Tanner Stauss
Well-known member
New Mexico 3D feature
New Mexico 3D feature
Pedro and I have been working together on a 3D feature in New Mexico shooting with the Atom and Epic-M's. We are using Tonaci's Atom rig with Magnesium shark fins and we are shooting about 85% hand-held. I'm not going to lie, the rig is big and it's a beast to put on your shoulder once all the necessary gack is built up. We have tried many options to make handheld easier and more controllable for the operator and we are achieving some otherwise impossible shots. We have come up with a pretty streamlined build and all the electronics have been performing quite well. I am pulling focus with the lens control from ET and it is pretty impressive. There are a few improvements to be made, as with any new product, but simple to set up and requires little attention to keep calibrated and synchronized. It allows me to focus on the performance of the rig and performing my 1st AC duties. The number one time killer is filters. It's a pretty lengthy change over to add an ND. We use round ND's that we tape to the front of the 16-42's. It's about a 30 minute change to add filters and 10-15 to remove and re-align. This can be improved with mirror box modifications, having lenses with rear loading small ND's, or a gigantic custom glass that covers the whole front of the mirror box. There are other options, but only few are practical and being worked on.
The cameras are working very well with little to no issues. The main thing I've seen happening, out here in the desert, is a heat issue. Since we are handheld, and the rig is in an under-through configuration, we have the "left eye" camera upside down on top side motion module. There is no ventilation on the bottom of the camera, so it's tends to overheat quicker than the other camera on long takes. It has yet to be a production hindering problem, as it has only happened on MOS shots(the fan kicks up to full speed when it reaches maximum operating temp). We have tested numerous over-cranked speeds and sync holds up.
So far so good out here in Albuquerque.
New Mexico 3D feature
Pedro and I have been working together on a 3D feature in New Mexico shooting with the Atom and Epic-M's. We are using Tonaci's Atom rig with Magnesium shark fins and we are shooting about 85% hand-held. I'm not going to lie, the rig is big and it's a beast to put on your shoulder once all the necessary gack is built up. We have tried many options to make handheld easier and more controllable for the operator and we are achieving some otherwise impossible shots. We have come up with a pretty streamlined build and all the electronics have been performing quite well. I am pulling focus with the lens control from ET and it is pretty impressive. There are a few improvements to be made, as with any new product, but simple to set up and requires little attention to keep calibrated and synchronized. It allows me to focus on the performance of the rig and performing my 1st AC duties. The number one time killer is filters. It's a pretty lengthy change over to add an ND. We use round ND's that we tape to the front of the 16-42's. It's about a 30 minute change to add filters and 10-15 to remove and re-align. This can be improved with mirror box modifications, having lenses with rear loading small ND's, or a gigantic custom glass that covers the whole front of the mirror box. There are other options, but only few are practical and being worked on.
The cameras are working very well with little to no issues. The main thing I've seen happening, out here in the desert, is a heat issue. Since we are handheld, and the rig is in an under-through configuration, we have the "left eye" camera upside down on top side motion module. There is no ventilation on the bottom of the camera, so it's tends to overheat quicker than the other camera on long takes. It has yet to be a production hindering problem, as it has only happened on MOS shots(the fan kicks up to full speed when it reaches maximum operating temp). We have tested numerous over-cranked speeds and sync holds up.
So far so good out here in Albuquerque.
