GH4 GH4 on the Ronin

Camerapilot

Camerapilot

Active member
Just recently I had the GH4 on a Ronin for a first job with that combo.
The setup was: The Ronin, Easy Rig, GH4, Yagh interface, Lectrosonics sound RX, Paralinx Arrow+ TX, Bartech Digital Receiver, Small HD AC7 Oled monitor. The lens was a Sigma Art 18-35 1.8 with speed booster wide open. I had a great focus puller.
The Yagh interface is quite wide and with a right angle 4 pin XLR power connector it doesn't leave too much room for side to side balancing. So I set the roll balance by moving the whole arm from the back, loosening the 5 screws and moving it to the side for balance.
It was so nice having the power outputs on the "sled" of the Ronin. I powered the camera itself and the Bartech through the P-Taps, and the Arrow through the USB. I had an Anton Bauer on the top handle to power the Small HD monitor. So the only cable I had going was from the camera to the monitor, a very thin BNC.

Now for the shots: Having been a Steadicam Operator for almost 20 years, I ended up trying to emulate Steadicam shots. Various walk and talks and some, almost dolly like, wrap arounds. I am fairly happy with the results. I see the issues, but considering this is the first time I'm using the Ronin on a shoot, it worked out well. I am sure my knowledge from moving cameras served me well for this job, but I still had to contend with a learning curve, the feel of this new instrument.
The third shot in the footage sequence was done in inverted mode and no Easy Rig.
The GH4 was in "Natural" with sharpness taken down all the way.
Bellow are some stills and some footage:

https://vimeo.com/104356893

Pass: ronin

http://instagram.com/p/sFDSEQsKHz/

http://instagram.com/p/sFbNQBMKN1/

BTW, nothing was done in post. No stabilization and no color correction. Just clips on a timeline...
 
Looks great! You like the EasyRig with the gimbal? I shot three days with a FigRig and it was killer on my arms and back.

Great news that the Sigma 18-35 works with the speedbooster. Any issues at 18mm? Or other focal lengths?
 
how hard is it to hold the ronin with the gh4 and big lenses? is it heavy? or is it well balanced? If I were to put a bmcc with that lens, is it doable or is it too heavy?

Do you have to do that damn steadicam walk with the gimbal or can you walk more normally?
 
Erik Naso said:
Looks great! You like the EasyRig with the gimbal? I shot three days with a FigRig and it was killer on my arms and back.

Great news that the Sigma 18-35 works with the speedbooster. Any issues at 18mm? Or other focal lengths?
Click to expand...

I don't think you could do a long day with this setup and not use an Easy Rig. The rig itself is not ridiculously heavy, but the position in front of your body and the torque forces will exhaust you in a matter of minutes.
No issues with the lens. Although I don't think that any of the shots were at 18mm, there's no issue at any focal length.
 
chauncy_th_dog said:
Do you have to do that damn steadicam walk with the gimbal or can you walk more normally?
Click to expand...

What's a damn Steadicam walk? On a Steadicam, if you know what you're doing, you just walk. The arm takes care of it. With the Ronin on an Easy rig you have to walk really smoothly, as the Easy Rig transfers any bounce you might have on your walk. To remedy that, Flowcine is coming out with the Serene arm. Can't wait to get one of those...
http://www.16x9inc.com/shop/index.php/pre-order-serene-by-flowcine.html
 
I just use and Easyrig to hang the gimbal between takes or make adjustments to the camera. Once ready to roll, I unclamp the gimbal and do the take. You can use the easy rig for light moves where you don't walk. That flowcine attachment looks great but waaaaaaay too expensive. When I showed my easyrig to a non shooter engineer neighbor of mine and was telling him what it does, asked, "What does that cost? About $300, $400?" I told him the price and he laughed in my face. He knew there was maybe $150 in parts and the it was a tensioned string through a curved pole.
 
that's the way I would use it. What about a steadicam arm and vest. Do they have a way to connect to a steadcam arm? Really to just support the weight when not actually running around.
 
Damn that rig must be super heavy. How are you powering the Yagh interface? Ptap to 4 pin xlr off the Anton Bauer?
 
The Easyrig is a device that some will love, some wil hate. I can't live without it. I think it works fairly well, and the serene will probably make it that much better and that much indispensable.
Costwise it's like everything else. There's a few hundred bucks in parts. What about R&D? Also in our market, they won't sell millions of them.
I'm also looking forward to use it with a Steadicam arm, but it'll be a different animal operating, as you'll have to use a thumb controller.
I powered the Yagh from the Ptap in the Ronin.
 
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