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Element Technica/Pictorvision: Helicopter filming without dropped frames

T

The Milkman

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At Pictorvision we have RED #970 as one of our in-house camera payloads for our Wescam gimbals and our new Eclipse stabilized aerial gimbal. The Wescam is a mass gyro system (inertia from three 2.5 lb 25,000 RPM brass weights stabilize the camera) and the Eclipse is actively stabilized by a high bandwidth servo loop. While both systems create visually stable images their camera payloads are subjected to considerable high frequency vibrations.

We have tried using the RED RAID to get longer runtimes so the helicopter doesn’t have to land every 4½ minutes but even during bench testing, consistently suffer dropped frames on both types of gimbals. We recently tested Element Technica's isolated drive mount on both the Eclipse and the Wescam and were unable to make either configurations drop a single frame. Regardless of what we subjected either gimbal to, the ET drive mount kept the RED RAID humming along. We even de-tuned the Eclipse to the point that it was resonating violently and still no dropped frames.

Good stuff.
 
Well if thats not a testimony...great news! When is this ET mount available and where can I find your services if you have them?

Welcome to REDuser.

best
 
I've got a helicopter shoot in a couple weeks, please…

Emmanuel
 
I've also been recently testing the ET isolated drive mount/RED Drive combo in the field under extreme conditions - hand held running, skateboarding, hanging out a car window on a bumpy road, etc. - with excellent results and no dropped frames.

ET has a V mount on it, and for general use mounting, they offer your choice of a 15mm clamp or 19mm clamp so you can clamp it right onto the rods you're using on the camera - or anywhere you want to place a V mount bracket.

The V mount is solid, the isolated drive mount is well designed, and the bottom line is I haven't been able to get the drive to drop frames, even though I've been torturing the heck out of it.

I'll post pics of the isolated drive mount in use on my RED cameras when I get some time...
 
Not available for order yet. As mentioned previously in this thread, It's being field tested by Pictorvision and myself. When field testing is is completed I'm sure ET will announce when orders will be taken and have photos and info up on their web site.

Later today when I get a chance I'll post some photos of the ET isolated drive mount setup on RED #8.
 
I saw a prototype a month or so ago and I was skeptical that a few loose rubber bumpers would be doing very much dampening on such a low mass item like the drive, but the proof is in the puddin so to speak.
 
they should sell (few loose rubber bumpers ) replacements cause by matter of time those rubbers will dry so their effect absorbing shocks will be limited
SO i suggesst each set should come with extra 2pairs of Rubber replacements
 
Big T said:
I need 2 of these ET Shock Mounts for this thrusday, How can i loan one, buy one, borrow one, bribe someone to get one.....

PLEEEEEEASE!!! who do we call...!
Click to expand...

There are only a very few pre-production prototypes of the Shock Mount being field tested, by myself, Pictorvision, and possibly a few others. Those of us who are testing them regularly work in extreme conditions that seriously test the limits of equipment. If they work well in those types of conditions in the field they should do really well in other less product-stressing work genres. In my experience ET is a detail-oriented company that has their designs field tested really well before releasing them. As you can see by the posts on this forum by Pictorvision and myself, the Shock Mount protos have been performing really well in the field. I'll add my voice to that of Finner, Matt Uhry, Tonaci Tran, and many others here who feel ET accessories seriously rock. They do...

I can't speak for ET, but us prototype testers obviously can't loan or sell the prototype equipment we're testing. If you can fly me to Australia I'd be happy to hop on a plane in L.A. tomorrow and bring the prototype Shock Mount with me so we can test it out in your production. I've done production work in Australia on several extended trips, in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, and WA. I love working in Oz. PM me if you want to put that in motion, and describe for me what you are shooting. I could be a consultant for your production. If you want to arrange it, I'll make a gap in my busy schedule to fly down there and help you out.

It will obviously be ET's decision as to when they place the Shock Mounts in regular production and start taking orders for them. I would hazard a guess that will be pretty soon.

I empathize with your needs for your current production. IMO these shock mounts will satisfy the needs for many productions - which is exactly what the other previously released ET products have done.

"Good on ya mate"
 
this is a big step in the right direction for the drives:)
It will take me a while to get use to the idea of being able to trust it.. but if this thing was strapped to a helo and still no issues.. then im 110% sold
 
Gibby said:
. If you can fly me to Australia I'd be happy to hop on a plane in L.A. tomorrow and bring the prototype Shock Mount with me so we can test it out in your production.
Click to expand...

MATE! I have 55 crew on set already, to just have someone fly in from LA to loan me a mount is extravagant madness, but I'm sure you were joking. :wacko:

We made up a dummy version today, seems to work fine. Doesn't look as fancy as ET's but its coping some good hits without any drop outs so far.
I only needed the thing for some LIBRA heli work and some car tracking.

Thanks for the offer though, but flying you out to us to consult on a braket with rubber bands seems way out of my league.

happy testing.:construction:
__________________
 
Big T

LOL - no worries mate!

My offer was mostly tongue in cheek, but then again many times I've flown out and helped associates in need. My experience runs a lot wider and deeper then just drive mounts...

Necessity is the mother of invention. Sounds like you jury-rigged up a solution. Good luck with your production. Sounds like you're having fun with it. When the dust settles and you get a chance, you might want to think about checking out this ET Shock Mount. It's testing out very well.

Cheers...
 
Can't wait for this mount. I have a client who will be ecstatic.

-Thor
 
Gibby said:
Big T

LOL - no worries mate!

My offer was mostly tongue in cheek, but then again many times I've flown out and helped associates in need. My experience runs a lot wider and deeper then just drive mounts...

Necessity is the mother of invention. Sounds like you jury-rigged up a solution. Good luck with your production. Sounds like you're having fun with it. When the dust settles and you get a chance, you might want to think about checking out this ET Shock Mount. It's testing out very well.

Cheers...
Click to expand...

oooh Don't you worry, we will buy several the day they release them!

How do I get in early.

thanks for the offer.
 
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