Tiffen announces new low cost Steadicams at NAB 07 - *** Now Shipping! ***
- Thread starter mikkowilson
- Start date
I feel for you. I got to try the Merlin arm & vest at NAB in April... seems like ages ago!
I can hardly wait...
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Update:
The Steadicam Merlin Arm & Vest are now shipping!
Check with your favorite vendor, or directly with Tiffen/Steadicam, for availability.
- Mikko
The Steadicam Merlin Arm & Vest are now shipping!
Check with your favorite vendor, or directly with Tiffen/Steadicam, for availability.
- Mikko
strangways
Well-known member
...and hopefully the Pilot is shipping soon! I've got one on order from Kingsway Motion Picture in Toronto. With any luck the Pilots will be flying in to Canada soon.
If anyone in the GTA is interested in checking it out once I get mine, send me a message and I'd be happy to share the Steadicam goodness.
If anyone in the GTA is interested in checking it out once I get mine, send me a message and I'd be happy to share the Steadicam goodness.
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
It's not a HD monitor .. though you really don't need one, as any camera you'd fly on the Pilot has a SD output.
Mechanically the connection is a standard tripod thread, but I don't recall the exact connectors on the wires. Call Tiffen and ask them about what connectors they have for each monitor.
- Mikko
Mechanically the connection is a standard tripod thread, but I don't recall the exact connectors on the wires. Call Tiffen and ask them about what connectors they have for each monitor.
- Mikko
MattDavis
Well-known member
I can't be specific as I've not used it (but I have ordered it over the little one). Native 16:9, brighter than the 4:3 and run off an AB battery or somesuch rather than AA cells or the camera's battery. A little extra weight is probably a good thing. If it's anything like the larger models' screens, I'd be very happy.
I had a chance to play with a prototype Pilot a couple of months ago, fitted with the smaller 3.5" 4:3 screen. Even with some cunningly crafted makeshift baffles, it was difficult to see in daylight and a little too small for my eyes.
Daygola814
Well-known member
Looks like a really great product. I'd love to get one.
gco
Veteran
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superhardrocker
Active member
It's not worth it right? 2000 dollars for a vest and the stability/control is pretty much the same.(except you can hold it longer)
Better to get a new steadicam.
Better to get a new steadicam.
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
It is very much worth it if you are dooing nay longer shots with heavier cameras. As you get tired, you become ihenrently less stable and your footage begins to suffer. Also, with teh arm you can concentrate 100% on moving the camera, instead of having to worry about hand grip to suport it.
And the other Steadicams then of course cater to heavier cameras. Unless you add weight to the camera, gettign a bigger Steadicam won't really help you much if you are shooting with a small camera.
- Mikko
And the other Steadicams then of course cater to heavier cameras. Unless you add weight to the camera, gettign a bigger Steadicam won't really help you much if you are shooting with a small camera.
- Mikko
dogman-x
Active member
Details
Details
OK, what are the trade-offs between the Merlin/arm/vest and the Pilot for use with a Canon XH A1?
Given that the XH A1 uses 7.2 volt power, would the Pilot batteries power the XH A1 or just the monitor?
How big of an advantage is it to look down at the 5.8" pilot monitor vs. look up at the small XH A1 monitor? What are the differences in stability?
Bottom line: is it really worth the extra $1000 for the Pilot?
Also, what other hidden costs are associated with this type of rig? For the Pilot, what battery options would make the most sence for a 1st time buyer with an XH A1?
Details
OK, what are the trade-offs between the Merlin/arm/vest and the Pilot for use with a Canon XH A1?
Given that the XH A1 uses 7.2 volt power, would the Pilot batteries power the XH A1 or just the monitor?
How big of an advantage is it to look down at the 5.8" pilot monitor vs. look up at the small XH A1 monitor? What are the differences in stability?
Bottom line: is it really worth the extra $1000 for the Pilot?
Also, what other hidden costs are associated with this type of rig? For the Pilot, what battery options would make the most sence for a 1st time buyer with an XH A1?
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Normally you use the camera's own battery with DV cameras - as they don't have a 12v input.
The monitor on the Pilot is in a better location for viewing than the camera's own LCD .. or rather, you can always see the Pilot's monitor, whereas it's possible to sometimes be blocked from seeing the Camera's LCD.
The Pilot is a larger rig than the Merlin, and combined with it's larger weight, this does give it more inertia, and therefore making it more stable. So yes, teh pilot is a "steadier" rig.
The Pilot is available in 2 versions:
The "Co-Pilot" which has the smaller 4:3 monitor - and it runs on AA batteries which are of course dirt cheap and available everwhere. So no hidden costs other than a coupel of packs of AAs.
The "Pilot" has the larger 16:9 monitor and you choice of professional battery mount. If you allready have pro batteries (say V-mounts for a monitor for example) then you are all set. If you don't, then you would need to get yourself a couple of batteries and a charger. And that could cost you more, depending on what type of batteries you chose to get.
- Mikko
The monitor on the Pilot is in a better location for viewing than the camera's own LCD .. or rather, you can always see the Pilot's monitor, whereas it's possible to sometimes be blocked from seeing the Camera's LCD.
The Pilot is a larger rig than the Merlin, and combined with it's larger weight, this does give it more inertia, and therefore making it more stable. So yes, teh pilot is a "steadier" rig.
The Pilot is available in 2 versions:
The "Co-Pilot" which has the smaller 4:3 monitor - and it runs on AA batteries which are of course dirt cheap and available everwhere. So no hidden costs other than a coupel of packs of AAs.
The "Pilot" has the larger 16:9 monitor and you choice of professional battery mount. If you allready have pro batteries (say V-mounts for a monitor for example) then you are all set. If you don't, then you would need to get yourself a couple of batteries and a charger. And that could cost you more, depending on what type of batteries you chose to get.
- Mikko
strangways
Well-known member
Pilot vs. Co-Pilot and battery options
Pilot vs. Co-Pilot and battery options
Compared to using the camera's LCD, the Pilot's LCD has the advantage of being seen from both sides of the rig, plus you can see your feet at the same time, making it a bit easier to avoid tripping on obstacles.
Don't forget that if you find the V-Loc or Anton-Bauer batteries and chargers too expensive that you can actually buy the Pilot with the larger 16:9 monitor and AA batteries.
As per Tiffen's price list:
PILOT
PILOT-AB Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, AB battery mount, 5.8” LCD $3,995.00
PILOT-VL Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, V-Loc battery mount, 5.8” LCD $3,995.00
PILOT-AA Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, AA battery mount, 5.8” LCD $3,995.00
CO-PILOT
PILOT-PCO Sled, Vest, Arm, AA battery mount, 3.5” PAL LCD $3,750.00
PILOT-NCO Sled, Vest, Arm, AA battery mount, 3.5” NTSC LCD $3,750.00
I've ordered the Pilot ($245 for a bigger 16:9 monitor? Yes please!) with the AA battery mount. I'll be testing it upon arrival to see how long a AA set power the monitor, and will post results here. Seeing as a full wireless audio setup for me runs on 10 AAs, and I go through two sets a day, I'm pretty accustomed to it.
I'm thinking that it won't run on rechargeables... 8x 1.5 volts (alkaline AAs) is 12 volts, but rechargeable AAs are 1.2 volts, so, you'd need 10 NiMH AAs for the Pilot or Co-Pilot, right?
And while I'm at it, it's great if you've already got AB or Sony V-Loc batteries, but don't the cameras that use them weigh more than 10 pounds, making them too heavy for the pilot?
Pilot vs. Co-Pilot and battery options
Compared to using the camera's LCD, the Pilot's LCD has the advantage of being seen from both sides of the rig, plus you can see your feet at the same time, making it a bit easier to avoid tripping on obstacles.
Don't forget that if you find the V-Loc or Anton-Bauer batteries and chargers too expensive that you can actually buy the Pilot with the larger 16:9 monitor and AA batteries.
As per Tiffen's price list:
PILOT
PILOT-AB Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, AB battery mount, 5.8” LCD $3,995.00
PILOT-VL Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, V-Loc battery mount, 5.8” LCD $3,995.00
PILOT-AA Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, AA battery mount, 5.8” LCD $3,995.00
CO-PILOT
PILOT-PCO Sled, Vest, Arm, AA battery mount, 3.5” PAL LCD $3,750.00
PILOT-NCO Sled, Vest, Arm, AA battery mount, 3.5” NTSC LCD $3,750.00
I've ordered the Pilot ($245 for a bigger 16:9 monitor? Yes please!) with the AA battery mount. I'll be testing it upon arrival to see how long a AA set power the monitor, and will post results here. Seeing as a full wireless audio setup for me runs on 10 AAs, and I go through two sets a day, I'm pretty accustomed to it.
I'm thinking that it won't run on rechargeables... 8x 1.5 volts (alkaline AAs) is 12 volts, but rechargeable AAs are 1.2 volts, so, you'd need 10 NiMH AAs for the Pilot or Co-Pilot, right?
And while I'm at it, it's great if you've already got AB or Sony V-Loc batteries, but don't the cameras that use them weigh more than 10 pounds, making them too heavy for the pilot?
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Is there an upgrade path from the Merlin Vest & Arm to the Pilot? Anyone have an idea how much that will cost?
I have the Merlin now and have had little success flying my HVX200 well. I'm trying to decide if I should get the Merlin Vest & Arm and see how that works for me or go straight to the Pilot.
Any thoughts?
Is the Pilot shipping yet? Has anyone that's placed an order been given an idea when it will be shipping?
best,
matt
I have the Merlin now and have had little success flying my HVX200 well. I'm trying to decide if I should get the Merlin Vest & Arm and see how that works for me or go straight to the Pilot.
Any thoughts?
Is the Pilot shipping yet? Has anyone that's placed an order been given an idea when it will be shipping?
best,
matt
MattDavis
Well-known member
I have a Pilot on order, and currently it's "after IBC". The Merlin's upgraded gimbal will follow later (apparently quite a bit later), so I'm sticking to the Pilot for now.
From my conversations with Tiffen UK, there's no path as such, but IIRC the Merlin vest and arm are the same as the Pilot's vest and arm. So you could get the metal gimbal upgrade for a Merlin to hand-fly the HVX, then get the Pilot with vest and arm, with the option of putting the Merlin on the arm instead of the Pilot sled.
I stand to be corrected, though...