InCinematographer - Issue 2 - September 2017 - 28

28

www.incinematographer.com | Issue 2 | September 2017

Getting to Grips with Supports

Manfrotto's
Nitrotech N8

Manfrotto's Nitrotech N8 head
incorporates a piston counterbalance
mechanism designed to support a
load weighing up to 8kg. A variable
fluidity function on both pan and tilt is
designed to allow smooth judder-free
movement. The head also features a
3/8inch Easy Link equipped with an
anti-rotation function that enables an
external monitor or other accessories
to be fitted. A side-lock sliding plate
mechanism allows quick camera
attachment.
MAT introduced two camera support
systems at the 2017 NAB Show in Las
Vegas. The new L-E-VATOR is designed
for use with the company's established
TOWERCAM support column. It allows
the camera to ascend from less
than 30cm height and rise smoothly
up to 450cm. Also new is Cosmo, a
lightweight dolly which can be used on
the ground, overhead, vertically and
diagonally. It can also perform curved
moves on its 35cm wide tracks. The
30 x 82cm dolly can also be combined
with a version of the TOWERCAM.

MAT L-E-VATOR on the Cosmo dolly

Miller
Camera
Support
Equipment's arrowFX7 fluid head has
magnetic encoders which monitor and
communicate the head's position. An
interface box connects with graphics
systems from companies such as Vizrt
and Orad. This provides real-time pan,
tilt, zoom and focus data, as well as
lens geometry information. The head
has a payload range from 6 to 25kg,
16 positions of counterbalance and
7+0 pan-and-tilt drag positions. Pan
resolution is 1,589,246 counts per
360 degrees and a tilt resolution of
491,520 counts per 180 degrees. Also
part of the arrowFX7 series are the
arrowFX3 and arrowFX5 Fluid Heads.
The arrowFX3 has a payload range of 1
to 19kg, 16 positions of counterbalance
and 5+0 pan and tilt drag positions.
The arrowFX5 has a payload range 2 to
21kg.
Miniature Broadcast Cameras
offers a range of Rubicam links
including the Rubi-Fibre
which offers the facility of
communicating between
two points using a SMPTE
hybrid Optical Fibre Cable.
It consists of two HD/SD
video channels with up
to four embedded audio
or data signals on each
channel and working in a
simplex or duplex mode.
One unit can send HD/
SD-SDI with up to four
channels of embedded
audio to a field unit
mounted in a Peli Case.
The field unit can also
dispatch HD/SD-SDI video
with up to four channels
of embedded audio on the
return path. An Ethernet
channel can also be added.
In addition 240VAC can

be sent to the field end unit where 12
Volts DC at up to 7 Amps is also
made available.
Mo-Sys' StarTracker optical
camera tracking
system
uses
reflective stickers that
are randomly applied
to the studio ceiling or
the lighting grid.
An LED ring pointing at the
stickers makes them reflect blue
or infrared into the tracking CCD
camera. Only one tracking camera
per tracked camera is required.
The tracking camera, processing
unit and a monitor are mounted to a
camera head. The control box includes
lens encoding, CPU and Mo-Sys bus.
StarTracker can also be used with
third-party pedestal tracking systems,
correcting for their inherent drift
and removing the need for constant
re-homing. StarTracker can also be
attached to telescopic cranes or used
on hand-held cameras. In the latter
mode, the tracking camera is rigidly
mounted in front of or behind the
camera handle bar. The unit can also
be detached from the camera and
connected via an umbilical cable.
Motion
Impossible's
Mantis
motorised modular remote camera
dolly has an operating range of up to
300 meters and can be used to drive
a camera into difficult filming areas. It
can be operated under battery power
for typical run times of around one
hour at up to 50km/h or around three
hours up to 10km/h per charge cycle.
Ronford-Baker's Atlas 7 fluid head
offers 15 variations of fluid control,
plus zero (fluid free) positions at
both ends of the scale. All fluid units
are capable of 360 degree rotation.
Camera mounting is via sliding
plates of different lengths and styles,
including ARRI Dovetail, Panavision or
quick release types.
Sachtler recently upgraded its
Video 18 fluid head. The Video 18
S2 has a load bearing capacity of up
to 20kg which is 4kg more payload
than the earlier head. The head is
designed to operate at -40 to
+60 degrees Celsius without
any impact on its smooth
operation.
Sk8Plate's Elastic Eye Media
camera
tracking
system
can
track cameras in normal mode or
underslung for overhead shots. It will
also perform motorized time lapse
shots and circular tracking.

cont'd...

Encoded head:
arrowFX5 has a payload range 2 to 21kg

Steadicam's M-1 is a modular
camera stabilizer built around an
aluminium base and stage frames,
carbon fibre telescopic posts and a
gimbal. Standard features include
power ports at top and bottom plus a
Vernier-adjustable tilt head.
Telemetrics'
Televator
EP7
elevating pedestal, replacing the EP6,
is available in three versions: EP7-600,
EP7-700 and EP7-1000. These can be
combined with Telemetrics pan/tilt
heads, a studio dolly kit, or TG4/TG4-M
TeleGlide camera tracks. The EP7 can
also be floor or ceiling mounted.
XD Motion's GSS B512 five-axis gyrostabilized head camera head weighs
under 16kg and is intended for use
on helicopters. A C512 version will be
available for 4K digital cameras with
compact optics.

Modular
system:
Steadicam
M-1
http://www.incinematographer.com https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/nitrotech-n8-fluid-video-head-with-continuous-cbs https://www.millertripods.com/ https://tiffen.com/steadicam/steadicam-m1/ http://www.mat-film.tv/products/mat-towercam-types/l-e-vator/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InCinematographer - Issue 2 - September 2017
