Artemis dv-pro or the flyer of Tiffen

[Eran Dan]

Hello there:
Is any one tried yet the new Artemis dv-pro of Sachtler ? and if yes how can you compare it to the Flyer/
Thank's
Eran dan
Israel

[Charles King]

Yes, I tried it and sorry to say, that the one I demoed was not any way near the flyer in performance. The Glidecam smoother performs much better than the DV-pro. Sad to say. I only hope it was an isolated incident because if all their units are like the one I tried than sorry, I don't know if they would make any sale.

I will just name one thing that totally put me off. The arm was way too stiff. I mean stiff literally. They had this rubber-like thing( I don't know what to really call it) in the arm covering the axel, with cables riding on them( I think they were directly in contact). Regardless it was definately contributing to the friction of it all.

Again. I don't want to put you off as I have said many times, it is the end user who will decide and if you are still interested my strongest advise is to try it out first. You never buy a car without trying it out right?

[Eran Dan]

Thank's Charles. The thing is that I do not have any exparience with any stabilizer at all. I'm doing jib and crane work and lately I'v been decided to add a stabilizer to my company here in Israel. So I realy don't have any way to test them and understand any thing , that is why I read your comment about all the stabilizers and today I called Germany and spoke with an oparator of a pro-dv artemis make by sachtler (this is the one that you test?)and he told me so many beautifull thing about it ,that it can do  flip it upside down and stuff like that that is not requierd any low mode and that is a telescoping arm , and it will just be in the market jan 2006.  The v25 of glide cam will be at the market also on Jan 2006 and it's looks good even visually better then the flyer, question --is the flyer can do the same things that the v25 do  expept the limmit size? or it can do any other acrobatic things ?
I need a good stabilizer for my company and now with no experience I need to choose . so I was looking at your review the v25 vs the flyer of Tiffen and I'm confused , what is realy that you recomand for the camera such as the new jvc hdv g100c /
I was also checked the pro lite of varizoom , do you have any commant about it at all,?
and what you would choose for a long term of using it ,
Thank's for your time and for those review that helping me to decide.
Eran dan
www.giraffecamera.com

[MikkoWilson]

Go for the Flyer.

I've also flown the DV-pro (same one as CK i think..) alogn with the rest of Sachtler's stabilizer offerings and really, my honest oppino is that they should stick to what they kick ass at: tripods and pedestalls. In my oppions they make the best in teh business. But their stabilizers leave a LOT to be desired.
A telescoping arm.. that would be an intersting feature.. :-)   I belive the sales guy was confused and meant to say that it has a telescoping post, which is about the one only thing that the Flyer doesnt' have, but it just makes the Flyer that much more ridged.

All the rigs are essentíally the same for features.. they all do low-mode the same way (i don't care what sachtler claims, the camera is still upside down unless you use a cage or low-mode bracket.) The ONLY tool that can go high to low mode during the shot is the Alien Revolution.. but that's a whole different ball game.
But soem do have better features over the others: for example the Flyer's arm is tool free - the others mostly all need a tool to adjust the arm. - The Flyer is th eonly one in it's class which has an Iso-elastic arm too actually...

The v25 does win out in the capacity category. But I still FAR prefer the Flyer, the build quality is just better, and that arm is FANTASTIC. The other's don't even come close with their old "3-springs and cables" systems (and they won't be as good for a long time.. about untill the patents on the Flyer go old [and they can copy it...belive me, they will])

Varizoom makes nice zoom controllers, and they where inventfull with the Flopod..  but I can't say I'm a big fan of their Steadicam copies though.

Take the time to do your reasearch, and take the time to fly as many rigs as you possibly can to get a comparison before you buy. It's your decision.
Here's my advice/oppinon in a nutshell:
The best lightweight stabilizer by far is the Flyer. If your camera is too heavy for it and you can't afford a Steadicam Archer, then the v25, and otheres, is/are a decent 2nd choice.

 - Mikko

[Eran Dan]

Thnx much , I will keep your opinion in mind
Eran dan

[Charles King]

One thing I'll like to know is your budget Eran? Please let me know that first.

[Eran Dan]

Hi Charles:
My budget is arround 7-8k I think/// why?
Eran
p.s : do you have some more pics of the v25 charles?

[Eran Dan]

An other thing charles is that the money is less of an issue here cause I have to use this stabilizer for a long term for me and my company and I learn on my self many times is that" you get what u pay for". Also I'll be use this rig mostly for cameras like the new hdv jvc g100 so I'm not sure if the v25 can carry those kind of light cameras without any extra weight on it, so maby I should stick again to the flyer 
On the other side I do like  monitor of the v25 for the hdv ,but I think it less improtant right?
by the way my last question with be which is a lighter system cause I will have to work a lot of hours daily and the lighter the rig will be the better is for me/
Thanks
Eran

[Job Scholtze]

Go for the Flyer.

The v25 does win out in the capacity category. But I still FAR prefer the Flyer, the build quality is just better, and that arm is FANTASTIC. The other's don't even come close with their old "3-springs and cables" systems (and they won't be as good for a long time.. about untill the patents on the Flyer go old [and they can copy it...belive me, they will])

 - Mikko

Well, build quality is just better?? Holy crap, i know that you are a steadicam groupie mikko, but stop talking this crap the hole time. You have try'd the v25 for 10 minuts and that dont make you an expert i guess.

If you are sure you stay with light camera's then yes, your best option is the flyer. If you gonna fly a bit more on your sled, like extra follow focus, transmitters and some other crap, ore perhaps bigger camera's, go for the v25. The arm can fly lighter setups too, ore use one ore two steel plates. The post has that telescopic feature and the first 100 units ore going for 7999 i believe. Mk-v is also coming with an lightweight version.

I tryd the flyer several times and the arm is indeed smooth, i dont like that small post but thats personell. Quality?? I am not gonna go in there, but i read several posts about bearings falling out. The v25 has also a smooth arm and it preforms just great. Think twice before you get anything, be sure you can fly all the cameras you use right now and gonna use in the futere.

My 2 cents

[Charles King]

Job is right. If you only intend to fly lighter setups then stick to the flyer but I would also consider the V25 if you want to flyer heavier rigs. Remember, each have their own negatives and positives have you might have read in my reviews. So just pick out the best that will fit your need. (8000 dollars is a damn good bit of money so consider wisely.

If I was starting out with that sum of money  I would go with the V25, even if I think I wouldn't be flying anything heavier anytime soon. There will probably come a time when I  wish i had the extra support to fly something much more heavier. Again, your needs will decide the end factor.

One thing, if you're getting it for your comapany then I would reccomend you getting something that will future prove your investment. As I said, you never know.

BTW, nice to see again Job

[Job Scholtze]

I am always reading here charles, although it has been very hectic overhere, lot of work for me. Normally i only read, but now i had the feeling to "step in "

Job

[Charles King]

I am always reading here charles, although it has been very hectic overhere, lot of work for me. Normally i only read, but now i had the feeling to "step in "

Job

Reading is good. So business is hectic uh? Sounds fun.

[Tom Wills]

Yeah, if the Flyer is an option, and you think you're not going for heavy cameras, by all means get it. It's an incredible piece of machinery. The Glidecam is quite nice though, and the introductory price makes it quite appealing. It's not by any means the best, but if weight capacity is important go for it.

I may be a little bit of a Steadicam cheerleader myself (big note on who I keep getting inspiration from), but I think the Glidecam will steal some thunder from the flyer for the medium size camera market.

[Phil Kindred]

I am quite sure that Job and Charles have enough experience with the rigs to give an opinion.  But your best bet is to demo each or whatever rig you are interested in.  Any supplier should be more than willing to do that.  A car dealer will do it.   

[Job Scholtze]

It's not by any means the best, but if weight capacity is important go for it.

I may be a little bit of a Steadicam cheerleader myself (big note on who I keep getting inspiration from

And you drive a trabant too i guess?  Like everone else.

The v25 is simply a knock out, the most bang for the buck. Period.
The flyer is nice but won't fly heavier cameras. Simple, if i need more space i buy a bigger car. I wont stick to one brand, there are far more out there. I have owned 2 steadicams and have the glidecam gold for 2 years now. Its my main living, so i don't fly crappy stuff. I cant, i need the best, but not the most expensive rigs. The arm of the v25 is the smaller version of the gold. And the gold arm is the 3a style arm. A lot of Prof ops still prefer the 3a arm style, and why not, it preforms great. Do you want to be a member of the steadicam community and pay your ars of, go ahead. Ore just make a living, in that case, look at all the brands, try them and i guess you will find out that for the 8 k you want to spend, the v25 gives you the most for the buck.

In the 2 years i fly with them, not even one client asked me why i have the glidecam instead of the steadicam. Its the result the are intressed in. I make the same shots with the gold as with the provid ore the elite i used to fly. No difference. I fly since 1997, so i hope that i know what i am talking about.

Now i am gonna step out of this discussion, good luck choosing.

Job