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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Flowcine Gravity One

Hi guys

This product looks fantastic. Great work. I have two questions:

1. How important is proper camera balance to operation? i notice that most of your pics feature a very balanced setup (light-weight zoom, 4 Red volts, etc). Unfortunately my camera setups tend to be more front heavy (Red Pro Primes, follow focus, matte box, etc.) Can I slide the G-1 forward on the top dovetail (overhanging the lens) to find the centre of gravity, Is this necessary?

2. Can the G-1 slide entirely off of the top dovetail (the orange mounting plate that mounts to the top of camera). I'm looking for a very fast and toolless way to switch between standard mode (with a regular top handle) and G-1 mode.. It would be great to permanently mount your orange dovetail to the top of the Epic and be able to quickly slide a regular handle on / off when the G-1 is not required.

Thanks. I'm hoping to join your INDIEGOGO campaign but am not quite decided yet.

Alex

______________

EDIT: I've just seen your Alexa solution to quickly swap between a regular handle and the G-1.

http://www.flowcine.com/arri-alexa-plate/

Do plan to design something like this for the Epic?
 
Peter Karlsson said:
Im happy to say that we reached our goal this morning :) As a appreciation to all our backers we provide you with a nice hard case with cutout foam for your Gravity One as a freebie!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/flowcine-gravity-one-camera-stabilizer?c=activity

Now while the factory is crunching out parts, we are working on phase 2 and 3! The prototype for the new springarm Flowcine Serene, that will take up and down vertical walking and running body error stabilisation to a whole new level for Easyrig 2.5/3, is coming along nicely :) The best part is that it will work on ANY gimbal, not only G-1/G-1E ;) Also the electronic for the G-1E is almost finalized :)


/Regards Peter K - Flowcine
Click to expand...

Cool I really looking forward to se the g-g1e in action!
 
Thanks for all the positive comments guys!

Alex, regarding your questions:

1. Proper balance is always important. If you have off-balance the camera will tilt (front heavy = tilt down, back heavy = tilt up). However, the Gravity One is made for heavy setups so the heavier you go the better the mechanics works because more mass doesn't want to move that easily. The prototype you've seen in the pictures/movies had a pretty short dovetail. The new one is 132mm and quite a bit longer than the old one. So you can slide the G-1 pretty far forward on top of your epic and then go further with the balancing stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgkNDFNS1dc

However if you have a super heavy long lens, you can also mount the dovetail orange plate a little more fwd so it sticks out about 25mm on the lens side , and so you have more front adjustment to compensate, and if this is not enough then you will need to compensate from extending battery or other components on the back of your camera, depending what you use, rod system ,etc

The lock of the dovetail somehow is NOT tool-less you need an allen tool, and the reason is that we needed this connection to be very secure and tide and rigid.

2. Yes, the G-1 slides easily off the top dovetail. Alexa needed a solution, because there was none and the handle is always mounted in the same way. For the Epic however you first need a top plate. Since there are numerous out there (Red, VF, ET etc) we haven't done our own, and then it depends on what type of handle you have if you got the http://www.red.com/store/products/dsmc-tactical-top-handle for example, there is not much we can do unless you screw the handle on and off. If you have the http://www.red.com/store/products/sliding-top-handle however you might be able to add a swat rail in front or behind the G-1 dovetail. But thats not at all ideal. What we do have is a small bridge plate for our dovetail however, with mounting holes on top that you can slide on the dovetail and mount any nato rail you want. Its almost done and will be definitely ready the day the G-1 is shipping. The Nato handles are becoming more popular so you can use any from Red/x/Zacuto etc. :)

/Regards Peter K - Flowcine
 
Thanks for your detailed answers Peter. It sounds like your upcoming "small bridge plate" will allow me to mount my existing handle (a Red sliding top handle) and then quickly swap that out for the G-1 when needed. This sounds like a reasonably fast swap.

One last question. At the 01:10 mark on the "Final Production Design and Features" youtube video you show a bottom mounting solution. Would mounting the G-1 to the bottom of the camera (instead of the top) compromise performance or stability?
 
Hey Alex,

Performance wise its exactly the same, the only thing that happens is that you shift some weight from top to bottom, which can be useful in some setups. But there are some nice features when mounting on the top, like more comfortable on the shoulder for example ;) And put it straight on the tripod if you want (with top mount, you can have the bridgeplate under the Epic, and even a shoulderpad if you want too). But for performance/stability its exactly the same thing :) Keeping the bottom free is also great for adding Kenyon gyros etc, for vehicle or steady smooth walking shots.

One thing I forgot to say.. Setting the balance is much easier from the top than on the bottom aswell.

/Regards Peter K - Flowcine
 
Thanks for all your help Peter. I just signed up on IndieGoGo. Looking forward to next steps!

Alex

P.S. Can I select a black model?
 
Hey Alex! Thank you for signing up! We will try our hardest to make all our backers happy :) Of course you'll get a black one if you want ;) We will send updates what happens until we ship next month!

/Regards Peter K - Flowcine
 
Thanks Peter. Please take your time! You can't rush perfection. :)

I do have one concern: after reviewing your videos it seems clear that the best place to grip (and operate) the G-1 for maximum stability is from the easyrig handle, up top, before the gimbals work their magic. This obviously works great for low-mode shooting as your videos prove. But how are we supposed to operate the G-1 when shooting at regular eye height?

Some of your early sneak peak videos show a hand-grip mounted directly to the camera, which seems like the wrong place to put it. I know that touching the camera or the G-1 side arm would compromise stability. Unfortunately when shooting at eye-height I think it would be very difficult to grip the G-1 top handle with your operating-hand way over your head.

QUESTION: Do you have any plans to design and sell positionable hand-grips that could mount to the G-1 top handle but allow for comfortable (and stable) eye-height shooting? I'm happy if this is a future solution, but it's worth considering now in case you need to include extra mounting points on the G-1 top handle... or even design a horizontal mounting bracket for accessory mounting. I would like to mount a long, positionable hand-grips to the G-1 top handle, but I currently don't see enough holes to do it.

I think the design of most 3-gimbal stabilization devices lend themselves to comfortable low-mode shooting... but very uncomfortable eye-height shooting. I think the G-1 (combined with an easy rig) has a huge advantage here as long as we can operate from a reasonably positioned hand-grip.

I hope you don't mind me offering this comment, but it seems important. I'm happy to discuss this offline if you'd prefer.

Thanks
Alex
 
Hello Alex .
Thank you again for your choice on going with flowcine, and Gravity one.
For high mode , we are planning on 2 side handle mounted at the top handle respectively.
Eventually this is the only way to work high mode with easy rig, since the support attachment can only be at the top of the grip where the string connects to the handle.
Otherwise the rig would swing as you would walk fast or run.
The operation though must be really lightweight hand control , and you have to learn how to operate so you don't transform your body errors and hand errors to the rig, as now the leverage is bigger.
Eventually with G1E , and the addition of the new SERENE the spring arm that will also absorb walking errors and some positional front to back errors , this will be eliminated.
I will send you personally the updates and the results of something new Im trying out in a couple of weeks, for a manual G1 operation in high mode.
Anything else technical please email me, I ll be happy to answer all your questions.
Best regards

Edit: the grip you have seen on the side of the camera , was for shoulder mode where the system also works for hand held , but not as a stabilizer.
and it was only placed there for that purpose, and with a shoulder pad under the rig.
 
constantine Tirintzis said:
For high mode , we are planning on 2 side handle mounted at the top handle respectively.
.
Click to expand...

YES! That's fantastic news Constantine. Exactly what I was hoping for. :)

In an ideal world it would be great to also get a cheese plate (or something) which attaches to the G-1 top handle so we can mount personal items, such as rosettes, our own handles mods, LCDs, etc.

BTW: I've been following your work for years on this forum and am very happy to finally be investing in a Constantine rig. I know how much thought and care you've put into this.

All the best
Alex
 
Also, as an easy rig operator I would rather have stabilized shots with the camera floating in front of my face, over un-stabalized shots with the camera sitting on my shoulder. The G-1 + easyrig makes shoulder mounting rather unnecessary. I mention this only because it would influence where i would like to put hand-grips (on either side of the camera...)
 
hey Alex. Camera floating in front of you is the way to go stabilized as on the side its very uncomfortable to reach or place your hands with handles
The new spring arm SERENE will greatly help on the stabilization.
however you will need to have either a longer extended front easyrig arm, if your camera is set to be a long set up (length of camera)
The SERENE its self will not only give you additional length that is useful, but it will also allow you to swivel the camera for better positioning, and together with a new z position of the easyrig arm it creates a new fully adjustable arm that will greatly help not only for better positioning, but also absorb some linear errors.

As about hand grips, I will look into adapting some rosette screw mounts, or even make one if I have to, but generally I would better like to provide a very lightweight handle bar that will be able to follow the G1 line and be more ergonomic that placing 3 d party handles which are not made for this rig or those functions.

Iam also testing a new very lightweight arm so you can tilt the camera easier on motion. Its new ideas, and though I thing the electronic version is more tech, I find a challenge to make a bulletproof MECHANICAL DEVICE , that works with any camera loads and easyrig.

Thank you for you kind words and comments.
This project really excites me , and its something I wanted to do for years.
The flowcine team works really hard to provide everything we can to make this happen.
And everyone is very knowledge-able in its own field.
We want new products, and new innovations, not clones and stepping on peoples patents.
Best regards
 
Hi Peter
I have sent you a PM. RE the Gravity One.
 
same as a Movi rig without electronics

same as a Movi rig without electronics

Pardon my question, but isn't this the same as the newfangled gimbals when the camera is carefully balanced with respect to the center of gravity ?
I see your interesting curved rail for the roll axis, but this is effectively the same thing as bringing a solid arm down the back of the camera with a roll bearing at the CG.
So the new gyro gimbals, balanced correctly and electronics deleted is the same, in engineering/physics terms.
Am i missing something ?
Sorry if I'm upsetting the apple cart.
 
:smile: Hello Les.

Apart of the 3 axis there is no other similarity.
Because:

1) we can support cameras up to 17 kg.
2) we can support cameras up to 650+ mm (cameralength).
3) we can support any kind of accessories and a wide range of lenses
4) we have a trimmer stage where you can balance them perfectly on the fly
5) we can work with Kenyon gyros
6) we can work with a camera being not 100 % balanced
7) we have an upgrade- able add on 1, 2 and 3 electronic axis that you will be able to add in the future you being a user.
8) in some cases you can bring the camera on shoulder with easy rig to make a hand held shoot.
9) all the pivot supports for each axis are based on big stainless double bearings and stainless shafts and not relying on the motor shafts and frame assembly.

There are many more differences.

For the G1E (gyrostabilised electronic version)we have at least 6 major differences that separate us from all those Gimbal rigs and clones.

We are not just a copy of another version of a gimbal.

We are making a brand, and we are making original brand new ideas come to life.

Stay tuned and follow us, with the new releases soon.

you will be surprised to see what is coming.

Thanks for your comments

and by the way :) you are not upsetting any apple cart ...at all







Best regards
 
Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that we are now open for pre-orders!

Our webstore for worldwide distribution is www.gripify.com (Please contact our distributors if you're living in Germany, UK, France, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine and the Netherlands).

Our indiegogo orders are being done in the factory right now, and except to ship in the end of November!

/Regards Peter Karlsson - Flowcine
 
Just a quick update on our current process and some more news :)

After some last fine tuning on the production model of the G-1, we have spent last couple of weeks working on mounts for different cameras, and now we are working on some new accessories for different shooting styles :) We now have a very nice high- and low-mode ergonomic solution for the manual operation of G-1. We are also testing various springs and configurations for the new Flowcine Serene spring arm.

With the Serene arm we extend the G-1 to work as a 6-axis free float stabilizer, allowing full ergonomic control of pan tilt and roll, combined with Easy rig 2,5 and Cinema 3. The Serene arm will of course play nice with other types of gimbals aswell ;) It will be THE missing link for gimbals overall :)

We will be at SATIS trade show in Paris between 19th-21th November, introducing the production model of the G-1 (about a week before first delivery to all customers) and some new accessories with our French distributor Emit. More info about SATIS can be found here http://www.satis-expo.com/

While the Flowcine Serene arm is in progress, we trying hard to make it all ready for this show but we cannot promise this, as we are dealing also with the production of the G-1 for all our backers and dealers around the world, we promise that we will do our best to have it there as a fully working prototype though.

We will also have different camera set ups, with full wireless motor lens control, and all our new nifty mounts like the smart Grip for ENG cameras, as well as a Kenyon KS4x4 gyro adapted on one G-1, so you can get to know various styles of shooting, and most importantly, get your hands on experience with the final production model of the G-1, and full size camera packages and accessories.

We will update soon with more exiting news, there are so much happening right now its pretty crazy :) /Regards Peter Karlsson - Flowcine
 
Hi Peter. Is there any chance of seeing preliminary designs for your "high and low-mode ergonomic solution for the manual operation". I'm keen to add light-weight handles to my rig and would love to see what you have cooking.

Alternatively would you consider selling a small cheese-plate (with standard mounting holes) which attaches to the front of the G-1 top handle? There is very little space on the G-1 top-handle and it may be difficult to mount our own handle solutions.

I'm considering making my own DYI light-weight fig-rig-like handle solution (a 270 degree, telescoping aluminum hoop) which would echoes the curved shape of the G-1 side arm, but envelope the rig and offer a proper place to grab and guide the camera. But I'd need a place to mount it to the top handle which is why a cheese plate would be extremely useful!

Thanks!
 
Hello Alex. there is a way better solution for high mode and easy rig with the G1 , that we will demonstrate on Satis show, and it offers way better control of the camera instead of using it with twin handles.
I will also update you next week about it , and Iam sure that when you see it you will like it.
What you will be able to do is to go high mode , greater than eye level for the lens, and at the same time you will be able to rotate the camera around the pan axis controlling it smoothly endlessly (though 180 degrees is the max useful range) something that you would not be able to do with twin handles.
you will have full control of pan, tilt , and roll.
That will also allow you even to go into Don Juan mode, (steadicam term, of walking framing your subject that follows you, over your shoulder or on the side looking back) which is also a great mode specially when you do shots on stair cases or places that its difficult to do back walking.
As I said I will update you about all this later on at the end of next week.
If you like more info please pm me and I will give you details.

Regards
 
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