C100: Looking for a stabilizer for the C100

puredrifting said:
Very tasteful clip, love how the 10-18 on the C100 looked. I take it all of the moving shots were you or was there also a little handheld mixed in there? Nice lighting too. Can you talk a bit about how you guys lit it?
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There are some b-roll shots at the beginning, of the exterior and stuff, that was another shooter doing handheld.

We did a number of these in various non-typical performance spaces, without much room for setup (like one on a canoe), so the only lights we used were a couple Aputure Amaran 672W with Sony batteries here and there. On the Adia video the primary light is just the beautiful natural light from a window, and one Amaran (with tungsten filter) in the way back to light the background. Keeping it simple!

control4userguy said:
Since you have been at this for a while, would you happen to know if the Helix Sr Mg has always been at $4k or did they cut the price between then and now?
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I don't know what it used to cost, but they've been steadily reducing the prices for a while now. When I got the Helix Jr. magneisum after it showed at NAB 2015, it retailed for over $4k, so I'm assuming the Sr. was more.
 
Well, this is a game-changer for me I guess. Without actually contacting Letus regarding their technology, it sounds like they may now be utilizing stepper motors. With the addition of encoders (CAME-TV already uses these) the move to servos would mean faster response and certainly the ability to handle greater payloads. I like the design of the Helix, hate the handles, luke-warm on the price (few more offerings in the $4~5k price range)- going to wait it out until the end of the year to see where pricing goes.
 
slavikb said:
Hah, I'm just trying to get in on Michael's good graces so that some day he makes me a guitar.
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Dont worry Slavik you have earned some brownie points! Will probably earn a few more after I get this thing. You know what they say...... a helix Jr. And a little bit of knowledge are a dangerous thing....... Ha!
 
Forgive my ignorance, but are encoders a software update or firmware? Do you think it would be a simple update to add onto the Helix in the future? Or does one need to get the latest editon Helix Jr.?
 
Ha, I don't think so. Steppers are cheaper motors that use no discrete feedback mechanism. Encoders are hall-effect or optical devices, hung off the DC motors, used for position information at the MCU. If Letus is in fact upgrading the drives on Sr. and Jr. very soon, I would not recommend the investment in the current product unless the price comes down some or the motors are upgraded to meet those of DJI, Movi or at least match the CAME-TV prodigy in terms of motor grade.
 
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control4userguy said:
Ha, I don't think so. Steppers are cheaper motors that use no feedback mechanism. Encoders are optical devices, hung off the DC motors, used for position information at the MCU. If Letus is in fact upgrading the drives on Sr. and Jr. very soon, I would not recommend the investment in the current product unless the price comes down some.
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Too late it will be here next week!
 
If you have a need for it now then all is well. I bought the C100/2 at full price because I had a big-pay job the next week. Didn't get a decent job after that until the price cuts. Lots of small jobs in between I could have covered with my 5DIII...
 
control4userguy said:
If you have a need for it now then all is well. I bought the C100/2 at full price because I had a big-pay job the next week. Didn't get a decent job after that until the price cuts. Lots of small jobs in between I could have covered with my 5DIII...
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I don't have any jobs or pressure to get this other than the fact I would like to start playing with it and getting familiar with it. I imagine it will take sometime. I could always return it if they are on the verge of a new model, but new models sometimes come out very slow, and what Letus thinks is soon might be next year. Plus I'm sure the price will be more for these models with the encoders. In the world of video the grass is always greener.

I remember everyone buying the C100 on the cusp of Canon releasing the C100 mkII. Canon should have announced the release date of the MkII, at the same discounting the C100 mkI. That would be the honest way to do it. Hope Letus doesn't come out next week with an encoder model....... Then I might be a little pissed off.
 
Slavik, are you using a quick release plate? Is there an issue with the weight? Can someone recommend a quick release plate that doesn't cost a fortune?
 
Michael Thames said:
I remember everyone buying the C100 on the cusp of Canon releasing the C100 mkII. Canon should have announced the release date of the MkII, at the same discounting the C100 mkI. That would be the honest way to do it.
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Exactly what I did, I knew the C100 MKII was coming out but had a fairly high paying gig, shooting in South Africa, so bought the C100 MKI just a few weeks before they came out with the MKII. It was a good move because the one job paid for the camera and the Ninja Blade, everything else I have made with it since then has been profit so it's all good. Trying to angle to see if I can do the same with the C300 MKII next. Waiting to hear about some big projects. That is the best and really only smart way to buy expensive video gear these days.
 
Michael Thames said:
Slavik, are you using a quick release plate? Is there an issue with the weight? Can someone recommend a quick release plate that doesn't cost a fortune?
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To do what? Slide the Helix on/off a tripod or a cam on/off the sled? If former you could look at Cinevate, Berkey or Kessler. I use a Kessler myself as it is cost-effective.
 
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Michael Thames said:
Slavik, are you using a quick release plate? Is there an issue with the weight? Can someone recommend a quick release plate that doesn't cost a fortune?
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Yeah we use the Manfrotto 394 quick releases on everything, they're about $40 a set. We have them on all our tripods, monopods, gimbals, and the best is putting a top and bottom plate on a slider and being able to clip it onto a tripod, and the camera on top of the slider, and be shooting a slide shot in a matter of seconds.
 
Just a thought about the use of gimbals and the comparison against Steadicam. Yes, skill is necessary but when dealing with low-cost initiatives built into some of these gimbal products, it may not be fair to compare yet. Movi was the leader in the tech dept. but not in cost just a few years back. Now you can pick from a few cost-aimed Chinese units that utilize crappy 12bit encoders (or worse yet sensorless motors) and low-powered micros. It's the only way to produce a sub $2k unit, huh? None of this translates into a device that follows your moves dead-nuts. Sure, the YT and Vimeo gimbal stuff looks good, it could also get better with the right components put to use.
 
slavikb said:
Yeah we use the Manfrotto 394 quick releases on everything, they're about $40 a set. We have them on all our tripods, monopods, gimbals, and the best is putting a top and bottom plate on a slider and being able to clip it onto a tripod, and the camera on top of the slider, and be shooting a slide shot in a matter of seconds.
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Thanks Slavik...... I'll get one of those!
 
Michael Thames said:
I love Kessler but never bought that quick release I always thought it was too expensive.
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I also just really like the "click" the Manfrotto 394 makes when it's in. You hear that and you know your camera is safely in and ready to go. Hey it's the little things.

Also the price is right, especially when you end up having a dozen or more.
 
slavikb said:
I also just really like the "click" the Manfrotto 394 makes when it's in. You hear that and you know your camera is safely in and ready to go. Hey it's the little things.

Also the price is right, especially when you end up having a dozen or more.
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Yea, I have a couple Manfrotto quick release plates..... I like them. Never tried anything else tho. The
Helix is arriving tomorrow..... I'd make an un boxing video, but I'm afraid my wife will see it on Facebook and ask me if I bought another piece of gear after swearing I don't need anymore stuff.
 
I don't think an unboxing video is useful. Get it assembled, powered-up and let us know how long it takes to completely balance your rig. That's what's important in the field. Post the payload weight you use.
 
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