Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

  • 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 :)

Steadicam Zephyr for Red One

Eythanmaidhof

Active member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
35
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
46
Location
New York, NY
I am in the market for a Steadicam. Looking for roughly not much more then a 10K price point. I am considering the zephyr. Has anyone used the zephyr with a built up MX'ed red one? Any links to clips of results? Does anyone have any other suggestions for alternative rigs?
 
Thanks for the suggestion. Yea, I can't afford that much in my budget. I can maybe go up 3K higher, but that's all.
 
GLIDECAM

:)
 
Have you tried? Do you have any links? I heard Glidecam cant handle the payload.
 
You can make the zephyr work with a stripped down Red one. Power the camera from the rig, use CF or SSD, and mount a light prime.
I have done this a few time with my Flyer LE, mostly as a running rig/crashcam.
Great for some light work, but not something I would recommend for anything serious day to day work....

I would look into a used actioncam rig...should fit your budget and it will carry cameras up to 35kg, if you want to.

If you shoot mainly 5D/Ex1/C300/light epic setup....the zephyr works great though!
 
Awesome - I will check it out. Thanks. Do you know of anyone selling their actioncam rigs currently? This looks like it could hold a heavier payload.
 
Completely off topic, but how odd to have another Eythan with a 'y' on this forum..

On Topic. I have had mine on a Glide cam and was pleased. It was kinda a pieced together rig, but as I recall, gold arm with x-22 sled
 
I have the Zephyr for my Epic and it's great. If you run the R1 power from the sled and don't put a bunch of accessories on you should be fine. CF cards a very good idea instead of a drive.
 
You can make the zephyr work with a stripped down Red one. Power the camera from the rig, use CF or SSD, and mount a light prime.
I have done this a few time with my Flyer LE, mostly as a running rig/crashcam.
Great for some light work, but not something I would recommend for anything serious day to day work....

I would look into a used actioncam rig...should fit your budget and it will carry cameras up to 35kg, if you want to.

If you shoot mainly 5D/Ex1/C300/light epic setup....the zephyr works great though!

Is that your own Pro System on your avatar pic?
And do you have a bigger pic? ;)
 
Is that your own Pro System on your avatar pic?
And do you have a bigger pic? ;)

Yes, thats a red one on one of our Pro rigs, it's just a normal Pro2 with a LCD monitor. My main rig is a Tiffen Ultra 2, and sometimes I use the Flyer LE for lighter stuff.

Regarding the Flyer/zephyr, I just tested a setup today for a running rig with the Epic.

The rig contains:
- Epic with VF top and base, VF vlock plate with IDX HL-9, SSD module, top handle and redmote.
- Digifox follow focus system.
- Camwave
- 7" tv-logic monitor
- Ultraprime 16mm
- LMB5 with One 4x5.6" ND filter.
- A second IDX for transmitter and Monitor.

Arm was at around 95% of the range. If I removed the top flag and top handle, I could easily carry the red touchscreen monitor, and a somewhat heavier prime.
It flies really well, and is in dynamic balance in this config.

flyer1.JPG


flyer2.JPG


Flyer.JPG

Ready to run :-)
 
Cool.

Why do you prefer the Tiffen over Pro? Is it because of the arm? I`m good friends with
Marcus Pohlus ( Steadicam on The Perfume, Flightplan, The Pianist...) and he told me he
loves the Pro Arm as it has a nice and smooth force curve, he formerly had a CP 3A arm
(that thing is so tiny compared to the Pro... ;)
 
The Pro arm is really really great, possibly the smoothest most friction less. The canister system with compression springs, keeps the arm clean and simple.
Contrary to popular belief the Pro Arm is also "Iso-elastic" working much better than the older 3A, EFP arm design.

What I prefer about the G70 arm is the tool less design, I can adjust the strength of the arm quickly in between shots, or while walking from the docking stand to the start position. Downsides are the open design which is harder to clean, it tends to get noisy if you don't lubricate the insertion point of the springs, and it can get sticky over time.


The Ultra 2 sled is great because of it's advanced features: Built in superpost, tilt stage, adjustable inertia etc. Downside: Carbon fiber does flex, so if you are not careful you can get vibration in the shot with an extended post.
 
Thanks for your explanations! I used the iso elastic (pre G series) arm and a german made compression spring arm, this concept (compression type vs. expansion type) "felt" really nice and I`m thinking to get a Pro System, too.

One final question about the G70 - I heard about some issues when doing shots with slow walks, did you ever encounter this?
 
Slow shots always require very good technique, both in your operating hand and "walking method". I have heard a lot of complains towards the Tiffen arms with regards to a ducking effect when walking.
I really can't say that I experience a great difference when switching between the G70 and the Pro arm, but I have heard a lot of complains on forums regarding exactly that. At the same time I make perfect slow shots all the time with my G series, it might be easier on the Pro arm, but I really can't tell.
 
You can make the zephyr work with a stripped down Red one. Power the camera from the rig, use CF or SSD, and mount a light prime.
I have done this a few time with my Flyer LE, mostly as a running rig/crashcam.
Great for some light work, but not something I would recommend for anything serious day to day work....

I would look into a used actioncam rig...should fit your budget and it will carry cameras up to 35kg, if you want to.

If you shoot mainly 5D/Ex1/C300/light epic setup....the zephyr works great though!

If you want some more information on our ActionCam modular line up, please check out the thread link below. The ActionCam Redel series can be modularly upgraded by parts supporting weight classes from 11-77 pounds...

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?59326-ActionProducts-NEW-ActionCam-Stabilizer-Line-up

:ihih:
 
Completely off topic, but how odd to have another Eythan with a 'y' on this forum..

On Topic. I have had mine on a Glide cam and was pleased. It was kinda a pieced together rig, but as I recall, gold arm with x-22 sled

haha. Yea I know. Us Eythan's with a "Y" are difficult to come by. Sounds like a good rig. I am also considering the ActionCam rig for the red.
 
Back
Top