F35: Rigging experiments.

Great write up!
I know you'll do well by both the F35 & F3. It's a big deal to go forth in confidence...knowing you have good equipment that will not delay or cost the production.
I shot in a barn last summer in 40C for 5 hours and (your previous) F3 never complained once.
All the best in India Grug!
Paul
 
Thanks guys! Appreciate the kind words.

Also, (for anyone interested) this is what a heavy-arse camera case looks like!:

3gxMl5S.jpg


keithlango said:
I was able to resist your crass seductions until you mentioned bridgeplates. I'm all yours!
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;)
 
Is this carry on? would hate some one I didn't know handle that case on an airline.
Safe travels.

Broatch Berry
Venice CA
 
B.Berry said:
Is this carry on? would hate some one I didn't know handle that case on an airline.
Safe travels.

Broatch Berry
Venice CA
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No. Unfortunately, with a 100 odd kilograms of baggage travelling with a single person, your arms are completely tied on that front. The lenses are the most precious part of my kit, so they're my carry-on (along with lithium batteries for the cameras). Just have to hope that the sheer weight of the case makes it too difficult for baggage handlers to throw around.
 
I was just in the mindset of I would hate to check any camera, on any airline. I travel with my carry on wheely KATA case, it holds my F3, recorder, 4 lenses, 1 Dionic 90, I check the rest of the kit. Looking back at the picture I can see now how much this case must way. Those airline baggage handlers make sport of tossing cases and bags :(

Broatch Berry
Venice CA
 
B.Berry said:
I was just in the mindset of I would hate to check any camera, on any airline. I travel with my carry on wheely KATA case, it holds my F3, recorder, 4 lenses, 1 Dionic 90, I check the rest of the kit. Looking back at the picture I can see now how much this case must way. Those airline baggage handlers make sport of tossing cases and bags :(
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Are you saying that you put all the rest of your batteries into checked luggage? That is illegal. At the least you may find your batteries gone (confiscated) when you arrive. Worse you may face massive fines in the tens of thousands of dollars, and even criminal charges in certain municipalities. Worst case is you die, as there are important safety reasons why lithium-based batteries are not allowed as cargo.
 
Never had a problem with two Anton Bauer Dionic 90 batteries, checked baggage in a pelican with a charger. I used to fly with the Hytron 140 batteries for the old Panasonic HDX900, the Sony F3 works great with the Dionic 90's Last time I was flying from LA to Austin Feb, this year I had one Dionic checked with the charger, and two carry on, no problems through TSA. Hytron 140's can be checked.

http://staging.antonbauer.com/Checked
http://phmsa.dot.gov/safetravel/batteries

Broatch Berry
Venice CA
 
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Both those links you posted say it's not permitted to check your batteries as cargo with the exception of a single battery installed inside the camera. Additionally there was a U.N. ban on all lithium ion batteries of any size being checked as cargo that went into effect last April. Just because you haven't been caught doesn't mean it's safe.
 
Its worth noting, the part of the reason li-ion batteries are restricted in cargo is because if they do catch on fire, they can produce a sizable amount of carbon monoxide gas. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can easily be mistaken for hypoxia (from cabin pressure loss) to the flight crew, and can kill anyone not wearing an oxygen supply without them even realizing whats happening. If the flight crew thinks they're loosing cabin pressure, they may drop altitude to 10k then remove their masks. If its carbon monoxide though, they'll likely pass out before they can get the masks back on. Exceptions for carry on batteries are only allowed because the crew will be able to identify the source of the fire and put it out much faster than if its all buried in the cargo hold.

The battery regulations are really nothing to screw around with.
 
I have seen a production get a 50k fine from TSA for flying with lithiums in a pelican checked case, don't know if they ended up paying that much but really it's not worth it and shouldn't be a discussion except to inform others if they aren't aware.
 
yachacha said:
I have seen a production get a 50k fine from TSA for flying with lithiums in a pelican checked case, don't know if they ended up paying that much but really it's not worth it and shouldn't be a discussion except to inform others if they aren't aware.
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I think most people arn't aware just how deadly li-ion batteries can be on aircraft, especially because we're so use to laptop batteries being kosher. It really is the fire risk that is compounded by not being able to detect or put said reactions out quickly if they're in the cargo hold that kills. We've all seen the old laptop batteries that just explode out of nowhere once they get too old.

If worrying about other folks doesnt get someone to play by the rules with batteries, hopefully the desire to personally survive the flight will.
 
B.Berry said:
Never had a problem with two Anton Bauer Dionic 90 batteries, checked baggage in a pelican with a charger. I used to fly with the Hytron 140 batteries for the old Panasonic HDX900, the Sony F3 works great with the Dionic 90's Last time I was flying from LA to Austin Feb, this year I had one Dionic checked with the charger, and two carry on, no problems through TSA. Hytron 140's can be checked.

http://staging.antonbauer.com/Checked
http://phmsa.dot.gov/safetravel/batteries

Broatch Berry
Venice CA
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"Never had a problem" also works for Russian Roulette, until the one time it doesn't.

It is against the law. For good reason. End of story.

Look up ValueJet if you want to learn more.
 
Travelling with lithium is an absolute nightmare. We really need a new standard with safer chemistry for batteries for film/tv equipment - there's just too much travel involved in the job for the complications and dangers of lithium batteries.
 
Compared to Lithium Ion, NiMH batteries actually run longer on their charge (the voltage drop off is more gradual), can deep troll (run them at a higher draw efficiently), have a longer life (about 50% more recharge cycles), are generally less expensive per watt, and because they are heavier they even offer better balance on the shoulder for the mostly front-heavy camera rigs we are all now burdened with.

Hell, let's go real old school and go back to lead acid and NiCad!
 
The Airlines say you can carry on up to four Lithium Ion batteries, per individual traveling, providing they are under 100 watt hour, and you may check an item powered by a lithium ion battery with the battery attached or in the item it powers as long as its under 100 watt hours. I really like Anton Bauers batteries and trust their build, I also like and trust the PAG's, I'm very unsure of the many Chinese lithium batteries out and about.

http://wolfcrow.com/blog/for-filmmakers-how-many-lithium-batteries-can-you-carry-on-an-airline/
http://staging.antonbauer.com/Checked
http://phmsa.dot.gov/safetravel/batteries

Now I certainly don't want to bring down any airplane, and from now on I will just carry on my two Anton Bauer Dionic 90 batteries, and check the one or two Hytron 140's ( NiMH no problem checking these ) for back up!

It does state in the airline restrictions you may check an item that runs on a lithium ion battery as long as it has the battery installed, and is under 100 watt hour.

I do love my Dionic's, they are super light and run my camera set up a charm. Hopefully they will build a better battery system that will be safer and lighter to travel with soon.

And now this has been addressed here, other readers and traveling cameramen, and steadicam operators, can quickly find out what is restricted and not safe, and what is safe to travel with.

Broatch Berry
Venice CA
 
Grug said:
The Zacuto is leaps and bounds ahead of the Sony EVF in every way bar the simplified cabling of the Sony.

- The image is MUCH larger (bigger and better magnifying optics in the Zacuto)
- Sharpness is significantly better too, and you have peaking and 1-to-1 pixel zoom which makes achieving and confirming focus VASTLY easier
- LUTs, waveform, false colour, frame guides (the monitoring features of the Zacuto give you all of the information need, and are super easy to access)

For me, having the resolution to be able to comfortably find critical focus and the built-in LUT capabilities are the most important features, and they alone make it worth having over the Sony. Add in all of the monitoring features that you now no longer need to look at a monitor to confirm, and it's a no-brainer for me. It just makes the camera much easier to work with.

And the braided cabling that Zacuto supply is really neat, doesn't get in the way as much as I'd feared it might.
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Not sure leaps and bounds better. The sony is very good. Sony viewfinder also have lut support no problem. Also frame guides. So advantage of zacuto is false color and waveform. For weight zacuto need extra arm holder and different top handle. Your top handle look heavier than original sony. Original sony weigh nothing. So in end with extra arm and heavier top handle weight is probably same.
 
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