Steadicam Pilot - Getting Started Q & A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steadicam Pilot - Getting Started Q & A
I’ve had my Steadicam Pilot for a little while now, and have spent many hours researching and learning to use it (purchase options, setting it up, practicing, and researching accessories). I’ve posted most the results on several threads over various forums, but since the Pilot seems to be selling really fast, there are probably a lot of new and potential Pilot users out there. So I thought it might be useful to post everything I’ve discovered so far in one place to get people started. Of course, I might have some of this wrong, so please correct me. Also, some of this info has come from other folks, particularly Mikko Wilson and Ted Spencer, so many thanks to them.
Anyway, here are the questions that I asked, and the answers I found so far, starting with the most basic questions, then getting more and more detailed, so skip forward as needed.
PILOT PRE-SALES QUESTIONS:
Q) How is the Pilot different than other Steadicams?
A) The Pilot is the least expensive Steadicam that still has all the basic elements of their bigger rigs (i.e. vest, arm, and sled with monitor and batteries). The Pilot was made to handle the new class of HD/SD cameras that weigh up to 10 pounds. Note that the 10 lb weight limit includes everything you add to the camera.
Q) How many versions on the Pilot are there?
A) There is the Pilot and the Co-Pilot, with multiple battery mount options for each, 5 versions in all. The Pilot versions come with a larger LCD widescreen monitor and a back-pack / carry case with sculpted foam compartments.
Q) Which version of the Pilot should I buy?
A) I think most people will choose the Pilot-AA version. For the relatively small difference in price, I would forget about the Co-Pilot. That leaves the Pilot with 3 battery mount options. Most of the cameras that work with the Pilot use 7.x volt power, so it’s fairly typical that the Pilot’s 12v batteries will only power the Pilot’s LCD monitor. For this scenario, the AA battery option is adequate. The other battery options end up being quite a bit more expensive.
Q) How much does the Pilot cost?
A) In the USA, the Pilot-AA version together with 2 sets of rechargeable AA batteries plus fast (1-hour) chargers for the offline set costs around $4000 retail. Specifically, this includes 24 NiMH AA batteries and two chargers with 8-AA slots each. The Pilot V-Lock battery version together with two IDX E-7S Batteries and a VL slow (overnight) charger costs around $4500. VL fast chargers cost significantly more. Example retail links below:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/494659-REG/Steadicam_PILOT_AA_Pilot_AA_Camera_Stablization_System.htmlhttp://thomasdistributing.com/shop/-maha-powerex-2700-mah-aabr8-nimh-rechargeable-batteriesbr1-free-8-cell-battery-holder-totalbrnew-5-year-warranty-by-maha-p-642.html?SP_id=&osCsid=in9mgrqkil4niim8jjm28qhce0http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/-maha-mhc801d-aa-aaa-battery-chargerbrdeluxe-8-cell-professional-battery-charger-w-full-lcd-displaybrfree-shipping-on-this-item-for-a-limited-timebrbrfree-accessory-bag-2-free-eight-cell-battery-holdersbrspecial-price-6897-p-437.html?SP_id=&osCsid=bp3465mss1pibrqnugq0tc3cv7http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/536219-REG/Steadicam_PILOT_VLB_Pilot_VLB_Camera_Stablization_System.htmlAA BATTERY QUESTIONS:
Q) How long do the AA batteries last powering just the monitor?
A) A freshly charged set of 10 AA NiMH high power batteries will power the monitor for around 4 hours at room temperature. A new set of 10 AA alkaline batteries will last longer, perhaps up to 8 hours. Pro batteries like the IDX E-7S will go even longer than that. Note that battery performance degrades significantly at colder temperatures.
Q) What happens on the LCD monitor as the batteries begin to die?
A) First, the color de-saturates. Then it'll flick completely to black and white. Really push it, and it starts blacking out at regular intervals. The main point here is that it’ll let you know it needs new batteries before you’re in danger of losing the shot.
Q) Doesn’t changing and charging 10 AA batteries take a lot of time on location?
A) Not necessarily. If you buy 2 extra 10 AA plastic battery holders that slide into the mount, and then pre-stuff them with fully charged AA batteries the night before, then you’ll have 3 packs ready to go that should last a total of 12 hours when you arrive on location. You can see pictures of this here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzenu6hr/ebay_pictures/batt1.jpghttp://mysite.verizon.net/vzenu6hr/ebay_pictures/batt2.jpgYou can also bring along a set of alkaline AA batteries for emergencies, so using this method you’ll probably never need to unpack your AA battery charger on set. More details on ordering accessories later on. Also, once you get used to it, it doesn’t really take that long to deal with 10 AA batteries. It probably takes longer to unpack and plug in the battery charger (and make sure nobody sits or steps on it).
Q) If I buy a Pilot-AA and then want to use pro batteries later, am I stuck?
A) No. You can buy a VL or AB battery mount as an accessory. They swap in seconds.
OTHER THINGS TO BUY:
Q) Do I need anything else to use the Pilot?
A) Besides a camera, you’ll need a stand to balance the sled and hold it while you’re not using it. A regular lighting stand will work, but the $160 SteadiStand has many advantages: Lightweight, Collapses very small, Has a small bubble-level to help align the sled better, Much more stable (you don’t need a sandbag to keep it from falling over), and the peg on top fits the Pilot Dock plate better. Well worth the price.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/422581-REG/Steadicam_601_7910_SteadiStand_f_Merlin.htmlQ) Anything else, else?
A) You’ll need a slotted screwdriver to attach the camera to the sled, and you might want to purchase some accessories directly from Tiffen after you start using it (more on that later). Nothing really expensive though. Also, depending on your camera, you may need a special 3.5mm 4-pole cable to attach your camera’s composite output to the Steadicam LCD monitor on the sled. Here’s an example cable for this:
http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Stereo-Video-Camcorder-Cable/dp/B000I94F4K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1203396625&sr=8-5Q) Can the Pilot be used in Low Mode?
A) Yes. Low Mode is where the camera is on the bottom and the monitor and batteries are on top - great for shots that require a low camera height. Here’s what it looks like:
http://www.mikkowilson.com/photos/SteadicamNAB07/pages/IMG_9566.htmNote that with the camera upside down, the image on the Pilot’s LCD monitor will appear correct, but the recorded image has to be flipped in post. This works just fine with progressive video - interlaced video can have issues depending on how you flip it. With the Pilot sled’s vertical carbon-fiber pole extended fully, the camera can get fairly low.
You can also order accessories to get the camera even lower and/or mount the camera upright so you don’t have to flip it in post (more on that later).
Author
Logged
