SI-1920 mini with steadicam Merlin

Mikko Wilson · October 1st, 2006, 04:23 AM

Hmm, Network cable is genrally prety stiff and could cause trouble with a light rig. Some nice flexible UTP would work fine with a larger (vest & arm) rig.

Pity there are no cables attached to the camera in the video clip linked above, it would be interesting to see how much it affected the rig.

I'll have to try a peice of CAT5 off a FX1 on my Merlin and see how it works..

- Mikko

Don Donatello · October 1st, 2006, 10:24 AM

there's cat5 cable in EVERY shot - it's the only way they can record the shot using the mini .. i'm not sure where they run it off the steadicam ? along steadicam arm then down vest ?

http://indiefilmlive.blogspot.com/

Mikko Wilson · October 2nd, 2006, 01:42 AM

This video: ftp://www.atomic-vfx.com/spoon_test_...lyde%20cam.wmv shows no cable leaving the sled. I don't think that the camera was recording at the time.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...20cam_0001.jpg

The picture furthur down the page isn't clear enoguh to see if there is a cable or not. It looks liek there may be, but I can't see where it goes.

It would be interesting to see some video of the rig in action with the cable attached.

- Mikko

Jason Rodriguez · October 2nd, 2006, 01:24 PM

BTW, they didn't let the cable simply drape off the back of the camera . . . it was constrained.

But network cable is much lighter than a BNC cable, triax, or anything of that nature . . . plus there are various flavors of cable. Some are very stiff, but I've seen others that are quite flexible and shouldn't cause too many issues with a steadicam rig. Of course I don't claim to be the steadicam expert, but I'm just saying we're not getting any negative reports back that this has become an issue for people, so I'm assuming the work-arounds must be sufficient to quell any general complaints about the system.

Mikko Wilson · October 3rd, 2006, 04:57 AM

Oh yeah, cable management is every day stuff for Steadicam, there is a lot of operation done with cables connected (thoguh special cables are normally used - for exmple we have special triax cable that are like a peice of wet spaghetti that we use in place of the big thick regular triax)
I'm just not sure if you coudl find a flexible anough network cable to work with a rig as light and precise as the Merlin.

That fully loaded Glidecam thats in use on this shoot in question is much heavier and can handle a larger cable.

- Mikko

Simon Hansen · October 25th, 2006, 08:40 AM

Hi guys,

Sorry I'm sorry scarse. Not for lack of will power just time. Would be great to get questions about spoon tech and processes in one place. I will try and sort something out on the BLOG so that there is a "database" of questions in one place. That way I can more efficiently get around to everything.

On spoon we used cat5 dual core cable. So there are actually two cables in one - one for input and one for output. Geffen vga extenders were used with one of the cores to provide video feedbak. With some engineering this could be made even better. Though cable on the Glyde cam was no problem. And in fact cables presented no additional problems over conventinal set workings in all cases. Even underwater stuff was straight forward. I would prefer to use Glydecam on cable over straping any more gear to the operator as cable is little trouble if any.

Simon

Charles Papert · October 25th, 2006, 12:58 PM

Earlier this summer I did a feature with the Panavision Genesis with the recorder remoted to a backpack worn by one of the assistants. I had to manage dual solid-core BNC's off the rig that were relatively flexible compared to most BNC cable but not the truly floppy spaghetti strand style that I use for SD cabled work. With a 60lb rig, these cables created enough of an influence to reduce my operating precision by around 5-10%, depending on the move. With a system as delicate as a Merlin, it is hard to imagine how flexible and lightweight a cable would have to be to not exert force.

Everything is possible, and compromises are relative, and results are subjective. But cables are always a hindrance to a certain degree.

Jason Rodriguez · October 25th, 2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

But cables are always a hindrance to a certain degree.

I agree, and that's why our DVR package doesn't have cables . . . it's completely self-contained.

Rob Lohman · October 25th, 2006, 03:47 PM

Charles: I was wondering if there are any fibre conversion kits or something that
allows you to run the signals needed over a very thing fibre-glass cable?

October 1st, 2006, 04:23 AM	#16
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Hmm, Network cable is genrally prety stiff and could cause trouble with a light rig. Some nice flexible UTP would work fine with a larger (vest & arm) rig. Pity there are no cables attached to the camera in the video clip linked above, it would be interesting to see how much it affected the rig. I'll have to try a peice of CAT5 off a FX1 on my Merlin and see how it works.. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

October 2nd, 2006, 01:42 AM	#18
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	This video: ftp://www.atomic-vfx.com/spoon_test_...lyde%20cam.wmv shows no cable leaving the sled. I don't think that the camera was recording at the time. http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...20cam_0001.jpg The picture furthur down the page isn't clear enoguh to see if there is a cable or not. It looks liek there may be, but I can't see where it goes. It would be interesting to see some video of the rig in action with the cable attached. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

October 3rd, 2006, 04:57 AM	#20
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Oh yeah, cable management is every day stuff for Steadicam, there is a lot of operation done with cables connected (thoguh special cables are normally used - for exmple we have special triax cable that are like a peice of wet spaghetti that we use in place of the big thick regular triax) I'm just not sure if you coudl find a flexible anough network cable to work with a rig as light and precise as the Merlin. That fully loaded Glidecam thats in use on this shoot in question is much heavier and can handle a larger cable. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

October 25th, 2006, 08:40 AM	#21
Simon Hansen New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cape Town Posts: 11	Cables used on spoon Hi guys, Sorry I'm sorry scarse. Not for lack of will power just time. Would be great to get questions about spoon tech and processes in one place. I will try and sort something out on the BLOG so that there is a "database" of questions in one place. That way I can more efficiently get around to everything. On spoon we used cat5 dual core cable. So there are actually two cables in one - one for input and one for output. Geffen vga extenders were used with one of the cores to provide video feedbak. With some engineering this could be made even better. Though cable on the Glyde cam was no problem. And in fact cables presented no additional problems over conventinal set workings in all cases. Even underwater stuff was straight forward. I would prefer to use Glydecam on cable over straping any more gear to the operator as cable is little trouble if any. Simon

October 25th, 2006, 12:58 PM	#22
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Earlier this summer I did a feature with the Panavision Genesis with the recorder remoted to a backpack worn by one of the assistants. I had to manage dual solid-core BNC's off the rig that were relatively flexible compared to most BNC cable but not the truly floppy spaghetti strand style that I use for SD cabled work. With a 60lb rig, these cables created enough of an influence to reduce my operating precision by around 5-10%, depending on the move. With a system as delicate as a Merlin, it is hard to imagine how flexible and lightweight a cable would have to be to not exert force. Everything is possible, and compromises are relative, and results are subjective. But cables are always a hindrance to a certain degree. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 1st, 2006, 10:24 AM	#17
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	there's cat5 cable in EVERY shot - it's the only way they can record the shot using the mini .. i'm not sure where they run it off the steadicam ? along steadicam arm then down vest ? http://indiefilmlive.blogspot.com/

October 2nd, 2006, 01:24 PM	#19
Jason Rodriguez Trustee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 1,095	BTW, they didn't let the cable simply drape off the back of the camera . . . it was constrained. But network cable is much lighter than a BNC cable, triax, or anything of that nature . . . plus there are various flavors of cable. Some are very stiff, but I've seen others that are quite flexible and shouldn't cause too many issues with a steadicam rig. Of course I don't claim to be the steadicam expert, but I'm just saying we're not getting any negative reports back that this has become an issue for people, so I'm assuming the work-arounds must be sufficient to quell any general complaints about the system.

October 25th, 2006, 03:47 PM	#24
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Charles: I was wondering if there are any fibre conversion kits or something that allows you to run the signals needed over a very thing fibre-glass cable? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors