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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 :)

The Three Axis Gimbal Thread

I don't wanna be negative Nancy, but why is it that I can see your footsteps in every shot? Isn't that what attaching the Movi to the Steadicam is supposed to eliminate?
 
Daniel Stilling said:
I don't wanna be negative Nancy, but why is it that I can see your footsteps in every shot? Isn't that what attaching the Movi to the Steadicam is supposed to eliminate?
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Yeah, the springs were set for a lot more weight, for sure. I just had a few minutes of extra time so I threw the rig together. More to see how it would work as a mini-jib. Which it did. Better steadicam with a better operator would work really well, and you'd be able to go from low to high and over objects very easily.
 
So which of these non-MoVis support the weight of a Scarlet/Epic and a currently purchasable?

Also aren't 3-axis gimbals supposed to be better than a steadicam for steps/movements/etc?
 
Mike P. said:
So which of these non-MoVis support the weight of a Scarlet/Epic and a currently purchasable?

Also aren't 3-axis gimbals supposed to be better than a steadicam for steps/movements/etc?
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3 Axis gimbals are great, but they aren't designed to completely replace a steadicam, however, I sold my steadicam to purchase a MoVI for my shooting style. Handheld stabilizers are great, but bare in mind you get what you pay for with those cheaper solutions, especially those based off of Alexmos boards. The MoVI is a good chunk of change, though immediately I felt like it was money well spent.

DEFY just released their G12 which will definitely support the Epic/Scarlet and I know Levefly also has a model that supports that weight class. Again, cheaper is not always better. There is a reason why the MoVI is so expensive. In my opinion, it's the best hands down.
 
Selling ultra thin Epic/Scarlet LiPo cables to power the camera from a LiPo battery.

These cables are design to be super flexible so that don't get in the way of the gimbals movement and allow it to rotate and move freely.
Stiff cables push and pull the gimbal and stress the motors and result in unstable footage, an Ultra Thin cable resolves this.

Also available are LiPo cables for wireless transmitters and remote follow focus.

Please contact me at lipo@minefilms.com for order details.

Cable_LiPo 2.jpg
 
Thats great Chris. I found that even having the black plastic mesh works as a stiffener so I make my cables to be as flexible as they can be… check out the rolled up one :-)
 
Chris McKechnie said:
3 Axis gimbals are great, but they aren't designed to completely replace a steadicam, however, I sold my steadicam to purchase a MoVI for my shooting style. Handheld stabilizers are great, but bare in mind you get what you pay for with those cheaper solutions, especially those based off of Alexmos boards. The MoVI is a good chunk of change, though immediately I felt like it was money well spent.

DEFY just released their G12 which will definitely support the Epic/Scarlet and I know Levefly also has a model that supports that weight class. Again, cheaper is not always better. There is a reason why the MoVI is so expensive. In my opinion, it's the best hands down.
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Could you be more specific on what makes it the best? Say compared to BS4 or Gremsy? Also, what is the issue for Alexmos boards?
 
Ned Wilson said:
Could you be more specific on what makes it the best? Say compared to BS4 or Gremsy? Also, what is the issue for Alexmos boards?
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I have tried the Levefly and a cheaper Chinese version. Both don't even come close to how stable the MoVI is, and the testing was done with a properly balanced rig. I have not tested the Gremsy or the B4.

Every rig needs to be balanced well and that's even the case with the MoVI. You can't just throw a camera on and be ready to go within 10 mins. It's not that simple when you're balancing the camera for the first time. Now that my rig is balanced, I'm ready to go within 10 mins of being on set. I purchased the $700 cinema oxide case, which is great and allows for the MoVI to be completely built, well minus a couple of accessories, which greatly saves time.

In my opinion, Freefly has the best software. I purchased a tablet to adjust gimbal parameters while out in the field while remaining as portable as possible. Under the charts tab, you can then click motors. While the gimbal is on the stand, these numbers should be within -3 and 3%. This means the rig is perfectly balanced. It makes balancing the MoVI incredibly easy. If your numbers are slightly off, adjust that axis, plain and simple. The alexmos boards and their accompanying software, just isn't the same. I have heard from various sources that the alexmos boards have been very problematic and fail. They also are what controls the motors, so if the board isn't top-notch, you won't get as stable footage. It's the brain of the system.

I just returned from a shoot in Georgia where I used the MoVI for every shot. It did not disappoint. It was funny because the director who always hires me as a steadicam op said that this is by far more flexible, allowing for more diverse shots in a shorter amount of time. Rather than having to setup ground dollies, jibs, etc, just run around with the MoVI, do hand-offs to people on second stories or ladders, run until your hearts content. The power of creativity is truly remarkable. Yes, I still will use dollies and jibs, but for a lot of what I do, the MoVI is faster at getting that exact same type of shot within a fraction of the time. :-0
 
Thanks Chris. That cleared up a lot. Anyone else with relevant experience, please chime in. Right now, the Gimbal world seems like the Wild West and Movi is John Wayne. What bothers me the most about the other manufactures is the opaqueness. No spec sheets, few demos that shows the set up/balance process, weight of rig, etc. Yet the "Buy Now" button is the easiest thing to find.

Chris, last question, how does the Movi handle a fully rigged Epic (MB, RFF, PL Prime, Filters, Monitor, Wireless Tran, and Battery)? Minimally this is what I'd hope to run.
 
Chris McKechnie said:
....In my opinion, Freefly has the best software. I purchased a tablet to adjust gimbal parameters while out in the field while remaining as portable as possible. Under the charts tab, you can then click motors. While the gimbal is on the stand, these numbers should be within -3 and 3%. This means the rig is perfectly balanced. It makes balancing the MoVI incredibly easy. If your numbers are slightly off, adjust that axis, plain and simple. The alexmos boards and their accompanying software, just isn't the same. I have heard from various sources that the alexmos boards have been very problematic and fail. They also are what controls the motors, so if the board isn't top-notch, you won't get as stable footage. It's the brain of the system....
Click to expand...

Well I guess some of the alexmos board company gimbals and owners really should chime in here and post some footage or examples of what they can do.
 
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