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Motion Control Pan/Tilt head

Larry Gebhardt

Larry Gebhardt

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Hello All...

I have a shoot coming up next week where we will be compositing several layers of green screen shots into live action BG plates. I would like to do simple tripod head pan/tilt moves with these instead of locking the shots down, and simplify the post with exactly repeated moves in all of the elements (save tracking everything). I don't want to get into a full-on MoCo rig, just a simple motion encoded head that will repeat the moves. I thought there is something like this existing that once a move is done, it will save the encoder data to a laptop (or other device) for exactly repeating the move for later elements. The Viewfactor's Mirus head would work for us but it is not shipping yet.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of equipment, and where it would be available. We are shooting in LA.

Again, I know that full-on MoCo rigs will do this, but we don't have the budget.

Thanks in advance.

Larry Gebhardt
 
lrgebhardt said:
Hello All...

I have a shoot coming up next week where we will be compositing several layers of green screen shots into live action BG plates. I would like to do simple tripod head pan/tilt moves with these instead of locking the shots down, and simplify the post with exactly repeated moves in all of the elements (save tracking everything). I don't want to get into a full-on MoCo rig, just a simple motion encoded head that will repeat the moves. I thought there is something like this existing that once a move is done, it will save the encoder data to a laptop (or other device) for exactly repeating the move for later elements.
Click to expand...

Hot Gears.
Aerohead.

Be aware that for real accuracy, the sticks themselves must be very heavily bagged, you must be on a stable surface (i.e., not a wooden floor), shutter control must be enabled (I don't think this is possible with a Red, but I could be wrong), and a certain amount of post work in terms of stabilization and slight repositioning is to be expected (less than with film, however).

Also be careful to avoid shooting during earthquakes.
 
Thanks, everyone for your input...I appreciate it. I will be checking out the various suggestions tomorrow (long scout day today). It looks like the Aerohead is what we need but will decide tomorrow.

Thanks again...this forum is really cool!

Larry
 
lrgebhardt said:
Thanks, everyone for your input...I appreciate it. I will be checking out the various suggestions tomorrow (long scout day today). It looks like the Aerohead is what we need but will decide tomorrow.
Click to expand...

If you go with the Aerohead, it would be advisable to get a tech to come along with it, unless your crew has experience with it. It would also be a good idea to run through what you need to do, and what other equipment you'll have, with the tech during preproduction, as the Aerohead software is very capable and can do some very useful things (remote start of previous scene playback via a time code trigger, that sort of thing).

Good luck and enjoy.
 
Another option is the Intel-a-head by the same guys that make the Intel-a-jib. (great 7' or 10' small jib BTW). They have a pretty lame website, however, if you can get the Intel-a-head PRO (not pictured on site) you can mount that on any Mitchell base- tripod or dolly. It can hold up to a 38 pound camera and gives you full pan/tilt movements that are repeatable/programable. Easy to use and well engineered.

I own the head/jib and am looking to upgrade to the repeatable move controller soon...

http://www.industryadvanced.com/profile.html

Good luck
 
The aerohead is a great head, but overkill for the red, 75lb+ load capacity.
The folks that engineered/softwared/electronics the aerohead started a new company, ravensclaw, for whom I am humbly employed. The aerohead rents for ~$1500 a day, the little talon rents for ~$300 a day.

The age of big heavy expensive moco heads is over, if we have anything to say about it. :gun:

I don't think you need a tech, if you go talon, running a move is pretty simple.
 
Larry did you try calling the Mirus guys? Maybe they could bring out their demos for you to use? They are in the LA area, I think.
 
Tom said:
Larry did you try calling the Mirus guys? Maybe they could bring out their demos for you to use? They are in the LA area, I think.
Click to expand...

See post #4 above. :gun: :tongue:
 
The Talon is a remote head that is very different than a true motion control head. It saves point not the actual motion of the shot. Point are easy...saving the speed, time, and actual location during the move is what makes a unit such as Mark Roberts Ultihead and Mirus from View Factor diffrent than a remote head.

BTW When Mirus is released it is self contained. The Talon and every other system out there neglects to show you all the other equipment and programming you need to know to make it work.
 
The Talon will record marks, but it will record up to one hour of continous moves also, including speed and zoom and focus, up to 2000 takes. The lower cost jib package isn't capable of any motion controll, just remote pan/tilt.
Kupernode is an option.
Vurtual set is an option.
Intervalomiter, stretching moves per frame, is an option.

We try very hard to keep the price down, entry barred to noone. That does mean there is a long list of options.
We have about 35 heads out there. Our customers love the heads. Building 50 now, going to have to pick up another CNC mill, the little one we got can't keep up;)
 
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