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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

Elizabeth Lowrey said:
The build quality overall is VERY impressive. They are very confident to say it will carry 16 lbs, although for a really well balanced unit, it would be higher since, when the care is taken to completely balance all three axes about the COG, the amount of torque needed to move the camera on any axis becomes tiny, literally one finger can spin it. My own impression is that the aluminum bridge forming the undercarriage for the camera platform and the handles would be the "weak" point, and only because it is relatively wide (no problem using an Epic with side handle) and not all that thick or deep, plus lots of material removed to keep weight down. But it never flexed at all or felt like it wasn't adequate, so this is just my lay supposition.

Going above 16 pounds might be relevant for other uses, as on a crane, perhaps, but, as a practical matter, it shouldn't be an issue with handheld use as no one is going to want to carry that much weight plus the gimbal for very long.:-) Still, this unit was far and away the "lightest" to carry that I tried at NAB, and all because it was more compact, the COG was in line with the axis of the handles, and the bulky back end that you see on the aerial units was eliminated to allow you to hold it closer to your body.
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Sounds good to me. We want to find some means of using with a crane and also tripod mounted. Looks a nice configuration.
 
I like the layout, it does not look like a tinker toys frame like most of the others.

Did they state what the 3 axis would weigh ? I kinda looks heavy since it's aluminum not carbon.
Also, I'm curious what axis people would steady if on a monopod and using 1 axis.
 
Les Dittert said:
I like the layout, it does not look like a tinker toys frame like most of the others.

Did they state what the 3 axis would weigh ? I kinda looks heavy since it's aluminum not carbon.
Also, I'm curious what axis people would steady if on a monopod and using 1 axis.
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I don't know what the actual weight of just the stabilizer was, only the subjective impression of total rig weight -- which brings in the importance of spatial size and torques exerted. In terms of perceptive weight, it was significantly smaller than anything I tried.

If you're using a single axis, you'd most likely want the roll axis (the one behind the camera), as that's the one that allows you to keep a steady horizon. In the last of videos I linked, they show their Go Pro version on a monopod and how you can do these crane-like shots with just a single axis. They also demo'd that technique at the NAB booth with a DSLR for something more realistic, although I don't think this would be very practical with a camera the weight of an Epic. For larger cameras, the single axis Helix is meant to mount on steadicam sleds to automate level horizon.
 
There's certainly a lot to like about this rig. I'm really sorry I missed seeing it while I was at NAB. Now it looks like it could be a toss-up between the Ronin and Letus...though I may still may be leaning towards Ronin. Sure would like to try it out.
 
Paul Kalbach said:
There's certainly a lot to like about this rig. I'm really sorry I missed seeing it while I was at NAB. Now it looks like it could be a toss-up between the Ronin and Letus...though I may still may be leaning towards Ronin. Sure would like to try it out.
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I am personally looking at getting both - the Ronin for full 3-axis operation and the Letus as 1-axis only purely for steadicam work...

:sifone: Peter
 
Terry VerHaar said:
Starting to wonder if this could end up another group buy? :smiley:
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I'm in contact with them, they should be back in their office soon, Please standby
 
Kwan Khan said:
I'm in contact with them, they should be back in their office soon, Please standby
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If I'm not mistaken they are in Portland. I'm in Seattle and could perhaps go down to check it out more.
 
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Brad Crawford said:
The camera landscape is getting interesting thats for sure. The Sony A7s could be an interesting unit for gimbal work depending on the video that comes out of it or the GH4 as well... lots of options. I for one am looking at rigging options for my scarlet to minimize weight. I hope its compatible with one of these 1 axis gimbals. I also hope the price-point for the thing is closer to $2k than $3k .
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The GH4 maybe for Gimbal work, but the A7 being showcased at NAB seemed to be plagued by pretty strong rolling shutter...enough to give me concerns flying it on a Gimbal...
 
Elizabeth Lowrey said:
I don't know what the actual weight of just the stabilizer was, only the subjective impression of total rig weight -- which brings in the importance of spatial size and torques exerted. In terms of perceptive weight, it was significantly smaller than anything I tried.

If you're using a single axis, you'd most likely want the roll axis (the one behind the camera), as that's the one that allows you to keep a steady horizon. In the last of videos I linked, they show their Go Pro version on a monopod and how you can do these crane-like shots with just a single axis. They also demo'd that technique at the NAB booth with a DSLR for something more realistic, although I don't think this would be very practical with a camera the weight of an Epic. For larger cameras, the single axis Helix is meant to mount on steadicam sleds to automate level horizon.
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Elizabeth, any ideas of how the 1 or 2 axis would fare on an Easy Rig?
 
Nick Morrison said:
Elizabeth, any ideas of how the 1 or 2 axis would fare on an Easy Rig?
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Hi Nick,

I've never used or even touched an easyrig, so I'm not a very good source for an opinion on that question.

That said, only with the three axis do you get handles and a frame work for really interacting with the camera THROUGH the stabilizer. Since -- from what I understand -- an easy rig seems mainly a means of redistributing weight, letting the camera float while allowing you to operate and position it with your hands, I'd think a three axis gimbal is still the way to go on that device. That way you can aim and frame without actually touching the camera and get the benefit of rotational stabilization in all directions. But that's just my uninformed guess.:-)
 
I nominate Elizabeth for Letus Group Buy Leader!
 
Brad Crawford said:
The camera landscape is getting interesting thats for sure. The Sony A7s could be an interesting unit for gimbal work depending on the video that comes out of it or the GH4 as well... lots of options. I for one am looking at rigging options for my scarlet to minimize weight. I hope its compatible with one of these 1 axis gimbals. I also hope the price-point for the thing is closer to $2k than $3k .
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The RED Carbon Dragon is the Ultimate gimbal camera - Scarlet for the budget minded. Who knew when they were first designing the Epic that gimbal shooting would become so pervasive in the future. RED is positioned very well for this market segment.
 
Zeb B said:
The RED Carbon Dragon is the Ultimate gimbal camera - Scarlet for the budget minded. Who knew when they were first designing the Epic that gimbal shooting would become so pervasive in the future. RED is positioned very well for this market segment.
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Yes, but flying the Carbon Dragon on a copter has to be terrifying, we only fly Scarlets now.
 
Dragon (aluminium body) will bounce from 100 (proven with Epic !) feet Carbon Dragon will not…..Are you sure the weight saving is essential.
 
Nick Morrison said:
Elizabeth, any ideas of how the 1 or 2 axis would fare on an Easy Rig?
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Easy rig is great, but for walking with the camera, not so great. The motion from your spine kind of gets enhanced and goes right into the camera... It's like you can only use your legs to get a smooth motion with it. Easy rig develops a "Y spring stabilizer" for it but still to me it's not ideal. It kind of works if you are standing still or on rollerskates.

A small steadycam rig with a roll stabilizer is far better. I think even if you do not have any kind of steadycam skills. The roll axis is the most tricky when doing steady work and if thats taken care of it still takes a lot of practice but much easer than without.
Dave Blackham;1352735 said:
Dragon (aluminium body) will bounce from 100 (proven with Epic !) feet Carbon Dragon will not…..Are you sure the weight saving is essential.
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Low weight is king and when shit hits the fan and things come to the ground usually then it does not matter much... but if you think of it, a carbon could have 0,5kg of foam padding around it... and still be as light as the normal epic, then who could take the highest fall :)
 
Elizabeth Lowrey said:
Count me in. I would even volunteer to organize it if there were enough interest and no one else felt like taking it on . . .
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You have been a big champion of this. So it will be good if you can organise a group buy. A group buy with direct tie-up wih the manufacturer (rather than a dealer) would be helpful.
 
Björn Benckert said:
Easy rig is great, but for walking with the camera, not so great. The motion from your spine kind of gets enhanced and goes right into the camera... It's like you can only use your legs to get a smooth motion with it. Easy rig develops a "Y spring stabilizer" for it but still to me it's not ideal. It kind of works if you are standing still or on rollerskates.

A small steadycam rig with a roll stabilizer is far better. I think even if you do not have any kind of steadycam skills. The roll axis is the most tricky when doing steady work and if thats taken care of it still takes a lot of practice but much easer than without.

hello Bjorn, call Peter Karlsson and arrange a demo hands on what we have done to solve motion.

please have a demo, your input will be valuable and you might like what you ll see.

best regards
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