A homebuilt arm to be proud of

[Graham Bernard]

Yes .. I've got a mirror . . I'm still waiting! :(

[Charles King]

<<<-- Originally posted by Graham Bernard : Yes .. I've got a mirror . . I'm still waiting! :( -->>>


Ha Ha good one.

[K. Forman]

Charles- There are several componants to a steady cam. Without all the parts, you have nothing but a pile of parts, right? So... Andreas has built a new arm, and will be using the rest of the parts from an old steady cam system?

I guess my question is this- Is it more cost efficient to build over buy? If I were skilled enough with machine work (So, it's a huge stretch ;) , and I machined the arm Andreas has built, would I be able to pick up the rest of the parts? For less than the cost of just buying a complete system?

Or is Andreas just doing this to prove it can be done?

[Leigh Wanstead]

<<<-- Originally posted by Charles King : Here is my criteria:

1. Build (materials involved. Again, a budget thing)
-->>>

Thanks for the comments.

May I ask why some manufacture claim gold as a feature for their stablizer?

I can understand to use titanium spring as a feature.

Regards
Leigh

[Charles Papert]

The history of Steadicam, without going into endless and lurid detail, has had a long history of function over form. When the first PRO rig was introduced in the early 90's as the very first competitor to the official Steadicam, it was a clean but spartan all-aluminum design with lots of straight lines, as opposed to the more rounded Steadicam 3A with its contoured molded-plastic panels. Yet, the vast majority of working Steadicam operators flocked to the PRO for it's reliability and simplicity, as well as its ability to be field-stripped and cleaned (the gimbal can be broken down and all five bearings cleaned and lubed within 15 minutes, leaving enough time for lunch!).

Cinema Product's response to the PRO was the Master Series, which had a radical new industrial design again of molded plastic that some felt resembled a vacuum cleaner(!). The problem was that it was a non-modular system and didn't allow for additional gizmos and modifications to be added easily. It failed to win over the operators who had gone PRO.

In time, the PRO rig has evolved its industrial design as well. Their arm is a beautiful thing, not only in operation but in looks also. When some bored soul entertains themselves by gazing at my rig as it sits on the dock, more often than not it is the arm that impresses most.

Then there's the Steadicam JR vs the DV Steadicam. The JR was a brilliant piece of gear, but after a number of years an upgrade was due, and the DV rig was introduced. It looked badass, but it didn't work very well and was phased out, and the Steadicam JR became the sole handheld DV rig, with a design nearly 13 years old (look for a new version within the year!)

[Charles King]

<<<-- I guess my question is this- Is it more cost efficient to build over buy? If I were skilled enough with machine work (So, it's a huge stretch ;) , and I machined the arm Andreas has built, would I be able to pick up the rest of the parts? For less than the cost of just buying a complete system?

Or is Andreas just doing this to prove it can be done? -->>>

Well Keith this all depends some factors:

1. Are you intended on being full time operator, part time or hobby?

2. What is your bugdet?

3. What are you intended on flying?

Answer to question 1 would be if you are an up coming operator than just rent a complete rig; If you are doing this as part of small business, which will be used on certain occasions then, rent one again( totally subjective); And last, if you are in it for the hobby then go ahead and build. Again, this all depends on your metal state and determination. Trust me, you're going to need it.

Answer to question 2 is simple. If you have the money then you've got no problems. You just buy a pro, mk-v or a steadicam

Answer to question 3 plays a major part of your descision. If it's DV then usually the choices are alot cheaper then choosing a system that will work for film. You could work to get the parts seperately to put together a compatible, optional custom system that will work for you. How much more economical that will be is depends on certain systems.

I think Charles P. would be better off answering this particular question - Take it away Charles


BTW, Andreas is just like everyone else on HBS. If we all had the cash, we wouldn't be building our own systems.

See more pics of his old rig and a pic of his post and gimbal on HBS website. You can also see a pic of him flying a 16mm camera. I posted a pic of him and the rig on this forum a long time ago.

[Scott Ellifritt]

When is it going up for auction on Ebay?

[Charles King]

<<<-- Originally posted by Scott Ellifritt : When is it going up for auction on Ebay? -->>>

Good one but I sincerely doubt it.

[K. Forman]

"this all depends on your metal state and determination"

In general, I find it much cheaper and easier to buy, than it is to build. Way safer too ;)

But thanks Charles, you did answer my questions. And it really is a nice looking arm, Andreas has some serious skills in a shop.

[Rob Lohman]

Charles P: your link is not working?

[Charles King]

Rob, I'll answer this for Charles P. The link is the same for gpi pro website. Just Copy this into your browser: http://www.pro-gpi.com

No problem Kieth.

[Rob Lohman]

Charles K: I get an under construction message when I go to that
URL. So that's not working either. Or is that what you are saying?

[Charles King]

You're probably right Rob. I got the same message. Sorry.

[Cosmin Rotaru]

I know pro-gpi and their beautiful arm (actually, I like this arm over any other one).

I checked the link again. "Under construction"? I get something more scary:

"pro-gpi.com

This domain name expired on 10/25/2004 and is pending renewal or deletion."

[Charles Papert]

www.pro-gpi.com works for me...