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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 :)

Letus Gimbal

The BT and RC option is a head scratcher for me.

I dont have wireless FF but do know that my camera gets used with one at rental stage.

I myself would love one but this Helix is getting me out of the EPIC upgrade (again).
 
HI - I've been lurking for a while on this thread.

Does anyone in SoCal have one yet that's working properly and ready to shoot with ? I've got a Job coming up onAug 20th in LA area where a reliable gimbal / tech / wireless video setup would be most helpful. Could use my GH4 or Epic or you can bundle with other camera. I'm most interested in the Letus, but open to others.

Get in touch with me by email matt (at) mattuhry.com

www.mattuhry.com
 
Eric Santiago said:
The BT and RC option is a head scratcher for me.

I dont have wireless FF but do know that my camera gets used with one at rental stage.

I myself would love one but this Helix is getting me out of the EPIC upgrade (again).
Click to expand...

Eric - RC is a second operator mode. If you have one person holding/moving/aiming the Helix, you can have another tilting/panning the camera itself with the RC controller (I bought a $60 Spektrum unit). It allows for more elaborate shots that a single operator might have a problem doing. It also is useful if you want to mount the Helix on a crane and operate from the ground; essentially a motorized head. If you think of it that way, it's a pretty cheap addition.

BT, at a minimum, will allow for tweaking of the software without a physical hook-up to the camera (USB). I am hoping that, at some point, there will be more elaborate control applications that can send control movements to the Helix. I have even seen an app that allows the programming of repeatable moves, essentially motion control. This seems to be somewhat in the early stages but since this is not unique to Helix (it's an Alexmos thing), the development may be more rapid. It is a bit of a bet on the future.

The thing is, neither the RC option nor the BT option are all that expensive in the big picture.
 
GT Le said:
Terry,

You were supposed to talk him down the ledge :smilewinkgrin:
Click to expand...

Haha - truth be told, I couldn't talk myself off that ledge. The only thing I could see postponing was the 4th axis and, as it turns out after some arm/vest/4th axis shooting yesterday, that may become my favorite option. Argh.
 
Terry VerHaar said:
EDIT: Forgot to address BT & RC - hard to disuse these as I haven't used either one yet. But, the ability to remotely control the unit seems to me to be essential. Perhaps you can save money by getting one or the other and not both. Right now, the only BT capabilities are Android but I imagine/hope iOS will come. And BT apps will most liley do more than the RC controller. But, the RC will probably have greater range. Tough decisions.
Click to expand...
Although there is no iOS app yet to connect to Helix with BlueTooth, you can connect using BT in Mac OS. I use my laptop to connect via BT when tweaking settings. It's nice not having a USB cable dangling when doing that.
 
Terry VerHaar said:
Haha - truth be told, I couldn't talk myself off that ledge. The only thing I could see postponing was the 4th axis and, as it turns out after some arm/vest/4th axis shooting yesterday, that may become my favorite option. Argh.
Click to expand...


Haha thanks GT...Terry keep talking!! ;)

Thanks again for clarification.

Need to know these things for other reasons (other than justifying the purchase).

With the BT option selected I take it the RC is built in already correct?

Once I figure out what my budget is for a steadicam then I will decide on the fourth axis.

Edit: Anyone order the 15mm Rail Adapters? Weight? It looks like I wont be able to use any of my RED centric base plates on this unit. However maybe get some top mounts instead. Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure if this was posted.

Here is the amazing Jason Ano's review of the Helix https://vimeo.com/102221706

I watch this over and over to calm myself down ;)
 
Eric Santiago said:
Haha thanks GT...Terry keep talking!! ;)

Thanks again for clarification.

Need to know these things for other reasons (other than justifying the purchase).

With the BT option selected I take it the RC is built in already correct?

Once I figure out what my budget is for a steadicam then I will decide on the fourth axis.

Edit: Anyone order the 15mm Rail Adapters? Weight? It looks like I wont be able to use any of my RED centric base plates on this unit. However maybe get some top mounts instead. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Eric - Just for clarification... the BT (Bluetooth) and RC (Radio Control) are completely separate options and capabilities. They are two different boards. They are each separate options from each other; you can order one, the other, or both. I hope that is now clear. :smiley:

I have some thoughts about base plates and top mounts but I'll have to jump back in a bit later to spell them out.
 
Terry VerHaar said:
Eric - Just for clarification... the BT (Bluetooth) and RC (Radio Control) are completely separate options and capabilities. They are two different boards. They are each separate options from each other; you can order one, the other, or both. I hope that is now clear. :smiley:

I have some thoughts about base plates and top mounts but I'll have to jump back in a bit later to spell them out.
Click to expand...

My assumption about the RC to BT is due to the way the Letus Helix order page is set-up.

You select the 2nd operation mode first then you select bluetooth?

Where does the RC part come into play then?
 
FS700 works very very well with the Helix.
Tried with Canon 24mm 2.8 with E mount to Canon in addition to the Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 Nikon.

We also tested a 70-200mm on there.




 
Sabyasachi Patra said:
Note,
Which lens are you going to test with the FS700?

For a project I need to use a Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS II lens with a 2x TC. However I am not sure 1) if the Helix can accommodate the length of the lens and 2) if the Helix can balance long lenses and give good results. I am told that Movi M10 can take max a canon EF 70-200 lens. I guess Ronin can take long lenses in the XL version. I wonder what is the max Helix can take. Can anyone please test if a Canon 70-200 f2.8 II lens with a 2X converter or a Canon 100-400 work with the Helix?
Click to expand...

We tested this but without the 2xtc.
 
I'm in love.

Though I took delivery of my Helix nearly two weeks ago, several minor personal issues (and one very major one) have greatly limited my time with it. Along with that, I spent an obscene amount of time researching and procuring small equipment pieces related to outfitting my Helix. So other than turn the motors on a few times and pick it up using the stock profiles that it shipped with, I hadn't done anything else. I hadn't even fired up the camera. And when I did turn the Helix on, I got very bad vibration in the tilt handle that I knew was going to require major software tweaking, and I hadn't even delved into how to do that yet.

Tonight I sort of finalized my basic mounting arrangement (save one piece of gear which will arrive tomorrow or Saturday), and I finally got a balance using minimal antenna weights (lens optically centered on roll axis.) So I loaded up the improved profiles that Hien developed a week or two ago, turned on my new Nyrius wireless transmitter and broadcast to my HDTV, fired up the Epic, and low and behold, I had a Helix that was WORKING! For the first time in my life, I was walking around (sometimes rapidly) with a camera and getting very stable footage (except I wasn't recording . . . 75 watt household lamps aren't video friendly. :-) You seasoned steadicam and even gimbal pros are laughing to yourselves right about now, but this is MAJOR for me. I've never owned or used a real stabilizer of any kind, and I picked this thing up and instantly, using simply instinctive movement, could see my camera giving me that "floating" effect that just seduces, no matter how hackneyed it's become in high end production.

Next up, shooting some footage, weather permitting (I'm in Florida, the rainshine state). I hope to be able to bribe my sister or niece to do some BTS video of me using it this weekend outside, and I may also mount my cellphone on the dumb handle to try to capture a similar shot to the Epic that's unstabilized.

One thing is for certain: in only one hour of playing around with it, I can feel that the Helix is living up to its grand potential and to the high expectations I had for it based on the prototype and on Hien as a visionary, open, "customer first" designer.
 
Elizabeth Lowrey said:
I'm in love.

Though I took delivery of my Helix nearly two weeks ago, several minor personal issues (and one very major one) have greatly limited my time with it. Along with that, I spent an obscene amount of time researching and procuring small equipment pieces related to outfitting my Helix. So other than turn the motors on a few times and pick it up using the stock profiles that it shipped with, I hadn't done anything else. I hadn't even fired up the camera. And when I did turn the Helix on, I got very bad vibration in the tilt handle that I knew was going to require major software tweaking, and I hadn't even delved into how to do that yet.

Tonight I sort of finalized my basic mounting arrangement (save one piece of gear which will arrive tomorrow or Saturday), and I finally got a balance using minimal antenna weights (lens optically centered on roll axis.) So I loaded up the improved profiles that Hien developed a week or two ago, turned on my new Nyrius wireless transmitter and broadcast to my HDTV, fired up the Epic, and low and behold, I had a Helix that was WORKING! For the first time in my life, I was walking around (sometimes rapidly) with a camera and getting very stable footage (except I wasn't recording . . . 75 watt household lamps aren't video friendly. :-) You seasoned steadicam and even gimbal pros are laughing to yourselves right about now, but this is MAJOR for me. I've never owned or used a real stabilizer of any kind, and I picked this thing up and instantly, using simply instinctive movement, could see my camera giving me that "floating" effect that just seduces, no matter how hackneyed it's become in high end production.

Next up, shooting some footage, weather permitting (I'm in Florida, the rainshine state). I hope to be able to bribe my sister or niece to do some BTS video of me using it this weekend outside, and I may also mount my cellphone on the dumb handle to try to capture a similar shot to the Epic that's unstabilized.

One thing is for certain: in only one hour of playing around with it, I can feel that the Helix is living up to its grand potential and to the high expectations I had for it based on the prototype and on Hien as a visionary, open, "customer first" designer.
Click to expand...
Great to hear!
 
Elizabeth Lowrey said:
I'm in love.

Though I took delivery of my Helix nearly two weeks ago, several minor personal issues (and one very major one) have greatly limited my time with it. Along with that, I spent an obscene amount of time researching and procuring small equipment pieces related to outfitting my Helix.
Click to expand...

Hi Elizabeth, when you have some time, would you mind sharing some photos a list of the small equipment pieces you needed to outfit the Helix and some idea of the additional cost you incurred? I'm trying to get a sense of what all is needed. I do realize it'll differ based on needs, but a starter list even would be great.

I make the same request of anyone else who has completed outfitting their Helix.

Many thanks in advance!
 
Im for Nikhils question ;)

Im Scarlet based.
 
I posted here last week to ask about the potential of using the Helix as a compact stabilized remote head, and there hasn't been much response.

http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2014/04/kitting-out-your-movi/

I came across this article by Shane Hurlbut on his Movi setup. In the second half of his article he explains how the Movi works great as a remote head when mounted on a dolly. Freefly makes a special "ninja star plate" that takes the place of the handlebar and allows easy mounting of the Movi on the Mitchell base recepticle of a dolly.

So my question is, how about the Helix when it comes to mounting as remote head? What kind of special thoughts has Letus put into the design of the Helix to help facilitate this type of remote operation? I'd imagine the 4th axis and both tilt handles may limit the range of panning. So is it advisable to mount/hang the Helix in "suite case mode" if the shot requires more than 180 degree of panning? How does the Helix compare to other gyro gimbal designs when it comes to mounted remote head use?

I think using the Helix as a mounted remote head is going to be almost as important as using it as handheld stabilizer. Along with the Hurricane remote control wheels, it will bring a lot of versatility and control to the cameraman.

Hein & Letus, please shed some light on this topic. This is one huge factor in my buying decision.
 
A question to Hienle: do you think in the future a "mini" Helix could be in the works for really small DSLR setups? or the Helix is as small as it gets?
 
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