Modified the Steadicam Pilot vest from velcro straps to buckles

Joe Lawry · January 30th, 2010, 12:31 AM

Thanks Christian!

looks great. im sold. now if only we could get in contact with tiffen!

Tom Wills · January 30th, 2010, 12:38 AM

Have you tried giving him a call? Michael was easily reachable by phone when I contacted him.

Joe Lawry · January 30th, 2010, 12:57 AM

Im purchasing through my dealer here in NZ. It is them trying to contact tiffen.

I support my dealer, they've got the contract with steadicam. I shouldn't have to order though other sources.

Tom Wills · January 30th, 2010, 12:59 AM

Apologies, I figured you were trying to contact Tiffen USA yourself, as you had said in an earlier post that you sent Michael an email.

Danny O'Neill · January 30th, 2010, 05:15 AM

Does this still leave some of the hook side of the velcro exposed as this was the main reason I made my own set?

Randy Panado · January 31st, 2010, 08:09 AM

Don't understand your question, please reword it?

Joe Lawry · February 2nd, 2010, 03:09 PM

Some more info.

The price of $140USD is not the final price. The kit should hopefully come in well under $100.

Tiffen have them and they are ready to ship, however no press release has been made as of yet due to the fact the installation instructions are still in the process of being written.

All this info came through my dealer. I told them to place an order, instructions are overrated.

Christian Jolly · February 16th, 2010, 08:34 AM

As far as the price...yeah, seemed kinda steep, and I have no info about the final price, but I do know that this is so totally worth it.

I've invested none of my own time (aside from "installing" the new buckles) and it takes me less than 60 seconds to unzip the bag, pull out my vest and have it fully adjusted. Took a couple of minutes with the velcro setup before.

And the way it's rigged now, there's no exposed hook velcro (only loop side) so there is ZERO snagging of clothing, curtains, etc.

And...there's no loud ripping sound taking it off. Very nice.

So if you're like me and want these now, it's worth paying the current price. If I had to guess, I'd say they'll be available for general sale in about 1-2 months from now.

Joe Lawry · April 26th, 2010, 09:21 PM

Received my buckle upgrade.

Very nice with lots of room for adjustment.

Still trying to figure out exactly how to put the whole thing together but slowly getting there.

Doesn't make it as nice as a flyer vest but it definitely makes things a lot nicer.

Christian Jolly · April 28th, 2010, 10:06 AM

I had issues figuring out how to assemble the straps, I e-mailed Michael and he sent me a set of instructions and pictures to assist me.

I was confused by some spare parts that didn't seem to go anywhere. Turned out there's a spare strip of velcro for more husky operators (I'm a bit on the slender side, so I didn't need it).

Strange there still isn't any kind of announcment or general availability of these kits. Guess there's no rush.

Cuong Dinh · April 28th, 2010, 02:19 PM

I already bought the buckle kit upgrade to my Pilot vest, it's be OK better than the old one. Here some picture I took it from Steadicam boot at NAB2010. Hope the pictures can help you guy.

Joe Lawry · April 28th, 2010, 02:47 PM

thanks Guys, I was at the stand for most of NAB but for some reason forgot to look at the setup.

It looks a lot like mine has ended up, I have however managed to use all the straps supplied.. and it amazingly works.

Im very tempted to get the scissors out and cut some of the straps down to size..

I emailed Michael.. no response like my last email.. i think there might be a spam filter somewhere playing its part. Going to try from a different address.

Christian Jolly · April 28th, 2010, 09:16 PM

If you send me your e-mail address, I'll forward you the e-mail Michael sent to me about setup for the buckle kit.

Cuong Dinh · April 29th, 2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian Jolly

If you send me your e-mail address, I'll forward you the e-mail Michael sent to me about setup for the buckle kit.

Please send to me too. My email info@cuongdinhvideo.com

Thanks.

Barry Rivadue · April 29th, 2010, 08:16 AM

Same here; my e-mail is WG25@aol.com.

Thanks!

P.S. how and where do I order this buckle upgrade; it's rather elusive finding it.

January 30th, 2010, 05:15 AM	#95
Danny O'Neill Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 915	Does this still leave some of the hook side of the velcro exposed as this was the main reason I made my own set? __________________ mintyslippers.com Last edited by Danny O'Neill; January 30th, 2010 at 03:32 PM.

April 28th, 2010, 02:19 PM	#101
Cuong Dinh Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dallas, TX - USA Posts: 89	I already bought the buckle kit upgrade to my Pilot vest, it's be OK better than the old one. Here some picture I took it from Steadicam boot at NAB2010. Hope the pictures can help you guy. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cuong Dinh Video weddingfilmhd.com

January 30th, 2010, 12:31 AM	#91
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	Thanks Christian! looks great. im sold. now if only we could get in contact with tiffen!

January 30th, 2010, 12:38 AM	#92
Tom Wills Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 326	Have you tried giving him a call? Michael was easily reachable by phone when I contacted him.

January 30th, 2010, 12:57 AM	#93
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	Im purchasing through my dealer here in NZ. It is them trying to contact tiffen. I support my dealer, they've got the contract with steadicam. I shouldn't have to order though other sources.

January 30th, 2010, 12:59 AM	#94
Tom Wills Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 326	Apologies, I figured you were trying to contact Tiffen USA yourself, as you had said in an earlier post that you sent Michael an email.

January 31st, 2010, 08:09 AM	#96
Randy Panado Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 643	Don't understand your question, please reword it?

February 2nd, 2010, 03:09 PM	#97
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	Some more info. The price of $140USD is not the final price. The kit should hopefully come in well under $100. Tiffen have them and they are ready to ship, however no press release has been made as of yet due to the fact the installation instructions are still in the process of being written. All this info came through my dealer. I told them to place an order, instructions are overrated.

February 16th, 2010, 08:34 AM	#98
Christian Jolly New Boot Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 6	As far as the price...yeah, seemed kinda steep, and I have no info about the final price, but I do know that this is so totally worth it. I've invested none of my own time (aside from "installing" the new buckles) and it takes me less than 60 seconds to unzip the bag, pull out my vest and have it fully adjusted. Took a couple of minutes with the velcro setup before. And the way it's rigged now, there's no exposed hook velcro (only loop side) so there is ZERO snagging of clothing, curtains, etc. And...there's no loud ripping sound taking it off. Very nice. So if you're like me and want these now, it's worth paying the current price. If I had to guess, I'd say they'll be available for general sale in about 1-2 months from now.

April 26th, 2010, 09:21 PM	#99
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	Received my buckle upgrade. Very nice with lots of room for adjustment. Still trying to figure out exactly how to put the whole thing together but slowly getting there. Doesn't make it as nice as a flyer vest but it definitely makes things a lot nicer.

April 28th, 2010, 10:06 AM	#100
Christian Jolly New Boot Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 6	I had issues figuring out how to assemble the straps, I e-mailed Michael and he sent me a set of instructions and pictures to assist me. I was confused by some spare parts that didn't seem to go anywhere. Turned out there's a spare strip of velcro for more husky operators (I'm a bit on the slender side, so I didn't need it). Strange there still isn't any kind of announcment or general availability of these kits. Guess there's no rush.

April 28th, 2010, 02:47 PM	#102
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	thanks Guys, I was at the stand for most of NAB but for some reason forgot to look at the setup. It looks a lot like mine has ended up, I have however managed to use all the straps supplied.. and it amazingly works. Im very tempted to get the scissors out and cut some of the straps down to size.. I emailed Michael.. no response like my last email.. i think there might be a spam filter somewhere playing its part. Going to try from a different address.

April 28th, 2010, 09:16 PM	#103
Christian Jolly New Boot Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 6	If you send me your e-mail address, I'll forward you the e-mail Michael sent to me about setup for the buckle kit.

April 29th, 2010, 08:16 AM	#105
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Same here; my e-mail is WG25@aol.com. Thanks! P.S. how and where do I order this buckle upgrade; it's rather elusive finding it.