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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 :)

Group Buy: L'Aigle Exoskeleton

Michael Kromschroeder said:
Carey, you should not do a group buy without testing a unit before you do the group buy. I do have for example a L'Aigle Exoskeleton here a well! where is yours?
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Carey Lee Coffey said:
Michael, now that you have both the BS4 and the L'Aigle Exoskeleton, when will you be able to post your pictures and review? Thanks!
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Carey why are you asking Michael to post pictures and a review of the L'Aigle Exoskeleton when you are running the group buy...?
You should have posted camera and BTS footage and a review on Group Buy page 1...as it is there are only 3 days left in the group buy and still no footage.

All we have is this same old Newshooter IBC interview http://vimeo.com/106509357
For that matter why has the L'Aigle the company not put any footage out..? Action Products had footage right away.

Go to L'Aigle webpage and there is the old Newshooter IBC interview and now another where they get
the Most Innovative product award. How is that something is most innovative product and we can't even see it in use.
Like a video showing someone's arm shaking from 30 lb. load after a time and then able to hold it steady with the exoskeleton.

http://www.laigleparis.fr/fr_gyro.html

 
While I don't disagree with the idea of getting some test footage, I have to ask what it would actually prove? Just like gimbal footage itself, it says more about the operator than about the tool - except for a very base level of competence. If someone who has never used the tool tries it and it sucks, is it because of the tool? If someone who has had ample time to shoot with it gets good footage, maybe it's just because they have learned how to avoid or compensate for the weaknesses. Personally, I'd rather see footage of it being operated so I can see whether the operator is struggling or if it is easy, etc.

IIRC, there is a 14 day money back return policy which should actually calm people who are nervous about the ease of use or expected results. And, before that, deposits are refundable if something comes up that makes you want to bail. I am still a bit on the fence about this product but I don't think someone else's footage will help one way or the other.
 
Carey Lee Coffey said:
Because the traditional arm and vest limits your range of motion and does not allow you to pass the gimbal off to get incredible shots. I see no use for a traditional arm and vest/gimbal combination at all.
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Have to disagree with this. I have used my Helix with vest/arm and it helps bear the weight (obviously) and it does stabilize the vertical motion a good deal. But yes, it doesn't facilitate hand-off and doesn't allow for low shots; for those I use without arm and vest.
 
Carey Lee Coffey said:
Because the traditional arm and vest limits your range of motion and does not allow you to pass the gimbal off to get incredible shots. I see no use for a traditional arm and vest/gimbal combination at all.
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The principal disadvantage of the exoskeleton is that you can not control the settings of the camera unlike the traditional vest + arm system. Is there any solution for this?


Ps : I'm in.
 
Terry VerHaar said:
...IIRC, there is a 14 day money back return policy which should actually calm people who are nervous about the ease of use or expected results. And, before that, deposits are refundable if something comes up that makes you want to bail...
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Don't forget all credit cards charge usually a 3% conversion fee so if you send money and then request a refund you will be paying that 3% TWO times.
Also shipping to Europe is not cheap and if you return you will be paying twice for that also. No...better make sure you want/need this cause once you figure
out all the fees you could just sell it used and come out the same as if you returned it.

EDIT: Apparently Capital One is only card that has 0% conversion fee...
http://www.maximizingmoney.com/cash...ards-to-start-charging-foreign-exchange-fees/
 
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Steve Das said:
Carey why are you asking Michael to post pictures and a review of the L'Aigle Exoskeleton when you are running the group buy...?
You should have posted camera and BTS footage and a review on Group Buy page 1...as it is there are only 3 days left in the group buy and still no footage.

All we have is this same old Newshooter IBC interview http://vimeo.com/106509357
For that matter why has the L'Aigle the company not put any footage out..? Action Products had footage right away.

Go to L'Aigle webpage and there is the old Newshooter IBC interview and now another where they get
the Most Innovative product award. How is that something is most innovative product and we can't even see it in use.
Like a video showing someone's arm shaking from 30 lb. load after a time and then able to hold it steady with the exoskeleton.

http://www.laigleparis.fr/fr_gyro.html

Click to expand...

I'm asking Michael to post his pics and review because he said he would post pics and a review.
 
Malik T. said:
The principal disadvantage of the exoskeleton is that you can not control the settings of the camera unlike the traditional vest + arm system. Is there any solution for this?


Ps : I'm in.
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Thanks Malik. Not sure I totally understand your question. Camera would be set, as usual. FIZ would be controlled the way you would normally control them.
 
Update:

1. Extra discount - After some negotiations, Pierre has agreed to give the following extra discount:
60 Units sold = 60€ Extra Discount. 100 Units sold = 125€ Extra discount

2. Hard case - the L’Aigle Exoskeleton will come with an ABS hard case on wheels w/trolley.

3. Extending the group buy - Pierre has agreed to allow us to extend the GB until October 31st. This will give me time to get a unit to test and review. It will also allow more time to reach our target of 100 buyers.

4. Shipping - Extending the group buy does not mean extending the wait time. Lead time was originally 8 weeks from the end of the group buy (was ending Oct. 15th), now it will be 6 weeks from the end of the group buy (now ends Oct. 31st).

5. Cost of shipping: Shipping to the US will be approximately 100 €, give or take.

6. Production - L’Aigle will be going into full production mode soon and anticipate they will be able to produce approximately 25 units per week. This means, if we reach our goal of 100 units sold, the 100th unit will only ship a few weeks after the 1st unit.
 
Mark L. Pederson said:
FYI - also no conversion fees with AMEX PLATINUM
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Another good concern as we're getting down to it. Paypal will charges around 3.9% for the transfer. I've only sent a couple of domestic wire transfer, so I'm not sure about international rates (added onto currency exchange).

My bank (US BANK) offers an Travelex AMEX prepaid (and reloadable) card for different currencies with no fees. I'm wondering if the best option would be to get one of those cards and do a paypal transfer from the card. Any thoughts?
 
Carey Lee Coffey said:
Update:

1. Extra discount - After some negotiations, Pierre has agreed to give the following extra discount:
60 Units sold = 60€ Extra Discount. 100 Units sold = 125€ Extra discount

2. Hard case - the L’Aigle Exoskeleton will come with an ABS hard case on wheels w/trolley.

3. Extending the group buy - Pierre has agreed to allow us to extend the GB until October 31st. This will give me time to get a unit to test and review. It will also allow more time to reach our target of 100 buyers.

4. Shipping - Extending the group buy does not mean extending the wait time. Lead time was originally 8 weeks from the end of the group buy (was ending Oct. 15th), now it will be 6 weeks from the end of the group buy (now ends Oct. 31st).

5. Cost of shipping: Shipping to the US will be approximately 100 €, give or take.

6. Production - L’Aigle will be going into full production mode soon and anticipate they will be able to produce approximately 25 units per week. This means, if we reach our goal of 100 units sold, the 100th unit will only ship a few weeks after the 1st unit.
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Nicely done, Carey. Thank you!

Now - if we can just figure out that pesky shipping... (and the exchange rate thingie). :smiley:
 
Carey Lee Coffey said:
Thanks Malik. Not sure I totally understand your question. Camera would be set, as usual. FIZ would be controlled the way you would normally control them.
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Sorry for my english. I meant that the main disadvantage is that you can not adjust the settings of the camera (like iris or whatever) once you are equipped of the exoskeleton, unlike the traditional configuration vest + 1 arm. It would be great that RED planning a joystick (which could be fixed to the handle of the gimbal) to control the menus of the camera.
 
Carey, I´m out of the Group buy for this Unit. I just had a testrun with it at Michaels office, and as a DP, i don´t like it.
My main point is, it takes too much time to get in and out of it, and if you´re in and not holding a gimbal, your arms automatically go up in the air due to the force of the arms.
I don´t like to stand in front of a director like this when i discuss the next shot.
Releasing your arms from the unit guides to uncontrolled movement of the two spring arms, and most probably ends in a hit on your head sooner or later.
I find the unit also quite bulky, going through a standard door is doable, but nothing you can do fast.

The idea is good, and for an operator it might be useful, but not for me.
What is a must for a unit like this is a release mechanism, to shut down the lifting force when you don´t have a gimbal in your hand in my opinion.
 
Manuel Wenger said:
Carey, I´m out of the Group buy for this Unit. I just had a testrun with it at Michaels office, and as a DP, i don´t like it.
My main point is, it takes too much time to get in and out of it, and if you´re in and not holding a gimbal, your arms automatically go up in the air due to the force of the arms.
I don´t like to stand in front of a director like this when i discuss the next shot.
Releasing your arms from the unit guides to uncontrolled movement of the two spring arms, and most probably ends in a hit on your head sooner or later.
I find the unit also quite bulky, going through a standard door is doable, but nothing you can do fast.

The idea is good, and for an operator it might be useful, but not for me.
What is a must for a unit like this is a release mechanism, to shut down the lifting force when you don´t have a gimbal in your hand in my opinion.
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I appreciate your thoughts Manuel.

1. I would recommend you stay in the group buy a little longer as there may be a solution to this problem coming. No point dropping out yet as it costs you nothing to stay in for now. Wait until I get more answers about a solution to the problem you describe, deal?

2. Yes, we cannot have the arms swinging loosely and potentially hitting the operator with them. I will look into a solution for this too. (may be one solution that fixes both problems)

3. It can't be any bulkier than a steadicam arm + vest, can it?

4. I don't see using the Exoskeleton all the time on every shot. I never saw it that way. I always saw it, and the AP Runner, as a specialty piece of gear that would be used for certain circumstances. Like long sequence shots, shots from a moving vehicle and running shots. (maybe that's why AP calls theirs "The Runner".) Would it be ideal if it was an extension of your body that could be worn all day long? Sure. Is that where this is headed? Yes. Are we there yet? Maybe not.
 
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