Action Products Raptor Offer: Only Good Until 3/22

[steven moreno]

I really like this system's power solutions. I am generally not a fan of the open post system, as my Laing has, because it becomes an untidy mess of cables with camera power and a 2-pin lemo for bartech running up the cable, while HDMI or BNC run down for monitor, BUT this rig's modular system is great...

When they release the Power Box for the Raptor, similiar to this: http://www.actionproducts.ch/portfolio_item/powerbox/ you'll just run 8-pin lemo up the post to the power box, then out of that you can power any kind of camera and a follow focus, and your wireless transmitter, and whatever gear you want, with just an HDMI or BNC running down for monitor.

 

[Steve Das]

....and what I would recommend for people to watch is the video of this rig flying compared to others...

Yes watch the videos a couple times and you will see slight differences...stilll the proline is pretty amazing deal...as is the Laing.

scroll down to raptor video...
http://www.actionproducts.ch/category/raptor_introduction/

bottom 2 videos show proline on this page...
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...=1#post1166933

this video shows proline following someone..
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...=1#post1167901
________

 

[Brett Harrison]

Carbon fiber begins as sheets of woven fibers impregnated with an adhesive - similar to an epoxy. The sheets are wound around a solid metal rod, coated with even more adhesive, vacuumed to remove any bubbles and compress the fibers, and then cured in an oven. The tubes, once removed from the metal rod, are then sanded down to a specific roundness and diameter.

Boring out solid carbon fiber would be a gigantic pain, and wouldn't produce a tube with as much stiffness, rigidity, or stability.

Hope that answers your curiosity!

Anyways, the reason they're talking about an open post is that many rigs, including many top-end rigs, have posts with internal cabling and connectors at the top and bottom of the post, but no way to run your own wires down the post. Action Products instead chooses to have holes at the top and bottom of their rigs, so end users can run their own cables up and down the posts. Each method has its own advantages, really.

Tom, awesome post, thanks for explaining the manufacturing process.

What's your take on the Raptor? Always good to hear feedback from experienced operators.

 

[Tom Wills]

Tom, awesome post, thanks for explaining the manufacturing process.

What's your take on the Raptor? Always good to hear feedback from experienced operators.

I've never flown an ActionProducts rig, only gotten a few minutes to play with one at NAB (though I hope to be able to get into one at Cinegear this year, if they're there). I do know that they've been around for quite a few years, and I see good things in their gimbals, and their arm design, while unconventional, does look like it'd work. I trust that they at least have a handle on how a good stabilizer should perform, and are engineering to that standard. Beyond that, I can't really comment, having never spent any time in their rig.

 

[Brett Harrison]

I don't know how it compares directly to the Proline, but I've used several other systems and what I would recommend for people to watch is the video of this rig flying compared to others. That stability and arm movement is saying a lot. Also, the Raptor is clearly very light. So less stress on your body.

Additionally, and something I personally like, is that the Actionproducts vest places the weight on your back/hips which allows for a bit more mobility and likely more comfort.

yeah, there seems to be very little lag time between the body and the arm, and the movement of the arm seems to fully represent the movement of the body. Very fluid. That's what sold me on the Raptor (and the stunning good looks - form follows function after all).

 

[Andy White]

Maybe a dumb question - but can't see a mention of a docking plate... any options here?

 

[Brett Harrison]

Yes watch the videos a couple times and you will see slight differences...stilll the proline is pretty amazing deal...as is the Laing.

scroll down to raptor video...
http://www.actionproducts.ch/category/raptor_introduction/

bottom 2 videos show proline on this page...
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...=1#post1166933

this video shows proline following someone..
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...=1#post1167901
________

My understanding is there's quite a difference in experience level between operators in those videos too, which is a very big factor. To me it seemed the Laing and Proline operators were holding on too hard. Perhaps the lift wasn't dialed in perfectly.

 

[Justin R Goff]

Maybe a dumb question - but can't see a mention of a docking plate... any options here?

It actually comes "naked" so you can mount your own plate if you want (like a quick release from RED). In this case on the photos, you can see it naked, with Arri Adapter, with Clamp Adapter (makes it work like regular stages )

• This package comes with a choice of ether the Clamp Adaptor or the Arri Adaptor...

With Clamp Adaptor... kind of hard to see, sorry

How it looks naked.

With Arri Adaptor.

 

[steven moreno]

Maybe a dumb question - but can't see a mention of a docking plate... any options here?

I believe that you are talking about a bracket to dock the rig onto a stand...I was told yes it does come with a dock

But the Arri dovetail option is great...as my camera (most cameras) live on one

 

[Andy White]

I believe that you are talking about a bracket to dock the rig onto a stand...I was told yes it does come with a dock

But the Arri dovetail option is great...as my camera (most cameras) live on one

Yes - I was meaning a docking plate/bracket to attach to a c-stand

In terms of the stage with the Arri dovetail, that's logical.

 

[John Brennick]

Any word on minimum weight load on both 28lb and 35lb arm? Thanks in advance.

 

[Justin R Goff]

Yes - I was meaning a docking plate/bracket to attach to a c-stand

In terms of the stage with the Arri dovetail, that's logical.

Sorry for my misunderstanding on that question. hahaha. Yes, all ActionCams come with a docking bracket for a C-Stand.

 

[Justin R Goff]

Any word on minimum weight load on both 28lb and 35lb arm? Thanks in advance.

I will check directly with ActionProducts for that question and get back to you as soon as I get their feedback.

 

[Andy White]

Sorry for my misunderstanding on that question. hahaha. Yes, all ActionCams come with a docking bracket for a C-Stand.

No problem, thanks for clarifying... might be useful to add into the specs list as it seemed to be a missing element.

Thanks for the patient replies via PM too.

The max/min weights per arm will also be helpful.

 

[Justin R Goff]

Any word on minimum weight load on both 28lb and 35lb arm? Thanks in advance.

The max/min weights per arm will also be helpful.

I am getting request from a lot of people asking about the min weight point for the 28lbs and 35lbs springs... I don't have this information from ActionProducts yet so I want to further explain how the arm works with the springs in the mean time to help everyones understanding.

All ActionCams are based off spring package technology that has multiple springs per chassis. The Rebel arm has 8 per chassis, the Raptor Arm has 4. This to accomplish two things... It makes the arm softer.. ( you can probably see that even in the videos) It also helps you maintain the arm being softer through out different weight classes. If you have a heavy load you leave all springs in.... if you have a light load, you take some out. This keeps the arm soft while also preventing you from having to add extra weight. What I have to check with Daryl is how low can you go with OUT having to add weight....

If you are ok with adding weight (like you would have to anyway with most rigs) then ether 28lbs springs or 35lbs springs will work for you. You just might have to add more weight to the 35lbs springs than you would with the 28lbs springs. ActionProducts will have rod weights available that look very clean like the swivel mounts look like. You could even use them AS the swivel mounts to save space on the rods. Bottom-line both situations will work for you, it just depends on your preference on how heavy you want your rig. With NOTHING on the sled is only 3.8 pounds.:thumbup1:

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

Today, Friday 3/22, is the last day to take advantage of the Raptor offer.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

The offer is good until Midnight tonight - 3/22 - eastern standard time.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

I am still trying to to decide which springs i ultimately need. right now my epic 9 kilos without a lens... Seems like I probably need the heavy springs but would be good to know where the buttom of that range is so im not constantly adding extra wieghts to get it balanced.

 

[Jay Kim]

Seems like I probably need the heavy springs but would be good to know where the buttom of that range is so im not constantly adding extra wieghts to get it balanced.

You can just get the heavy springs and take one or two springs out from each chassis to make the arm work for your camera without adding weights. This way, if you need to mount a heavier camera, you can just add springs.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

Thats great if it is that simple. Heavy springs for sure in that case.

You can just get the heavy springs and take one or two springs out from each chassis to make the arm work for your camera without adding weights. This way, if you need to mount a heavier camera, you can just add springs.