movcam rigs

[konstantinos Tyrin]

Hello everyone.

I would like to make a review of movcam stabilizers, but before that I want to make clear that I wouldnt like to come to any arguments and stuff about rip offs of other companies , since - in my oppinion, and Iam making this clear - movcam has copied in a smaller degree things that other US and europian companies have done for years now with out being accused or characterized in a bad way .
For a start I will tell you that all that has been said about bad quality and non workable parts- in aspect of that they copy stuff with only good looks and non fuction- is defenatly not trooth.They make different rigs from very small cams for medium cams film cams and so quickly they came up with 9 models covering the range of all cams , hd, dv , film. Sure some models have a big difference in fuction and work better than others but generaly they have achieeved to make some reasonably priced good rigs and the impression I ve got so far dealing with them, asking questions, is good.They are very open minded about technology and always there to discuss anything. they LISTEN. That made me order the model D204 Its not yet up on their web site but will be shortly.They will be getting alot of bad talks thats for sure and maybe it will be hard to re sell their rigs once you buy them because of that but what I see is a company that grows very very quickly and maybe that will change soon.As far as I concern I have orderd a very nice hd compatible rig for video and film cams up to 16 kilos after trying it and Iam more than satisfied from it.Frictionless and non play rigid gimbal very nice and confortable vest, frictionless and fluid arm - with a very different spring configuration of what is in the market now,
CF post 12-24 v electronics many outputs for external devices, modular battery possitioning, and all that with good finishing quality.
So I can make a review if you like but again I dont want to come to any battles about manufactures and stuff.
Regards
Constantine

[Job Scholtze]

Hey Constantine, (or is it Konstantine)

Time will tell ......

[konstantinos Tyrin]

you can spell it both iSUPPOSE it doesnt matter he he .The full version is Konstantinos.
Yes defenatly time will tell  ...
So far Iam happy I have a good performer half the price.
You know recently I good rid of the old sk2 ...2500 euros ...Remember I bought it here in greece 8 years ago  15.500 euros with 2 bats and charger
Havent used it for 5 years , good I sold it, good for me anyway...
regards
KONSTANTINOS

[Charles King]

Please Konstantine, I will be looking forward to this review. Thank you for doing it. As Job said, time will tell for sure but what you say is true. It's like trying to make Lamborgini that only the rich can afford...and forgetting the folks that do not have the cash... Once again, thanks.

[konstantinos Tyrin]

Hello Charles.. I dont concider 15000 euro small money for a device... you know we have used to hear thousands and thousands for stabilizers and now everything sounds cheap. Anyhow I will do a review some time in the next 10 days when I have a break from loads of work and my head clear.But I will tell you this.this is not a cheap made rig in terms of quality, its a middle range of their rigs-have a look at the avant series to see what I mean-but for light film cams, video and hd its a nice option, and good enough to compete with most of its range.
and you know that I can see things and mechanical defects and errors due to all this research, operating different rigs,and building stuff over the years.The only thing I cant coment on is the electronics and that will defer working with different cams.
Ican test it with digi beta, f900, sr3,xdcam and sometime later on at 2009 with the red.
Im also about ordering he ff of viewfactor which I recon is another bargain so Ill do a review of that too.
www.viewfactor.com
what an exelent ff device  wired or wireless..for a fraction of a cost....
Regards
Konstantinos

[Charles King]

The link you posted is not working.

[Tom Wills]

This link works better: http://www.viewfactor.net/ 

[Job Scholtze]

The behave the same way as the red guys do. Taking orders, taking money, nothing in stock and a forum full of excuses about the delay's. Why cant the just make a bunch, THEN advertise and send them out. For god sake, have some in stock before you start selling.

imho that is

[konstantinos Tyrin]

The red guys do deliver though even the way you described, there are 2 production companies they have these toys in their hands right now after a 9 month waiting list.
The bottom line is that these guys managed to make something revolutionary in 2 yeasrs though big companies havent quite made it even if they are in the bussiness for many many years making profets. And also in what price hey? I suppose its worth the weight.
The feeling I have got from the viewfactor is that they are a bunch of innovetive guys that try to produce some exellent products at a low price and I believe hey are ok, they are always there to answer questions very quickly and I think- personal oppinion- they will eventually deliver.
I think its worth it, the waiting list if you order now is middle september. First units ship 13 august.I dont mind giving credit to creative people as long as they dont proove to be crooks.And that dont stand in that case.
I wouldnt be so negative Job.. after all I remember someone taking money in advance to produce innovation and revolution and not just a couple of thousand dollars and finaly delivered after delays with - and+ for some people.
Inovation is hard to keep it flow specially in these difficult times we go through.
Sometime you feel like gumbling in the casino. it shouldnt be like these but thats how it goes.
Mosta of companies now do take order first and have a 15-30 days delivering time. If they had something in stock it would take tops aweek to send and recieve, and they do take your money in advance 20% EVEN SOMETIMES 50%.What that means you pay first they cover parts build it after you recieve later.Safe for them delay for you.and in some minor cases loss.
Regards
Konstantinos

[konstantinos Tyrin]

Aha forgot to tell talking about delays.

Movcam ships and delivers with customs and everything in just 1 week.

Good hey

[Don Queen]

The behave the same way as the red guys do. Taking orders, taking money, nothing in stock and a forum full of excuses about the delay's. Why cant the just make a bunch, THEN advertise and send them out. For god sake, have some in stock before you start selling.

imho that is

Job, did you bought something from Movcam? Please share your PERSONAL experience dealing with movcam, so we get balanced opinion

[konstantinos Tyrin]

Don hello, what you hav underlined was Jobs talking about the viewfactor follow focus device and products and not movcam.
Yes I have orderd  the d 204 model from them as described above.
My dealer here in greece brought over a complete rig for someone else for a test and I hav e flown it I got very impressed and I have started the proccess of getting one.I will have mine in my hands in September. That is NOT a delivery delay from Movcams side, they are ready to ship 2 weeks ago, its just a hold back of me trying to buy things at the same time with out breaking the bank.But here in greece one case I know got its goods in 1 week and the other case Ive heard the same.Delivery was repid and goods with no defects or other errors.And that was with custom pass through.Movcam has of what I understand a lot of stock products they dont make one by one after ordering.
I have actually tested the D202A but with the D204 arm and 202 arm.There is a huge difference in performance of these 2 arms and also different configuration.They both performed ver well the 204 performed *** exellent.
However WHAT i WONT do is comparisson to other arms, not because I have any reason, but clearly because flying and liking an arm and its performance is personal taste of one op to another , it also depents on what you have used to work and fly in the past, and can start buttles.
But to get somewhere I have flown from low and up, sk1,sk2,provid,efp,3a,master series, tried for 10 minute a pro. Never flown a D50 or d70.
Flowm a schtler though I cant remember which model it was but it was a big model.Iam the kind of guy that gets used easily to different behavior in arms never had a proble with or with out isoelastisity I found both types performing in a unik way.Some other people cant get used to non isoelastic arms  and so on. I adapt easily. i ALSO always check about mechanics in different arms and weak or ? spots.
Though sometimes only long time tests proove an arm or  other part to be reliable or not and shows its weak or strong points that is something that goes for any new product on the market.
Time - as JOB wiselly said above - will tell...
But perssonally of what Ive seen and flown of movcam I am more than satisfied..and not only the price..
I will advice anyone to have a go in one of these rigs before he buys something .
That goes to all manufacturers older or newer.
First try  then buy.
And Iam sure that movcam will be present in all major exibitions.
One thing that makes me sceptical is this..
I know that Movcam attented the 2008 NAB with the avant series rigs..
Funny enough  I have never read or heard any small or bigger reviews of these products...but I read a lot of reviws in lower end products... to me this is strange.
Also there a chinese op called Julian that owns a big Movcam rig...and as I was reading articles at the steadicam forum I came accross one of his requests cocindering the new IDX camwave wireleess video about feedback...quite a simple request ... and quess what never got one reply .
I hope what I think is happenning here is not hapenning. you can be a newbie asking the silliest questions and get 10s of answers  and be a pro and get zero reply? hmmm hmmm
I go for free knowlede to free inernet from free people. dont like to see this.
I would like to make a full review after I get my rig and that is late august early septemper, but I like to share my views to what Iv seen and tryed already so ask me anythhing.
The rig will proove its selve later in september working with me for 8-10 hours a day.... every day  starting with digi beta and f900.
Regards
KONSTANTINOS

[Job Scholtze]

I was talking about the ff system, not the movecam, as i dont have any experience with them. I would love to see them at the IBC, but i am affraid some other factorys will send the dogs out if the show up .

[konstantinos Tyrin]

Ha ha to be quite honest I dont think they have something to worry, If they did, they wouldnt show up at NAB.
refering to their arms most of them are a different design to all others, some are a 3a style , and only their small D202 range work with one spring per section and diagonical angle adjustment, the tension adjustment can be done from that and seperatly on the other side of the spring with an allen tool. If this angle adjusting is under patent then all their arms exept the 3a style have a problem. But if they did they wouldnt show the avant series at the heart of america at NAB with out concequences. So I think they are ok. All the rest of their rigs vest sled stage gimbal are ok not any bigger copy than all the rest of the stabilizing manufactrers around the world. If that is the case I think they deserve as much credit as the other brands lower or higher end.
Regards
Konstantinos

p.s. why are you selling the a.r?
just found out.

[Jolink Pascal]

Hi Konstantinos,

I have flown the Avant series at NAB, and I hate to say, but there was something seriously wrong with the springs in that particular arm. There was only about 5 inches of smooth travel and beyond that it got really hard to boom. Julien, and another Movcam guy spent some time at the Glidecam booth checking out the Gold arm  after I mentioned the problem I had with the Avant arm, noticed that you can have a smooth travel throughout the range, and I guess they've adapted and came up with a new arm as you mentioned.

I spent about 10 minutes flying the rig, and overall the rig performed quite well. Specially the finish of the parts looked very good for the price.

It was very obvious though that they wanted to hear the opinions of the people who tried the rigs, as it should be of course, but it almost seemed as if they build a bunch of rigs and use customers to Beta test them. I could be wrong but that's the impression I got.