|
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 08:27 AM
|
#1 |
|
New Boot
Join Date: May 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 23
|
Merlin to Pilot Sled Upgrade Path? Interested?
Just trying to gauge some interest here...
Anyone interested in Tiffen offering an upgrade from Merlin to Pilot Sled, so that we don't have to re-buy another Arm and Vest? Tiffen should get to see the thread, so do post if you are interested. Steve |
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 08:37 AM
|
#2 |
|
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 318
|
Put me down for one.
__________________
Nick |
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 08:58 AM
|
#3 |
|
Regular Crew
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: New York City (USA)
Posts: 53
|
IIRC this was always planned. If you contact Tiffen, I think you'll find that it is. They may still be filling Pilot orders though, so a-la-carte Pilot sleds may not be available yet.
|
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 10:02 AM
|
#4 |
|
New Boot
Join Date: May 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 23
|
Shortest Thread Ever Award
OK, maybe the thread-is-dead as just had this back from Tiffen UK...
"I've found out the reason why we're not selling the sled on its own (direct from our CEO!). Because the Pilot has been so popular, the factory is working extra hard to keep up with the demand. Meaning all available parts are going to build complete systems, no parts were forecast for building sleds on their own." Bugger!! Cheap Indian FlyCam 6000 sled for me then, along with some sellotape and a few rubber bands to attach it! Steve |
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 01:02 PM
|
#5 |
|
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 192
|
I'm thinking about buying an arm and vest combination for my merlin - have posted elsewhere for advice. One of my questions was the upgrade path to the pilot as the vest/arm are the same...
Once the demand for pilot had died down, I guess they will offer the pilot sled as a spare for those that have damaged them, but this may be more expensive than an upgrade.... There's nothing about upgrades on the steadicam website, but they offer both lock-blocks (if thats what they're called) as spares. A definitive answer from the Steadicam guys in the know (Charles/Mikko etc) would be great!!! |
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 01:09 PM
|
#6 | |
|
New Boot
Join Date: May 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 23
|
Quote:
The problem is they reckon it'll be 2009 before the Pilot sleds may be available separately! |
|
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 03:02 PM
|
#7 |
|
Wrangler
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 6,810
|
I posted about this in the other thread about Merlin arm/vest/Flycam sled.
__________________
Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com |
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 04:21 PM
|
#8 |
|
New Boot
Join Date: May 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 23
|
Just wanted to say a big Thanks to James at Tiffen UK,
he's been a superb help and has been in frequent communication. Unfortunately the news is bad with Tiffen probably not going to offer this until 2009, but James has been great nevertheless. Cheers Steve |
|
|
|
|
February 12th, 2008, 08:03 PM
|
#9 |
|
Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bozeman, MT
Posts: 217
|
I definitely am interested in the Pilot Sled. it would be a drag to have to wait an entire year, but if that's what it takes....
|
|
|
|
|
February 13th, 2008, 03:01 AM
|
#10 |
|
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 192
|
A year would suit me well as it'll probably take that long to master the Merlin with the arm/vest! - at least we know it will be available eventually...
|
|
|
|
|
February 14th, 2008, 07:54 PM
|
#11 |
|
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 318
|
I can't wait that long, the Merlin arm-vest combination works brilliantly, but I need the d-tap and extra weight specs of the Pilot for my corporate shoots. So I have ordered a Pilot rig. By the way: http://www.focalimageproductions.com.au/for%20sale.htm
__________________
Nick Last edited by Nick Tsamandanis; February 14th, 2008 at 10:45 PM. |
|
|
|
|
February 17th, 2008, 04:51 PM
|
#12 |
|
Wrangler
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 6,810
|
So as expected, my conversation with Frank Rush at the Tiffen event on Friday confirmed what you guys had heard, they are simply too busy turning out complete rigs to be able to sell sleds by themselves. Frank took me back into the factory to show me rows and rows of partially completed sleds, a big box full of the carbon fiber posts, and a pallet with dozens and dozens of arms stacked up in layers. I've been in the factory many times before but I've never seen as many rigs being built at once. The Pilot is obviously a hugely successful product.
__________________
Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com |
|
|
|
|
February 17th, 2008, 05:26 PM
|
#13 |
|
Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bozeman, MT
Posts: 217
|
Thanks for the update, Charles. I am just a bit heart-broken that if I need to get one I'm going to have to sell my Merlin Vest/Arm in order to buy the indentical Vest/Arm!
It is great though that it is such a successful product line! |
|
|
|
|
February 18th, 2008, 02:49 AM
|
#14 |
|
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 192
|
Thanks Charles
I guess that's what we expected... I'm going to go ahead and get an arm and vest for my merlin and hope that Tiffen will evntually release the pilot and pilot pro sleds as an upgrade in the future - plenty of time to learn the merlin!!! Nick - I guess the shipping from Oz will make your arm a bit expensive???! |
|
|
|
|
February 18th, 2008, 06:20 AM
|
#15 |
|
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 318
|
All tax deductions... I can't believe with all those Pilots supposedly out there no one has posted any footage.. I am dying to see why Charles is so impressed with it. I get mine tomorrow and I've got a shoot on Saturday...
__________________
Nick |
|
|
|
 |
| ||||||
|
||||||
|
|
