Flyer24LE questions

[Harald Krytinar]

Hello,

 

I'm just about to order a Flyer24LE from fotokonijnenberg.nl. Has anyone used that shop?

I found some photographers that seemed to have used the site and they seemed content with them.

Any experiences?

 

I would like to know if anyone knows the hard-case.

Is it worth it? I will be traveling with the rig (also by plane), would the soft case

be "good enough"?

 

 

I'm a bit puzzeled concerning the power supply:

 

There is the Anton Bauer-mount and the V-mount version. Which one should I get?

 

I'll immediately be using the following cameras: DVX, XHA1, HVX and HD-101.

Later maybe some other cameras (HPX500, HD 250). I think I should be getting

the Anton Bauer-mount model and not the V-mount model? Is that right?

(I don't need 5h non-stop shooting capabilities)

 

I have no idea how many batteries I will need or how many I "should need".

One for both, the camera and the LCD, or only one for the LCD and another

one for the camera?

 

If I have one AB power pack, I will need a Panasonic adapter, right? Can I

power the cam and the LCD from one Battery pack in that case?

 

I guess there is no battery at all included, so I'll need at least one for the LCD.

Is the LCD ok with 7,2V, or does it need 12V? Would the Elipz 10k be the right choice?

 

 

Low Mode Kit

Do I have to buy the low mode kit, or would it be ok for the occasional low-shot to go

without it for the beginning?

 

Many thanks for you input and opinions. All ideas are welcome!

 

/Harald

[Ed Moore]

Hello,

 

I'm just about to order a Flyer24LE from fotokonijnenberg.nl. Has anyone used that shop?

I found some photographers that seemed to have used the site and they seemed content with them.

Any experiences?

 

I would like to know if anyone knows the hard-case.

Is it worth it? I will be traveling with the rig (also by plane), would the soft case

be "good enough"?

 

 

I'm a bit puzzeled concerning the power supply:

 

There is the Anton Bauer-mount and the V-mount version. Which one should I get?

 

I'll immediately be using the following cameras: DVX, XHA1, HVX and HD-101.

Later maybe some other cameras (HPX500, HD 250). I think I should be getting

the Anton Bauer-mount model and not the V-mount model? Is that right?

(I don't need 5h non-stop shooting capabilities)

 

I have no idea how many batteries I will need or how many I "should need".

One for both, the camera and the LCD, or only one for the LCD and another

one for the camera?

 

If I have one AB power pack, I will need a Panasonic adapter, right? Can I

power the cam and the LCD from one Battery pack in that case?

 

I guess there is no battery at all included, so I'll need at least one for the LCD.

Is the LCD ok with 7,2V, or does it need 12V? Would the Elipz 10k be the right choice?

 

 

Low Mode Kit

Do I have to buy the low mode kit, or would it be ok for the occasional low-shot to go

without it for the beginning?

 

Many thanks for you input and opinions. All ideas are welcome!

 

/Harald

 

1) Soft case is pretty good on those but not very secure, you might want the hard case if you want to padlock. Ultimately hard case will also offer more shock protection, obviously.

 

2) Don't *believe* any of those cameras come with AB mount as standard, but it's up to you. If you are buying a load of batteries and charger yourself to run the rig exclusively then you can decide whatever. Generally the AB batteries are heavier and can therefore help balance heavier cameras. I find the V-mount batteries are far, far more prevalent, especially here in the UK. You can also double stack V-mounts with certain types which AFAIK isn't possible with AB.

 

Many of the cameras you mention are so light that you will almost certainly want to power them from their own batteries rigged to them at the top of the sled, so your Steadicam battery will only be powering your monitor and the 12V output on the stage.

 

3) Number of batteries - one battery on the sled powers the monitor and all the 12V outputs on the sled, including the camera power on the top stage. If you have the correct cable to run from this into your camera (the steadicam should come with one to the usual XLR4 connector but think this will only fit into the Panasonic 500 of your list) then yes, just one battery powers everything. Then you just want as many batteries as you feel comfortable with so you never run out of charge. If you end up running the camera off its own battery as I said in 2) then you'll find with only the monitor being powered by the sled battery it will last for ages.

 

That said I don't know many operators who would feel comfortable going out without at least 4 full batteries and a charger handy.

 

4) LCD power - the Flyer LE LCD will be happy with whatever you fit on the AB or V-lock mount.

 

5) Low mode - no, you don't "need" it if it's every now and then (you can just invert the entire sled, moving your gimbal to flop the CoG to the other side of it) but even for the moment ignoring the headaches and time this can cost in post, without an F-bracket on the end of the arm it can be difficult to move the rig around you in a useful manner. And if you're going to buy an F-bracket you might as well buy Tiffen's excellent and reasonably priced complete F-bracket plus low mode bracket. You can spend £££ on low mode brackets but for the cameras you're listing the Tiffen handle clamp will work an absolute treat.

 

Take care,

 

Ed

[Harald Krytinar]

Hello Ed

 

and thanks for your help.

 

1) Soft case is pretty good on those but not very secure, you might want the hard case if you want to padlock. Ultimately hard case will also offer more shock protection, obviously.

 

Ok, hard case is it then. Is the "original" Tiffen hard case better or worse than the B&W or Pelican ones?

 

2) Don't *believe* any of those cameras come with AB mount as standard, but it's up to you. If you are buying a load of batteries and charger yourself to run the rig exclusively then you can decide whatever. Generally the AB batteries are heavier and can therefore help balance heavier cameras. I find the V-mount batteries are far, far more prevalent, especially here in the UK. You can also double stack V-mounts with certain types which AFAIK isn't possible with AB.

 

You're right - most of "my" cameras are neither AB nor VL compatible. VL seems "the" standard. But price-wise I could not find anything appealing, yet. Any idea what VL battery and charger I could get for a prize similar to the AB ones?

 

3) Number of batteries - one battery on the sled powers the monitor and all the 12V outputs on the sled, including the camera power on the top stage. If you have the correct cable to run from this into your camera (the steadicam should come with one to the usual XLR4 connector but think this will only fit into the Panasonic 500 of your list) then yes, just one battery powers everything. Then you just want as many batteries as you feel comfortable with so you never run out of charge. If you end up running the camera off its own battery as I said in 2) then you'll find with only the monitor being powered by the sled battery it will last for ages.

 

Is there an adapter cable for prosumer cameras available? Or is that a DIY job?

 

Cheers,

 

/Harald

[Stephen Vanderspek]

3) Number of batteries - one battery on the sled powers the monitor and all the 12V outputs on the sled, including the camera power on the top stage. If you have the correct cable to run from this into your camera (the steadicam should come with one to the usual XLR4 connector but think this will only fit into the Panasonic 500 of your list) then yes, just one battery powers everything. Then you just want as many batteries as you feel comfortable with so you never run out of charge. If you end up running the camera off its own battery as I said in 2) then you'll find with only the monitor being powered by the sled battery it will last for ages.

 

Is there an adapter cable for prosumer cameras available? Or is that a DIY job?

 

Cheers,

 

/Harald

 

My 2c on that would be just use the little prosumer batteries on the prosumer cameras, it'll be a lot easier and cheaper. I can't see anyone going to the extent of making different cables for all the prosumers.

[Ed Moore]

My 2c on that would be just use the little prosumer batteries on the prosumer cameras, it'll be a lot easier and cheaper. I can't see anyone going to the extent of making different cables for all the prosumers.

 

Agree with Stephen; there's no point - all those small camera batteries weigh practically nothing. I have a V-mount plate that lets me power the Canons (http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/view...mber=idx_a-e2h1) but I still use this mainly to increase weight on the top of the sled.

Edited August 21, 2008 by Ed Moore

[Jess Haas SOC]

Would the Elipz 10k be the right choice?

The Elipz batteries are not the type that you would need to power the sled. You should be looking at Dionic 90s or Trimpacs. I use Anton Bauer batteries because they are more common here. Sounds like V Mount might be more common in your part of the world so I would go that direction.

 

~Jess

[Stephen Vanderspek]

My 2c on that would be just use the little prosumer batteries on the prosumer cameras, it'll be a lot easier and cheaper. I can't see anyone going to the extent of making different cables for all the prosumers.

 

Agree with Stephen; there's no point - all those small camera batteries weigh practically nothing. I have a V-mount plate that lets me power the Canons (http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/view...mber=idx_a-e2h1) but I still use this mainly to increase weight on the top of the sled.

Completely unrelated but how do you edit, I've always wondered.

 

Oh hey theres an edit button now! Hum must be a trigger on post count or something

Edited August 21, 2008 by Stephen Vanderspek

[Harald Krytinar]

Thanks for your help.

 

I'll order the v-mount model then and an IDX ES7/EC1.

That should power the LCD for a long time. As for the

cameras, I'll stick with their own batteries.

 

Bye,

/Harald