GROUP BUY: CAME steadycam 2-15kg >1600USD

[Michael Ou]

I'm curious to see if our collective numbers can actually influence the manufacturer, but I'm certainly not going to besmirch those few that need it now and want to speed up the process.

Very interested in seeing the outcome of our collective efforts.

 

[Brett Harrison]

I'm curious to see if our collective numbers can actually influence the manufacturer, but I'm certainly not going to besmirch those few that need it now and want to speed up the process.

Very interested in seeing the outcome of our collective efforts.

True, that might be the way of it, that 30 percent need it Tuesday and will go with the vanilla CAME. That still leaves us with the 70 figure for a reconstituted group buy (wishful thinking I know).

 

[Sergio Perez]

I want to join the group buy for the costumized version.

 

[David Kellermann]

Fair comment on the timeframe - I also had similar thoughts. The line of communication between David and the buyer seems a bit average, for whatever reason (my guess is language barriers).

Sorry if I haven't posted all the information yet.

I think there are a few things to clarify:

1) CAME IS NOT THE MANUFACTURER

"communication between David and the buyer seems a bit average" since he has not responded yet to my email including the modifications and the question whether he or LAING is the manufacturer. On the other hand, the communication with Tracy from Laing is wonderful.

2) CAME IS PROBABLY TRYING TO CLEAR THEIR STOCK

Laing who obviously is the mandufacturer was already working on a new model which they will now redesign according to our needs. That means that the product life cycle of the M02 model is nearing it's end. CAME probably still hasn't expected a new version so fast is now trying to clear their stock.

3) LAING WILL DELIVER SOON

I've recorded all the requirements that you've sent to me and reported them to our technicians. As you will test our M-02 this Sunday, i think all your suggestions and requirements will come out during the next week. So, if no exception, we can start to design and produce in two weeks. That's great. We are looking forward to it

02/21/2013

Thanks for your updated information. I will discuss it with our technicians tomorrow. I will reply you in details then. Please feel free to contact us if there is any other requirements. I will keep you informed of every step.

02/28/2013

In contrast to Joey from CAME, who stopped communication after I requested the modifications, LAING sees this as a great opportunity for both parties.

4) IF YOU NEED A UNIT, PLEASE DON'T THREATEN THIS GROUP BUY! PURCHASE AT LAING

If you need a unit really soon, which is completely understandable when having a deadline for a project, please order from LAING. We can probably add this early orders to the group buy. You will get the M02, just not from the reseller CAME but from the original manufacturer.

5) THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS

I personally think that this custom LAING reduser steadicam will be amazing. Still, I can understand people who want to buy into an established product or company. I'm in contact with PROline, MOVcam and L'Aigle who also want to send me their offers (including new unrevealed products which could be very interesting for us). They know our price limit and are still interested. But... none of these products will probably feature the amount of cables and customization the LAING system offers.

6) TIMELINE

Ok give me a break here. We tested the unit on Sunday. The reviews were out on Monday and Tuesday (thanks again Mike and Kwan), the list with the requested modifications was sent out on Thursday morning and we already got a reply from LAING that they are working it through with the technicians today. Things take time. LAING wants to move on as fast as we do (hey the market is tough), but we can't probably expect to get our systems before early April. WHICH STILL WOULD BE AWESOME!!! You can't want a complete redesign, not really pay for it and want to have it done yesterday.

I'll post a wiring diagram and some more information later. Please don't order at CAME and threaten the group buy. You can get the same system now and still be member of the group buy in the sense that your unit counts to the total ordered amount of units.

Cheers
David

EDIT: Two more things:

Do you really want to order from someone who is probably lying to sell his stuff? Right now, it seems pretty obvious that CAME is not the manufacturer.

We are manufacture who producing steadicam, but we do not produce stands and monitor, sorry we can not supply stand and monitor to you.

An approximate timeline:
Ordering 03/15/2013
Receiving the steadicams 04/01/2013
This can of course change, depending on the incoming offers.

 

[Daniel Murphy]

Please add myself to list of newly modified system.

 

[Udistir Singh]

Thanks David for your efforts and I'm sure the newly revised steadicam is worth the wait.

Cheers

 

[Daniel Murphy]

Sorry if I haven't posted all the information yet.

I think there are a few things to clarify:

1) CAME IS NOT THE MANUFACTURER

"communication between David and the buyer seems a bit average" since he has not responded yet to my email including the modifications and the question whether he or LAING is the manufacturer. On the other hand, the communication with Tracy from Laing is wonderful.

2) CAME IS PROBABLY TRYING TO CLEAR THEIR STOCK

Laing who obviously is the mandufacturer was already working on a new model which they will now redesign according to our needs. That means that the product life cycle of the M02 model is nearing it's end. CAME probably still hasn't expected a new version so fast is now trying to clear their stock.

3) LAING WILL DELIVER SOON

02/21/2013

02/28/2013

In contrast to Joey from CAME, who stopped communication after I requested the modifications, LAING sees this as a great opportunity for both parties.

4) IF YOU NEED A UNIT, PLEASE DON'T THREATEN THIS GROUP BUY! PURCHASE AT LAING

If you need a unit really soon, which is completely understandable when having a deadline for a project, please order from LAING. We can probably add this early orders to the group buy. You will get the M02, just not from the reseller CAME but from the original manufacturer.

5) THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS

I personally think that this custom LAING reduser steadicam will be amazing. Still, I can understand people who want to buy into an established product or company. I'm in contact with PROline, MOVcam and L'Aigle who also want to send me their offers (including new unrevealed products which could be very interesting for us). They know our price limit and are still interested. But... none of these products will probably feature the amount of cables and customization the LAING system offers.

6) TIMELINE

Ok give me a break here. We tested the unit on Sunday. The reviews were out on Monday and Tuesday (thanks again Mike and Kwan), the list with the requested modifications was sent out on Thursday morning and we already got a reply from LAING that they are working it through with the technicians today. Things take time. LAING wants to move on as fast as we do (hey the market is tough), but we can't probably expect to get our systems before early April. WHICH STILL WOULD BE AWESOME!!! You can't want a complete redesign, not really pay for it and want to have it done yesterday.

I'll post a wiring diagram and some more information later. Please don't order at CAME and threaten the group buy. You can get the same system now and still be member of the group buy in the sense that your unit counts to the total ordered amount of units.

Cheers
David

I truly believe among other great features this newly designed unit has best chance to balance our rigs with nominal accessories. Last thing we need is a stabilizer that barely passes 'Drop' test with little attached, or springs which are at max each time unit is operated. Remain patient and let David do his great work we will have a fantastic unit having best features for the money.

The leverage of so many buyers assures we get a fantastic instrument whether it comes from Laing or any other manufacturer proposing a competitive bid.

Just my two cents.

 

[Brett Harrison]

Awesome update David.

Looking back on the quoted text I wrote 'buyer' instead of 'retailer' or 'seller' - I was trying to refer to CAME.

Just want to say I think the coordination you're doing for the group is phenomenal.

 

[David Kellermann]

Awesome update David.

Looking back on the quoted text I wrote 'buyer' instead of 'retailer' or 'seller' - I was trying to refer to CAME.

Just want to say I think the coordination you're doing for the group is phenomenal.

I also read it the way that you meant CAME.

I'm glad that I can give something back to the RED community with this group buy. Also I'm very grateful for the support from all of you.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Thanks for clearing up the confusion David.

 

[chommavong somphane]

An approximate timeline:
Ordering 03/15/2013
Receiving the steadicams 04/01/2013
This can of course change, depending on the incoming offers.


First: Thanks David, Kwan and Mike for your efforts and I'm sure the newly revised steadicam is worth t the wait.
Please add myself to list of newly modified system.


somphane

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

Question: Has anyone found a solution to them not offering a docking bracket? It would be absurd to have to work without a docking bracket. Thanks!

 

[Brad Crawford]

Definitely need a docking bracket, don't forget to bring this up in your discussions David! Thanks!

Question: Has anyone found a solution to them not offering a docking bracket? It would be absurd to have to work without a docking bracket. Thanks!

 

[David Kellermann]

Question: Has anyone found a solution to them not offering a docking bracket? It would be absurd to have to work without a docking bracket. Thanks!

Docking plate which mounts to any light stand

Already done.

 

[Brad Crawford]

You're the best.

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

This is going in a good direction. Thanks to David et al for their time and effort. I'm in, as long as the price stays under $3,500 and construction is robust.

I don't expect the kind of performance the real deal rigs offer, but it has to be able to hold up.

Cheers - #19

 

[Madjid El ayari]

Me too "A good solid test would def help in this buying decision for me "

 

[Kwan Khan]

Can Kwan comment on his subjective impressions of how the unit feels compared to real Steadicams (Flyer, Scout, Zephyr) in terms of how much it fatigues, whether the loads are spread as comfortably as possible on the body, etc.? Could Kwan have worn this rig for 3-4 hours in a day with no bad physical effects?

Hey Elizabeth,
Fatigue is every operator's worst enemy. I never worked without a good assistant. I dock after each take, never work with cheap Productions who put me in situation where I have to continue wearing the rig for hours. I am very healthy and active guy (Active MMA) but still always allow myself enough time before operate any Rig. In this case, I have no trouble with this rig (so far).

It doesn't mean you have to be Iron man to operate the steadicam, just give a try. If there is any tension whatsoever in the buttock of your non-weight-carrying leg and other muscle and you are still pulling your centre of gravity, please step away and discus with your health advisor or else you are making it Worse and you are shortening your spine and decreasing the space between your vertebrae, thus needlessly loading your lumber disks.

Again Learn, Learn, Learn how to Stand up straight!.. Stand up straight!.. Stand up straight!
Learn How to tilt your heads down in order to see the monitor.
Learn How to use you hands at the gimbal, avoid support your arms from the shoulder muscles.
things like this.....


Note: So sorry, I can't comment/ compare this to other (please understand)

 

[Alex Kornreich]

Just from looking at the footage, I see a couple things that may be happening.

First is drop time is probably too long, which gives it that "floaty" effect. My guess is this was set at 4 seconds, as opposed to the recommended 2-3.

Second is there's too much weight for the arm to hold, so the operator has to put more effort into holding the boom at a certain lens height. The firmer one grasps the gimbal handle, the more shock that will be transferred from the user's body, through their arm, and into the camera. This will not only fatigue the operator quicker, but also introduce unwanted footsteps into the shot.

Thirdly, with the hand that controls pan/tilt on the wrap grip below the gimble, the grip is probably too tight, and overcontrolling the pan/tilt. This will introduce unwanted wobbling and swaying back and forth while panning.

In an ideal setup, stand up perfectly straight. Set the arm boom height to approx where you want the lens to be, so that the boom hand doesn't have to exert too much force in controlling boom height. And with the hand on the post wrap grip, be super gentle in movements, and expanding your hand as much as possible on grip for maximum pan/tilt control, and stretch your pinky out as low as you can to control pendulum effect and for more precise tilts.

 

[Kwan Khan]

Just from looking at the footage, I see a couple things that may be happening.

First is drop time is probably too long, which gives it that "floaty" effect. My guess is this was set at 4 seconds, as opposed to the recommended 2-3.

Second is there's too much weight for the arm to hold, so the operator has to put more effort into holding the boom at a certain lens height. The firmer one grasps the gimbal handle, the more shock that will be transferred from the user's body, through their arm, and into the camera. This will not only fatigue the operator quicker, but also introduce unwanted footsteps into the shot.

drop time was 2 second
Rig was under 30lbs
No firmer grip on gimbal.
No Boom

It was just a play and test without any pro assist. Alley was 3.5 wide with over dozen sharpe turns (lol) and we just took only one take. Wish we had more time.