser and curiouser" Bartell <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Jim: The Last time that I spoke with Mr Ben Fisher, he was going to Italy. B) but always nobody know where he can be. Best, Gus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted June 1, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 All I have heard has not been good......... He always seemed so nice on the phone. I am sure someone will be posting soon to let you all know, with facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JobScholtze Posted June 2, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Before al kind of story's come to life, i spoke with Ben yesterday on the phone, in fact i speak with him at least one's a month. He is extremely busy. I know a few people in Holland and Belgium ordered a bunch of stuff, and he is working alone his ass of. Finally he managed to get some staff, so i hope for him that things are getting better. just for the record, i found his costumer support great. He helped me with some stuff and when necessary he jumps on the plane to help out. And about the FBX, he changed the software on it so now you can put your bubble where ever you like it. I still love it. Job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Fisher Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 AFAIK the FBX hasn't been directly compared with the Marell device - although we do have customers who have tried the Marell and then bought the FBX. Anyone wishing to compare devices is most welcome, email me. The FBX uses an in-house developed FPGA to generate the graphics and as a result provides smooth, high resolution movement of graphics with sub-pixel posistioning (>1700 lines horizontal resolution). The immediate competion appear to use a VCR text chip (5730?) and cobble the image together from blocks (one customer refered to the images as "a bit 70's bat & ball"). In response to other customers who wanted something a little more cost-effective than the FBX (& without framelines) we built the EBX (bubble, crosshair & battery level). The EBX is available in 'PRO' (Lemo's) and 'FLYER' (MiniDin's) forms. See website www.unitcine.com for details/quotes. The EBX is currently $680 for the 'PRO' version (not incl. cable), the 'FLYER' version is $539... All in production and shipping on <7 days (next batch of EBX's available next week). I am currently sorting out teething problems with the new BENZ DIGITAL lens control system (including in-house developed digital lens motor), full details will be released later this month. As a company we have strengthed our production capability (a previous weak spot) and now have a dedicated cable technician and production engineer. kind regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members markdeblok Posted September 26, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 26, 2005 I wonder if anyone has experience with the Marrel EL, I want to use it on an Ultra with green screen. thanks mark de blok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted September 26, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted September 26, 2005 I have been using it since its release. Its great. Theres been some software upgrades since the first one. I absolutely love it. Am having a real hard time on anamorphic lenses at the moment and its really helping me. You can move the bubbles anywere in the screen. 7 programable inputs on both pal or ntsc. battery level indicator. I think you would have to put it before your topstage on the ultra short of splitting out your monitor cable. U can position it whichever whatever way you like. I ve got a vda built into mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Mouraud Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 I'm looking at this puppy also. I own the Marell HB green screen and I'm very happy with their products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Manyluk Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 I am also using both the level and the monitor. Both have performed excellently. I have yet to put both through the entire gambit of shooting in all weather conditions, but so far I am very pleased. The High Brightness monitor is very crisp and very clean (and yes, quite bright - very close to the TB 6). The level gives you a ridiculous amount of control over framelines, shadow mask, and level styles, positions, and response. My level also came with a 6 pin lemo that connects to your cell phone and automatically contacts your girlfriend if the shoot goes long. With a software upgrade it can also send flowers if you're out of town on a sixth day. They both seem to be an excellent value. Brett Manyluk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Milanov Posted January 30, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 I got a Marell digital level about four month ago. Since then it has gone back and forth a few times for a problem with drift. If I calibrate the level right after starting it up it will be off level within a few minutes. If I recalibrate it then, everything seems to work...until I turn it off for a while and then back again...off level and slowly drifts back to level after a warmup period of about three or four minutes. It also seems to have a problem with outside temperature. If I calibrate it in roomtemperature and then goes outside (in the case I noted it, it was a few degrees below freezing) it starts to drift again. So, my question is: Is this familiar to anybody else with a Marell level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members charlesneufeld Posted January 30, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Hey Peter, I am not familiar with the marell level but here are my thoughts. I assume they are using solid state inclinometers, temp sensors so temp *should* not be a problem with them. The drifting sounds to me like either a software mathematics algorithm problem, or that the sensor (AD circuit?) is sending out a whacked signal. But since it takes a couple minutes to go out of level, this points towards a floating variable in the algorithm. It could be out 0.00001 when you calibrate it, but over time adds up to ... I would contact Marell. my $0.02 CND ~C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members markdeblok Posted January 30, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Hi Peter, I more or less had the same problem, I use an Ultra and can compare the way the Marell level works very well, I also had my level shipped and returned a couple of times but the one I have right now is working perfect. I bought it because the Ultra level when swtitched to low mode has to be adjusted and the Marell has no problem with this. Service from Marrel is very good, but it took some time to sort it out. Mark de Blok Be happy you did not get the one from Unitcine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JobScholtze Posted January 30, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Hi Peter,I more or less had the same problem, I use an Ultra and can compare the way the Marell level works very well, I also had my level shipped and returned a couple of times but the one I have right now is working perfect. I bought it because the Ultra level when swtitched to low mode has to be adjusted and the Marell has no problem with this. Service from Marrel is very good, but it took some time to sort it out. Mark de Blok Be happy you did not get the one from Unitcine Yeah, rub it in :P I have the Unitcine one. And of course, the level works perfect, for about 30 seconds. After that i have the same problems as describes as Peter. I wonder how can give me some service. Perhaps i can use it to adjust my table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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