SI-1920 mini with steadicam Merlin

[Bhaskar Dhungana]

Hi,
I was wondering if we can use the SI mini with Merlin. Looks like the detachable head would be perfect for Merlin. The only concern I would have is the camera being too "front heavy" after attaching lens on it. I think it should work with the smaller lens. What do you think?

[Bob Grant]

One can simply move the camera/lens back on the mount. At a pinch that might mean a little work making an adaptor plate but hardly anything complex.

[Jason Rodriguez]

It should work fine, don't see what would be the issues . . . with certain larger zooms being front heavy just means as Bob said, making an adapter plate that allows you to slide the whole camera head further back.

[Anders Holck Petersen]

Just beware that with a small rig like that the camera cable will most definitely make it next to impossible to operate properly.

[John Benton]

Although,
Correct me if I'm wrong, You could be wearing a laptop and streaming into that. Yes?
I was thinking of a small Laptop (provided it's fast enough) attached to the vest of my steadicam rig to stream the footage into via Cineform Raw.

questions being:
- Is this viable?
- Any specific Laptops you'd recommend? I am mostly Apple, but I have been thinking of a Tablet PC anyway (though a faster MacBook when Cineform does FCP is an option too)
- Would a Fast Tablet work?
- Is there a way to get the Mini and Upgrade to the full package when money comes in?

[Don Donatello]

also don't forget that the SI camera with body ( recorder) the CMOS block is removeable from the body= removed it's basically a mini and you still can use the body to record ...

[Jason Rodriguez]

A fast tablet would work, although at this point we can't certify the GMA950 embedded graphics anymore . . . we're working on some cool features, and since our application is DirectX-based, you need to have some half-decent video hardware (meaning discreet chipset graphics from ATI or Nvidia, not embedded GMA950 graphics).

[John Benton]

Thanks Jason,
ok so maybe I give up on the tablet idea (though I need one for other apps & it would be nice to use with SI mini)
http://global.acer.com/products/tablet_pc/tmc200.htm
though I am not sure of the NIC/ethernet port here to get the footage in

so, what will I need?
- Mini (doesn't come with Lense) but comes with Arri PL mount (?)
- laptop fast enough to run Cineform Raw & suck in the footage which I will then transfer to edit
- Lenses

[Jason Rodriguez]

Originally Posted by John Benton

so, what will I need?
- Mini (doesn't come with Lense) but comes with Arri PL mount (?)
- laptop fast enough to run Cineform Raw & suck in the footage which I will then transfer to edit
- Lenses

Yup, basically that's the deal . . . BTW, you can also use the laptop to edit, and there's a couple more unannounced goodies you can use it for as well.

[John Benton]

Thanks Jason,
I am very interested in the Mini
(Q #1) assuming it is possible to upgrade to the full camera?

but I can get a start with:
- the Mini
-PL mount (or does the head come with C mount? or F mount?)-------(Q #2)
-edit suite (Prospect 2K and Premiere)

(Q#3) If I am recording with the Mini do I have an interface (Cineform?) to control aspects of how I am recording (speeds/size/"looks")

(Q#4) If I go from Mini to Laptop is fast enough to use as monitor or can I use my Marshall hd monitor with componant in...ie what inputs/outputs are in th Mini besides Gig-ethernet?

I may need to aquire a tablet before and it would be great to know if "in theory" something like this would work? ( I am still not completly certain of the ethernet teather to camera) ------(Q #5)
http://global.acer.com/products/tablet_pc/tmc200.htm

Excuse the newbie questions, but this camer/workflow seem too good to be true

Thanks for all your patience & help ! I am greatly looking forward to Nov.
J

[Jason Rodriguez]

No problem, "newbie" questions are welcome here :)

Q1: I'll have to defer that to Steve since he's the one arranging the packages . . . in theory it is possible since the DVR and the mini use the same camera head

Q2: The camera comes with a C-mount and PL-mount . . . you can use both . . . you take off the PL-mount and you end up with a c-mount. That way you can use very cheap, inexpensive lenses, and then upgrade to "real" glass later on as your budget dictates. Or you can just keep a small lens on the shelf for quick grab shots.

Q3: Yes, there is a complete interface for controlling the camera and compression settings.

Q4: It's fast enough to use a monitor . . . you software supports dual-monitor configurations, so you can have two different monitor driven at two different resolutions.

Q5: I'm again not sure about the tablets, I know the dual monitor configurations need a dedicated GPU because the embedded stuff simply isn't fast enough. Ideally you want the fastest workstation-style laptop you can get your hands on.

I hope this helps, and the cameras are not far away (shipping VERY soon).

Thanks,

Jason

[John Benton]

Jason,
Thank you so much !
The tablet, I know, was probably not a great idea.
I have steadicam and strapping a small laptop to the vest to both use as monitor and recording device is Very intreguing

I can't wait to see what's coming in Nov

Thanks again,
John

[Mikko Wilson]

Ok, I have to admit that I don't know very much (at all) about this camera.

How thick is the cable from the head?

Almost *any* cable at all will cause trouble with the Merlin.

- Mikko

[Don Donatello]

cable is networking cable ( cat 45 size i believe) ..
take a look around at pictures/clips from "spoon" production

http://indiefilmlive.blogspot.com/

[Jason Rodriguez]

The spoon guys were using the cat5e/cat6 ethernet cables with their rigs and didn't have any issues. Performance was wonderful.