Steadicam Group Buy - Select your model

[Carey Lee Coffey]

I'm glad Mr. Goff from AP came on here to clear the air. The only thing I don't understand is why the price of the Raptor has gone up so much since NAB 2011.

 

[Bob Gundu]

To be fair that was 2 years ago. He did say it was just a target price. Perhaps the new rig required a new ASICS. :w00t:

I'm glad Mr. Goff from AP came on here to clear the air. The only thing I don't understand is why the price of the Raptor has gone up so much since NAB 2011.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

LOL true.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

looking better and better, awesome.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

I've been back and forth about the pros and cons of the PROLine VS the Raptor, and I've been on the fence... until now.

I just now saw the new offer on the PROLine, if we reach 60 +, and I have to say - it doesn't have the name recognition or the boom range of the Raptor, but the price, if we reach 60 +, is nearly impossible to walk away from.

I'm urging everyone to stick together in this group so that we can hit the 60 + number.

Ask yourself this: "Am I an indie filmmaker who is willing to put the 1000 hours of practice in so that I can get stabile shots for my films, without having to pay a professional $1, 200 + per day, or am I a Camera Op/DP who aspires to be a professional (paid) steadicam op?"

Whether you're the former, or the latter, or some mix of both, the PROLine, at the 60 + group price they are offering, is the right choice.

If you're an indie filmmaker, you'll be able to get the shots (after much practice) you want AND save the money you would've put toward another rig, and instead put it into your film's budget.

If you're an aspiring steadicam op, it will be great to practice on a rig like this so that when you move up to the AP or Tiffen, those rigs will be a piece of cake to operate. Consider this your boot camp.

Either way, it's a no-brainer at this point.

 

[Owen Davies]

It is interesting how this thread has developed. I'm sure David sometimes wishes he'd never started it.

Each of the rigs on offer has its pros and cons. There is no 'right' rig in my opinion, only one which suits your needs most in terms of cost and features. However the power of the group buy is in the collective. Some of the s**t slinging that has started to appear is a little unfortunate. David hasn't promoted a particular rig other than expressed his concerns that some of the value may be lost if people go off in all directions. Yes the AP rig is likely to be the highest quality, but its also the most expensive. Yes the ProLine has modified Indian parts, but it is the only rig that has been given a test run other than the Laing (remember that one, you know the product that started it all). Yes the L'Aigle was a bit more left field with its rubber tensioners, but it was still a good deal and yes the Laing suddenly looked outclassed by the new offers, but let's not forget it is ridiculously cheap, produces usable results and through their agent has offered upgraded designs.

Even though there are over 50 votes for the ProLine in the forum, I'm not sure that we'll actually hit anywhere near that in actual sales. People will pull out, have other things they need to spend their cash on, plus I'm sure that some just voted for the hell of it - never intending to buy. I'm estimating 20-40 which does even things out a little in terms of overall cost per unit.

I think this thread has reached it's natural end, what's needed now is a better idea of those users actually committed to buy, so as a group we can have a better idea of how much we are likely to have to pay.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

I have a friend who is a pro steadicam op who said this about the PROLine rig: " Looks like a solid rig. A guy I know makes cables for them and he likes them better than TIFFEN. TIFFEN is good, but expensive."

Just wanted to post comments from another Pro steadicam op who owns a Tiffen.

By the way, if we don't hit at least 40 + on this group buy, they'll be losing one more because I'll be pulling out too.

I'm definitely in at 60 +, I'm most likely in at 40 +, I'm out otherwise.

Unlike the previous poster, I'm optimistic that we can reach 60 +

 

[David Kellermann]

Everyone can order the rig for the 60+ price. If not enough people order a ProLine to reach the 60+ bracket, the orders get canceled. If more people order it (80+), the order will be altered: we get some additional stuff like more cables or get a refund. I think that's the easiest way to handle it.

 

[Tyler Bourns]

Everyone can order the rig for the 60+ price. If not enough people order a ProLine to reach the 60+ bracket, the orders get canceled. If more people order it (80+), the order will be altered: we get some additional stuff like more cables or get a refund. I think that's the easiest way to handle it.

I agree, and I'm with Carey and feel very optimistic about reaching at least 60.

 

[Steve Das]

.... A guy I know makes cables for them and he likes them better than TIFFEN. TIFFEN is good, but expensive."
Just wanted to post comments from another Pro steadicam op who owns a Tiffen.

Proline better than Tiffen Steadicam ??? But you left out the part about reason WHY he thinks this....

By the way, if we don't hit at least 40 + on this group buy, they'll be losing one more because I'll be pulling out too.
I'm definitely in at 60 +, I'm most likely in at 40 +, I'm out otherwise.
Unlike the previous poster, I'm optimistic that we can reach 60 +

Yes..a game of numbers. Initially majority seemed for LAING with a redesign process...however
seems this did not work for LAING and they went for a more modest modification
of the existing LAING rig...after this seems like alot of people went for higher rigs.

At this point are there in total close to 100 non-Laing buyers?...If so could support 2 groups.
If there is only 50 non-Laing buyers in total...it's problematic. Consider some people still on fence..
and not voted yet it seems also.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

Everyone can order the rig for the 60+ price. If not enough people order a ProLine to reach the 60+ bracket, the orders get canceled. If more people order it (80+), the order will be altered: we get some additional stuff like more cables or get a refund. I think that's the easiest way to handle it.

Sounds great!

 

[Peter Lan]

Im with Steve on this one (on the fence,haven't voted). The PROline is fantastic for the price and allows future upgrades. eg. if you want to upgrade the vest later on, the standard connectors for the arm makes that possible.

One little quirk I've had with the PROline arm is the lack of tool-less adjustments for the spring tension. I hated the Glidecam X-22 arm because of that, but I guess its a minor issue. (hopefully they can adjust since they are so gong-ho about tool-less)

The lack of updates from LAING is slowly putting me more towards the PROline but I would still like to see what LAING has to offer (cost vs modifications). If LAING cannot provide proper updates in due time I believe I will be going for the PROline.

I've been in contact with David trying to figure out if Proline's offer of paying in installments via Paypal was strictly a US resident option (bill me later) or a special paypal button that allows pay in installments for people outside of US (not using bill be later). Its a bit confusing I know. I've been trying to figure this out myself.

Time to hope for the best!

 

[Brandon J.F.]

I've been in contact with David trying to figure out if Proline's offer of paying in installments via Paypal was strictly a US resident option (bill me later) or a special paypal button that allows pay in installments for people outside of US (not using bill be later). Its a bit confusing I know. I've been trying to figure this out myself.

Time to hope for the best!

It's Bill Me Later.

 

[Marc Berger]

I just deleted my post on request with the Link to the group buy for the Raptor. Just to clarify, it was not me who deleted the Raptor group buy thread. It was censorship from I don´t know who have the power to do so. I´m not writing this to hijack this thread or go on with further discussions. Just want to let you know this isn´t a subject anymore to discuss in this thread (from my side). And I mean this very friendly, like everything I posted in this thread.
Cheers,
Marc

 

[Brett Harrison]

Im with Steve on this one (on the fence,haven't voted). The PROline is fantastic for the price and allows future upgrades. eg. if you want to upgrade the vest later on, the standard connectors for the arm makes that possible.

One little quirk I've had with the PROline arm is the lack of tool-less adjustments for the spring tension. I hated the Glidecam X-22 arm because of that, but I guess its a minor issue. (hopefully they can adjust since they are so gong-ho about tool-less)

The lack of updates from LAING is slowly putting me more towards the PROline but I would still like to see what LAING has to offer (cost vs modifications). If LAING cannot provide proper updates in due time I believe I will be going for the PROline.

I've been in contact with David trying to figure out if Proline's offer of paying in installments via Paypal was strictly a US resident option (bill me later) or a special paypal button that allows pay in installments for people outside of US (not using bill be later). Its a bit confusing I know. I've been trying to figure this out myself.

Time to hope for the best!

I believe in the video the Proline representative says it's going to be tool-less adjustment on the Reduser offer.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

Yes, he said the Reduser edition would be tool-less.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

Basically we need this buy button up sooner then later so we can start to see who is really in and who is out so we know if it will even go through.

 

[Steve Das]

Basically we need this buy button up sooner then later so we can start to see who is really in and who is out so we know if it will even go through.

Don't think it's even an issue..only question is if it winds up at 60 or 80.
Check the final offer. Don't think there's much difference in price at either level.

 

[Roy Rossovich]

Don't think it's even an issue..only question is if it winds up at 60 or 80.

yeah that's what I mean

 

[Justin R Goff]

For those that wanted more info on the raptor, below are some pics and video I took on my iPhone last NAB...