dyedudedelux
New member
Great! Thanks a bunch!
Tiffen announces new low cost Steadicams at NAB 07 - *** Now Shipping! ***
- Thread starter mikkowilson
- Start date
strangways
Well-known member
Battery life
Battery life
I've been too busy having fun and learning that I didn't time the battery life of the 10 alkaline AAs I used to power the 5.8" 16:9 LCD, but I can say that when they start to die, they do so in an interesting way.
First, the colour desaturates. Then it'll flick completely to black and white. Switch it off and back on again, and it'll be colour for a while before a flicker back to B&W. Really push it, and it starts blacking out at regular intervals.
My first thought was that the monitor was failing... but cooler heads prevailed, batteries were tested then replaced, and all was well!
Battery life
I've been too busy having fun and learning that I didn't time the battery life of the 10 alkaline AAs I used to power the 5.8" 16:9 LCD, but I can say that when they start to die, they do so in an interesting way.
First, the colour desaturates. Then it'll flick completely to black and white. Switch it off and back on again, and it'll be colour for a while before a flicker back to B&W. Really push it, and it starts blacking out at regular intervals.
My first thought was that the monitor was failing... but cooler heads prevailed, batteries were tested then replaced, and all was well!
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Yup, it's pretty common for Steadicam monitors (and other monitors too) to fade & drastically loose quality before shutting down complelty on a low battery.
This is paticulalrly usefull if you are in the middle of a live event/shoot where you have time to react to your battery dying and hold out untill a suitable battery change moment.
I was in the middle of a concert a while back when my (production's, I wasn't familer with it, nor did it have a meter) battery started to die. The camera was on Triax power from the truck so it wasn't affected. But suddenly my (CRT) monitor dimmed mid shot, it didn't affect the shot but it was a great way to tell me it was time to change the battery at the next break - I continued out the song and was able to change my battery to the spare I had at the side of the stage between songs. If the monitor had just gone black on me, I'd have been in a world of hurt.
- Mikko
This is paticulalrly usefull if you are in the middle of a live event/shoot where you have time to react to your battery dying and hold out untill a suitable battery change moment.
I was in the middle of a concert a while back when my (production's, I wasn't familer with it, nor did it have a meter) battery started to die. The camera was on Triax power from the truck so it wasn't affected. But suddenly my (CRT) monitor dimmed mid shot, it didn't affect the shot but it was a great way to tell me it was time to change the battery at the next break - I continued out the song and was able to change my battery to the spare I had at the side of the stage between songs. If the monitor had just gone black on me, I'd have been in a world of hurt.
- Mikko
dogman-x
Active member
Alkaline AAs are 1.5 volts each, so 10 alkaline AAs would be 15 volts. I know they have a spacer to allow 8 alkaline AAs. I thought the 10 AA configuration was for the 1.2 volt NiMH rechargable batteries.
Will running the pilot's monitor at 15 volts do any damage?
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Nah, should be fine. Professional Broadcast li-Ion batteries (like the IDX E10s [recomended by Tiffen/Steadicam]) are 14.8v
The spacer to use only 8 AAs is simply to save on the number of batteries you need.
- Mikko
The spacer to use only 8 AAs is simply to save on the number of batteries you need.
- Mikko
dogman-x
Active member
How many weights?
How many weights?
I'm fairly set on buying the Pilot. I'll be using my friend's camera for production, but I'd like to use my own camera for practice. My camera is only 1.3 pounds.
It would be nice if I could get the stage weight with my camera up around 5 lbs, and then add the bottom weights for inertia. This way I'll be able to practice with the full inertia of the production setup.
Is there a way to do this with the weights that come with the Pilot? If not, is there another economical solution? Could I design something out of plywood and dumbell weights?
How many weights come with the Pilot? How much does each one weigh? Can I purchase additional weights?
Any help appreciated.
How many weights?
I'm fairly set on buying the Pilot. I'll be using my friend's camera for production, but I'd like to use my own camera for practice. My camera is only 1.3 pounds.
It would be nice if I could get the stage weight with my camera up around 5 lbs, and then add the bottom weights for inertia. This way I'll be able to practice with the full inertia of the production setup.
Is there a way to do this with the weights that come with the Pilot? If not, is there another economical solution? Could I design something out of plywood and dumbell weights?
How many weights come with the Pilot? How much does each one weigh? Can I purchase additional weights?
Any help appreciated.
strangways
Well-known member
The Pilot ships with 4 'mid' weights and 4 tapered 'start/finish' weights, for a total of about 1.5 pounds.
The mid weights are about 4 ounces, and the start/finish about 2 ounces. I'm sure Tiffen has exact specs.
The weights are the same type that come with the Merlin, and I THINK you can order those separately.
With a 4-4.5 pound camera setup the monitor and AA battery unit counterbalance perfectly, without needing added weights.
I will add bottom weight only for inertia, and if the balance point like that requires the gimble to be be too low for my taste, I add some weights to the stage up top.
If you want to practice what a heavier camera would be like, you'll want to add weight to the stage, but keep it sized to the dimensions of a camera. In other words, if you have weights sticking out front-back or side-side beyond the size of your friend's camera, the inertia will also be different.
When mounting a DVX100 to the Flyer, a gentleman I knew need to add more weight as the camera was too light. He got a 5 pound weight plate (the disc type that go on the end of bars, not sure of the terminology) and padded both sides of it, and filled in the center hole a little.
Then, he got a longer 1/4" 20 pitch screw to go up through the camera plate, through the center of the weight, into the bottom of the camera, so the weight was snugly mounted right underneath the camera.
Another option: google
The mid weights are about 4 ounces, and the start/finish about 2 ounces. I'm sure Tiffen has exact specs.
The weights are the same type that come with the Merlin, and I THINK you can order those separately.
With a 4-4.5 pound camera setup the monitor and AA battery unit counterbalance perfectly, without needing added weights.
I will add bottom weight only for inertia, and if the balance point like that requires the gimble to be be too low for my taste, I add some weights to the stage up top.
If you want to practice what a heavier camera would be like, you'll want to add weight to the stage, but keep it sized to the dimensions of a camera. In other words, if you have weights sticking out front-back or side-side beyond the size of your friend's camera, the inertia will also be different.
When mounting a DVX100 to the Flyer, a gentleman I knew need to add more weight as the camera was too light. He got a 5 pound weight plate (the disc type that go on the end of bars, not sure of the terminology) and padded both sides of it, and filled in the center hole a little.
Then, he got a longer 1/4" 20 pitch screw to go up through the camera plate, through the center of the weight, into the bottom of the camera, so the weight was snugly mounted right underneath the camera.
Another option: google
and take a look at those.
dogman-x
Active member
Thanks strangways! This is exactly what I needed.
Looks like I'll be going to Home Depot and looking for common things to use in uncommon ways. Won't be the first time.
I did Google Steadicam "Practice Cage". Lot's of clever solutions. Seems like I'm not the only one looking to use a small mini-DV camcorder for practice. Perhaps Steadicam/Tiffen could offer somthing to address this in the future.
Looks like I'll be going to Home Depot and looking for common things to use in uncommon ways. Won't be the first time.
I did Google Steadicam "Practice Cage". Lot's of clever solutions. Seems like I'm not the only one looking to use a small mini-DV camcorder for practice. Perhaps Steadicam/Tiffen could offer somthing to address this in the future.
dogman-x
Active member
Excellent report on Steadicam Pilot (5.8" 16:9 LCD) using AA rechargable batteries:
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=112777
Bottom line: over 4 hours of continuous LCD monitor use on 10 AA rechargables.
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=112777
Bottom line: over 4 hours of continuous LCD monitor use on 10 AA rechargables.
strangways
Well-known member
Fantastic "Getting Started" Q&A
Fantastic "Getting Started" Q&A
Fantastic "Getting Started" Q&A:
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=115235
Fantastic "Getting Started" Q&A
Fantastic "Getting Started" Q&A:
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=115235
gco
Veteran
From within the above thread---Pilot How To Video:
http://www.steadicam.com/images/content/pilotVideoCode.htm
Thanks Strangways!
http://www.steadicam.com/images/content/pilotVideoCode.htm
Thanks Strangways!