Arri D-21

[Rogerhaugen]

Hi!

 

I have been asked about steadicam/2.unit on a feature next year. And now it looks like it might end up with arri D-21. I can feel it in my back just thinking about it. I have never used heavier cameras than Arri LT on the rig.

I called arri and he said it was the same as arri 535 in weight.

I don´t do steadicam mainly so I am worried this will be a bit overkill to go into.

Is it so that when using this camera on steadicam you need a extra unit for recording? I have seen some pics with a extra unit on the top back. Or can you go cable?

 

Roger

[Richard W. Davis]

Hi!

 

I have been asked about steadicam/2.unit on a feature next year. And now it looks like it might end up with arri D-21. I can feel it in my back just thinking about it. I have never used heavier cameras than Arri LT on the rig.

I called arri and he said it was the same as arri 535 in weight.

I don´t do steadicam mainly so I am worried this will be a bit overkill to go into.

Is it so that when using this camera on steadicam you need a extra unit for recording? I have seen some pics with a extra unit on the top back. Or can you go cable?

 

Roger

I use this camera everyday. We run tethered with a Copperhead fiber optic cable link to the DIT who does the recording. There is no way it weighs as much as a 535. More like a LT. Other than the Cable I really like the camera, and as my A camera it is the best HD camera for operators, with a real optical viewfinder with overscan fpr seeing outside of your frame.

 

If you have any more questions I would be happy to answer any you have.

 

Best,

 

Rich Davis

LA

[Rogerhaugen]

Thanks!

Good to hear!

I will test it out as soon as I can.

Do you know where I can get a low mode bracket for this camera?

 

Roger

[Kristian Appel]

Hi!

 

I have been asked about steadicam/2.unit on a feature next year. And now it looks like it might end up with arri D-21. I can feel it in my back just thinking about it. I have never used heavier cameras than Arri LT on the rig.

I called arri and he said it was the same as arri 535 in weight.

I don´t do steadicam mainly so I am worried this will be a bit overkill to go into.

Is it so that when using this camera on steadicam you need a extra unit for recording? I have seen some pics with a extra unit on the top back. Or can you go cable?

 

Roger

 

Let me suggest You (or better, the rental house) make 2 tiny BNC cabels, 2 meters long, that ends with 2 MALE BNC - from d-21 to You. A 10 meters thick BNC, female to female - from You to DIT. That way You can disconnect from the DIT when ever you need to. The camera is nice for steadicam, besides the cables. Onboard recorder would have made more sense.

 

Appel

[RonBaldwin]

Rich is right, it's not bad at all as long as you are not flying with the flash-mag set up (adds 8 or 9 lbs). I wieghed it last summer while using it on a pilot. I think it was about 32 lbs with a master prime, 2 preston motors, clip on mb and low mode braket (which it comes with...it's light but the size of a snow shoe). The camera is pretty wide but as others have said a decent wieght.

rb

[Christopher T. Paul- SOC]

I used the D-20 on a movie in New Orleans, and the weight isn't terrible. Be prepared to have plenty of batteries, however, as the mirror needs to spin for the video signal to be transmitted and viewed in video village. It is a pain to reboot between takes as well, so you end up leaving the camera on a good deal of the time. You really go through the batteries quickly.

 

CP

[Rogerhaugen]

Hi!

I used the camera for 25 days. I liked it a lot on the steadicam. I used two soft bnc cables and one thin phono cable for the video assist to make it as small as possible. I wish I could used even smaller bnc cables because I had to work against them a few times. The camera felt nice and compact, easy to balance, a bit heavy, but again very smooth. I stripped it down and removed the viewfinder and used clip on mattebox.

 

Roger

[Jim Hurwitz]

Rich,

 

I am new to the Forum, and just found your post.. are you still using the CopperHead regularly? How is it working out for you? We are introducing the next generation of CopperHead technology over the next few months, including several models that are Dual Link capable, each of which can work on the lightweight tactical fiber cable, or a slightly thicker "hybrid" cable that can deliver power to the rig... More info to come when I can release it.

 

Look out for CopperHead models 3400, DLV and "Fiber Buddy."

 

Jim Hurwitz

Product Manager, Camera Systems (CopperHead)

Telecast Fiber Systems, Inc.

jhurwitz@telecast-fiber.com

[Richard W. Davis]

Rich,

 

I am new to the Forum, and just found your post.. are you still using the CopperHead regularly? How is it working out for you? We are introducing the next generation of CopperHead technology over the next few months, including several models that are Dual Link capable, each of which can work on the lightweight tactical fiber cable, or a slightly thicker "hybrid" cable that can deliver power to the rig... More info to come when I can release it.

 

Look out for CopperHead models 3400, DLV and "Fiber Buddy."

 

Jim Hurwitz

Product Manager, Camera Systems (CopperHead)

Telecast Fiber Systems, Inc.

jhurwitz@telecast-fiber.com

 

 

Jim,

 

I am no longer doing that show(Worst Week for CBS on ARRI D-21). New show, new DIT , New DP. (Cougar Town for ABC). We are now shooting on Genesis out of Panavision Woodland Hills. No fiber used much to my chagrin. We are using lightweight 75 ohm BNC to reach the deck placed as short a distance away as possible. ( a little too much like the original two piece video/deck days but it works. I can't wait to get to use your new stuff,( never had a single problem on Worst Week in 15 weeks of daily every shot usage) but for now, this is my world. Thanks for pushing forward. Keep us apprised

 

Best,

 

Rich Davis

LA

[Charles Papert]

Currently using the D21 with Clairmont's fiber back on a pilot and it seems a lot heavier than last I used it, perhaps due to the fiber module. Admittedly we have the 15-40 Optimo on there with three motors, but that shouldn't make it diabolical. Mebbe I bring in a scale and go all Baldwin on the thing.

[RonBaldwin]

do it! you'll feel better.

[Lawrence Karman]

Just finished an 8 week job with the D-21. Cooke S4 primes, clip on matte box, Cine tape and Arri wireless system for FIZ (since it was included with the package and the AC's had made rings for all the lenses in the short prep) We had some type of Sony fiber block for it but it was consistently intermittent so we abandoned it after a few days and used 2 thin BNC's for the 4-4-4 signal. Recorded to SR2 decks and the DIT did not care how long the cable length to the decks were. (Not sure why the Genesis length is limited) Overall I'd say it was maybe a little heavier than a lightweight. Easily powered it off Dionic 90's and got about 45 minutes run time on a 2 year old pair

[Chris Flurry]

As this seems to be an active topic and I have previously mentioned that I know very little about fiber systems maybe you more knowledgeable guys could help me out with a few questions. I will try and ask my separate queries as clearly as possible, but there is a lot I don’t know so please bear with me. In all cases I am assuming that a SRW1/SRPC1 (aka a toaster) is being used to record the camera master.

 

Copperhead seems to be a popular system, and as I understand from Jim Hurwitz’s previous post, it comes in two forms: a light weight tactical fiber cable and a thicker hybrid fiber cable which carries power. How long a cable run can you make with these units? Also Jim’s earlier posts seem to imply that neither of the units that are currently in production are 4:4:4 dual link capable?

 

I would assume that the lighter weight cable would provide less interference while operating but how resilient is it? Is the DIT going to come running out of the tent in hysterics every time someone steps on it (I know depends a lot on the DIT) or is it strong enough that the dolly grip can roll across it without causing any real problems? Does anyone know about its power draw? I would assume it is fairly nominal.

 

As far as the thicker hybrid cable, sounds great as it carries power, but is it a real Steadicam option or more of a “studio” mode solution? How does the power work? Does it only power the fiber module or can it power more, like the camera or accessories? Is there a power supply on the non camera end or do you plug it into a block battery? Again how resilient is it?

 

The Arri Fiber Module, has any one used it? How thin and resilient is the Fiber? I read the technical specs and it seems Ideal as it supports 4:4:4 dual link, has a nominal power draw and can be powered off the R/S port on the camera.

 

And finally Charles what model fiber unit is Clairmont providing, is it something they re-built? How do you like it?

I would love to hear any real world feed-back that anyone has about fiber?

 

Thanks In advance

Chris Flurry

[Scott Dropkin]

Just thought I would ask some d21 questions since the post is already started. I am unfamiliar with this camera and just wanted to know a few things. I will be doing a one day shoot with this camera and they want to use the OB-1 recorder. How much heavier is that recorder? Also, do I need a separate down converter or is there an SD output on the body? Are the power and start/stop connectors the same as the LT? Any other hints are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

Scott

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

Just thought I would ask some d21 questions since the post is already started. I am unfamiliar with this camera and just wanted to know a few things. I will be doing a one day shoot with this camera and they want to use the OB-1 recorder. How much heavier is that recorder? Also, do I need a separate down converter or is there an SD output on the body? Are the power and start/stop connectors the same as the LT? Any other hints are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

Scott

 

 

standard Arri 2 pin power, 3 pin start/stop, SD output on camera, S-TWO OB-1 around 7 lbs

 

My linkhttp://stwo-corp.com/Products/?item=OB_1