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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 :)

GearNex 2011 Updates

Joseph Mendoza

Joseph Mendoza

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Hello RED Friends,

I am starting a new thread because the mobile REDUSER version starts from the last page. It's been a while since I posted but we have been working overtime to be true to our slogan "Creativity through Affordabilty." We would like to update you on some of the things we have been up to.

1) All our hard work won GearNex geared head the Vidy Award for "Best of Show" at NAB 2010 and also Creative Cow's Blue Ribbon Award for "Best of Camera Support."

2) CineToys will be in Las Vegas this year at NAB 2011, April 10th -14th in booth C7221. We would like to thank the RED community for it's support by offering a FREE CineToys VIP Guest pass to the exhibit floor. To register, just type in the code LV1536 at the registration link; https://www.xpressreg.net/register/nabs041/landing.asp and save up to $200.

You may also visit our resellers to see the GearNex geared head at NAB.

3) CineToys, will have some more GearNex options to show off this year but you will have to wait to see them at NAB 2011.

4) CineToys is starting a GearNex geared head 1 day educational class for operators to learn the wheels. The classes will begin in the Los Angeles area and if you are interested, please Private Message me or email me. The first sets of classes will be limited to 18 people.

More news to come, we look forward to seeing you once again.
 
NAB 2011 & Version 1

NAB 2011 & Version 1

Well it was a great week for getting things ready for NAB. I am looking forward to April 10th to show off all the updates we have been working on.

If you still have a Version 1 unit, please contact me so we can discuss getting your GearNex geared head updated. You will be very glad you did. After we received your great feedback on version 1, we incorporated a lot of the request in version 2 such as;

1) Version 1 used standard industrial gears while Version 2 are custom made and hand polished gear sets specifically made for the GearNex unit. These new gears provide much more precision and allow for easier adjustments for maintenance and tune-ups.

2) Verison 2 allows for free spin in Pan mode while engaged in neutral setting (Version 1 was locked)

3) Version 2 allows for free spin in Pan mode while engaged in low or high setting (Manually start wheel spin first to achieve). This means you can push the unit in Pan mode to increase hand wheel speed if the subject being shot is to fast to keep up with.

4) All speeds have been doubled from Version 1 to keep up with faster action.

5) Pan brake handle is smaller (if not already corrected in your Version 1 release)

6) Hand wheel handles have been upgraded for better performance (if not already corrected in your Version 1 release)

7) Other internal manufacturing changes and components have been made to improve overall performance but are to hard to explain in detail.

To get started, contact me if you are interested.
 
We would like to thank Ketch Rossi and Sean Fairburn for using the GearNex geared head on some high profile projects. If you have something you are working on or have worked on, let us know.....we would love to see it.

We still have some openings in our first GearNex training class being taught by Michael Frediaini, SOC in the Los Angeles area. The class is Free but very limited. Learn how to use the wheels, what the difference is between a fluid head and a geared head, why Hollywood kept the geared head and how to use it a secret and much more. All people who complete the 1 day class will receive a certification. Just contact me if you are interested.
 
Oh, very tempting to go take this class. If I wasn't on the east coast....

Was on set with a GearNex today. Lovely piece of machinery.

See you in Vegas!
 
Thanks Steve, we will have a training class in your direction sometime soon.

Steve Sherrick said:
Oh, very tempting to go take this class. If I wasn't on the east coast....

Was on set with a GearNex today. Lovely piece of machinery.

See you in Vegas!
Click to expand...
 
GearNex class March 5th

GearNex class March 5th

I was just reminded via PM that I forgot to mention the date and time for the GearNex geared 1 Day Training Class. It will take place March 5th at 10am - 2:30pm and limited to 18 students. The class location will be disclosed to those who are planning on going.

Again all students who complete the class will receive a certification. The class is Free so don't wait to long, it will eventually fill up.
 
GearNex Rental

GearNex Rental

GearNex rental now available in the Irving Texas area, visit the following link for further details http://www.redmxrental.com/index.html

If you have a GearNex geared head unit you would like to make available for rent in your area, let us know and we will list you on our new website about to launch.
 
I am interested in taking the class, what a generous opportunity offering it for free. I have a production leading right up that so I'll have to wait and see, hoping it will still have an opening when I know. Is this class geared (no pun intended) for people with previous gear head experience or is it open to video professionals with no prior experience operating a gear head?
 
Joseph, I've tried your unit and simply can't see how anyone can use it comfortably. How a camerman can be expected to keep a right hand near his belly to work one crank and then make a far reach with the right to the front of the unit is beyond me. Smooth? Yes. Priced right? Yes. Ergonomics? Terrible. Is there some patent reason you can't move the left handle to the rear like Worrel, Arri, Mitchell and all others have them?

(I had this conversation with your saff in LV last year. I was told that mine was the first complaint. Can't belive it!)
 
Tim, how big is the difference in actual spacing between the cranks on Gearnex and the ones on say Arri? I haven't measured them. Gearnex is a smaller unit, no? Is it possible they are not as far apart as it may seem. I'm not an expert in geared heads, so I'm claiming a bit naive here. Didn't seem too hard to operate the other day on set, but I wasn't operating, only observing. So others might have better insight.
 
Tim Duran said:
Joseph, I've tried your unit and simply can't see how anyone can use it comfortably. How a camerman can be expected to keep a right hand near his belly to work one crank and then make a far reach with the right to the front of the unit is beyond me. Smooth? Yes. Priced right? Yes. Ergonomics? Terrible. Is there some patent reason you can't move the left handle to the rear like Worrel, Arri, Mitchell and all others have them?

(I had this conversation with your saff in LV last year. I was told that mine was the first complaint. Can't belive it!)
Click to expand...

I cant make heads or tails of this quote, which could be because its been a long day. But I DO own one of the GearNex units, and dont have any issues with its design or ergonomics.

The right hand goes on the back wheel, which operates the tilt. The left hand goes on the side wheel, which operates the pan. In this manner, the operator is standing behind and to the left of the unit, which is in perfect alignment to most operating monitors (digital) or eyepieces (film).

Ive frequently used it with a zoom control also in my right (tilt) hand, but thats above the call of duty.

So if that was the first complaint, I would also say its the only complaint. My unit works as expected, no issues, day in/day out.
 
Steve, the ARRI has the wheels in the back as we all know. Your hands are only a few inches from your body in normal standing position behind the camera. The left hand Gearnex control is a good 14"+ stretch. I don't see how you can physically have your right hand on the right control, your body behind the camera, possibly slightly to the left, AND have your left hand stretched out reaching for the left control. I found myself bending over far too much to reach the left control. Very uncomfortable. The ARRI unit is far more comfortable once you've mastered your wheel controls.
 
Tim, I assume you mean with an eyepiece leveler, allowing you to stand in the back of camera and operate. For example here is an Arrihead 2.
arrihead_2_01_det_01.jpg


and here with eyepiece leveler
603MIL_nab_arri.jpg


Sorry Joseph if this is hijacking thread.
 
GearNex vs

GearNex vs

Tim Duran said:
Steve, the ARRI has the wheels in the back as we all know. Your hands are only a few inches from your body in normal standing position behind the camera. The left hand Gearnex control is a good 14"+ stretch. I don't see how you can physically have your right hand on the right control, your body behind the camera, possibly slightly to the left, AND have your left hand stretched out reaching for the left control. I found myself bending over far too much to reach the left control. Very uncomfortable. The ARRI unit is far more comfortable once you've mastered your wheel controls.
Click to expand...


Hello Tim,

Thank you for addressing your concern and a special thanks to Steve and Conrad for posting replies in my absence. I have included a picture of the Arrihead II and the GearNex beta unit because it is the only one I have that shows the exact comparison of both heads. Although the GearNex now has a different tilt housing, hand wheels and a lowered drive shaft, the hand wheel is not that much further then what this comparison shows. I hope this helps with your concern.

GearNex&Arri.jpg
Click to enlarge
 
Joseph Mendoza said:
Hello Tim,

Thank you for addressing your concern and a special thanks to Steve and Conrad for posting replies in my absence. I have included a picture of the Arrihead II and the GearNex beta unit because it is the only one I have that shows the exact comparison of both heads. Although the GearNex now has a different tilt housing, hand wheels and a lowered drive shaft, the hand wheel is not that much further then what this comparison shows. I hope this helps with your concern.
Click to expand...


HI Joesph.

I think the concern (and one that I share) is that the pan wheel is a lot further forward of where the nodal point of the tilt axis is when you have a logger build of camera on the head.

If you look at the profile of an Arri (or panahead) then the pan and tilt wheels are both behind the tilt nodal point (notionally the middle of the head).

On the gearnex, the pan wheel is FORWARD of the middle / nodal tilt plane.

When operating from the rear of the camera this means you have to reach forward a long way if the camera has a longer lens on it like the 24-290 optimo.

I also found that the tilt wheel would also limit the degree of tilt because the top of the tilt wheel is too close to the same horizonal plane as the slide plate of the camera. Again with a longer build on the camera, the slide plate would knock onto the tilt wheel. You'll notice on the arri, the camera slide plane is much higher above the wheels.

There are probably lots of situations where this isn't a problem, but I find the camera invariably builds long, even with shorter lenses on there because of the various accessories off the back.

look at this shot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnbrawley/4136829743/

The camera is balanced, (fitted with a 25-250HR) but the pan wheel is in front of the lens mount. With so much camera behind it it's a big reach. Also on this setup, I couldn't use the full tilt range because the rear of the camera would knock the tilt wheel if i tilted up.

Unlike the arri here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnbrawley/3436723271/in/set-72157594566402764/

And I'd stand further behind the camera if i could BUT the ET extension viewfinder isn't long enough ! (notice im still pushed up against the tilt wheel)

I also found the feel of the gearnex head to be stiff and lacking in "feel" a bit, but that was a version 1 head.

I still really want to support this product and make it work ! Would be brilliant if you could address these issues.

jb
 
Hi John,

Its great to get the feedback and be able to respond to it, thank you. The Arrihead II is 3 times the size of the GearNex geared head which physically gives the Arrihead II the length to address your statement that the pan wheel is "FORWARD of the middle / nodal tilt plane." Looking at the picture you reference, http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnbrawley/3436723271/in/set-72157594566402764/, it appears to me that if your hand on the pan wheel had to lean another couple of inches forward, it would not cause enough discomfort to want to pay an additional $30,000. I am not trying to sound like a smart ass, I swear, I am just trying to say there is going to be some pro and con differences between both models when you have differences like; 3 times the size, belts versus gears, $40,000+ versus $7,500. If it becomes to much of a complaint, then by all means we will find a way to address it.

As for the other item you brought up about the tilt hand wheel being in the way of larger set-up as shown in the picture, we agree. That is why we designed the swing tilt arm to allow for the lowering of the tilt wheel as well as a 180 degree movement from side to side. Here is a picture
Swing Tilt Arm.jpg

To respond to your statement, "I also found the feel of the gearnex head to be stiff and lacking in "feel" a bit, but that was a version 1 head." My response is that Version 2 is a night a day difference. We had bought off the shelf industrial grade gears and modified them. It was not precise enough and had some tolerance issues we could not live with. So, we spent a lot of money and made custom gears from expensive metals that where hand polished to get the best results and we did. We now can get free spin with microscopic backlash from a worm gear set. It won us the "Best of Show" Vidy award at NAB 2010 and Creative Cow's 2010 Blue Ribbon award for "Best of" Camera Support. I have included a sample of a gear in this pic below which shows a comparison of the Version 1 (Top) and Version 2 (Bottom) Pan gears.
Pan Gears compared.jpg

John, I hope I addressed the issues you brought up. Please keep in mind, Bret Allen, SOC and I wanted every camera operator to have a chance to be the best they could be. To learn what Hollywood has known for a long time, the advantages of geared heads in some applications like cinema. But for someone who lives in a community that does NOT support the entertainment industry like Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Toronto, Bollywood, etc. they can't really buy, rent or learn how to use a geared head. So, we designed the GearNex with these areas in mind and for today's modern and smaller digital cinema camera's.
 
Hey John, if you don't mind me asking... whose Gearnex is that? :) Been trying to find one locally for a while; I tried the V2 at last year's NAB but wanted to put some rigs on it before pulling the trigger on a purchase...
 
Joseph, I want you to succeed. If you have changed things, then I'm going to shut up. My only advice to possible buyers is to try the unit before buying (or wait until you read some real positive posts from the highly regarded makers and shakers on Reduser).
 
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