In Broadcast - May 2014 - 54

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 31 - MAY 2014

N E W S

InTECH

Camera Support Gets Even More Dynamic
The goal of camera stabilisation equipment is generally to provide smooth flowing shots
for the viewer; the range of innovative gear continues to grow...

By Kieron Seth
Contributing Editor

A

54

t last year's NAB, the show
ﬂoor in the Central Hall was
dominated by buzz about Freeﬂy
Systems' revolutionary (and awardwinning - Ed.) Mōvi M10, a handheld
three-axis digital stabilised camera
gimbal.
This year no single product
dictated the headlines and indeed it
did appear as though many product
developers had spent the preceding
12 months attempting to release
direct competition for the M10.
The following is a round-up
of some of the new products
launched at NAB 2014. It's by no
means comprehensive given the
vast spread of new equipment at
the show and the relative paucity
of press materials.
Davis & Sanford: Targeting
professional videography, this
American manufacturer released
a quartet of new products - the
ProElite 6100-33 100mm ENG
tripod for payloads of 13-33 lbs.
Its Steady Stick 3QR is a portable
belt-mounted arm that shifts the
camera weight from the shoulder
to the torso. Users can still pan and
tilt, attach and release the camera
quickly and store the stick easily
in a backpack. As well as a new
monopod (Monoped 64) with a
folding base, the company launched
AttaraSFX13 under its Vista brand.
This ultra-light aluminium tripod
includes a quick-lift centre post
that converts to a 60" monopod
in seconds. For lower-budget ENG
shooters using small cameras, this
extra ﬂexibility could be a real winner.
Freeﬂy Systems: After the huge

Freeﬂy's MōVI M5 provides
stabilisation for smaller cameras

MōVI M10 hit of 2013, Freeﬂy looked
to consolidate its position with the
release of the MōVI M5, a handheld camera stabiliser designed to
bring big budget camera moves
to productions using DSLRs and
other small cameras, weighing up
to 5 lbs, such as the Canon C100.
Given the huge attention generated
by its older stable mate, there was
little surprise about the crowds
around the Freeﬂy booth nor about
the anticipation of this new threeaxis stabilising model. It's very
lightweight, simple to balance and
even sturdier than the M10.
Glidecam: Introducing the X30
full body system, Glidecam's
new high strength titanium and
aluminium-based arm attaches
to a dedicated sled and vest. The
stabiliser can handle a 30 lb camera
and includes power distribution
and video connectivity to monitors,
recorders, wireless encoders and
other accessories. Designed for
users of ARRI and RED cameras, it
is available now.
Induro Gear: The new Mighty
Mitch Hi-Hat very low and
exceptionally strong tripod. Despite
its diminutive appearance, it is able
to hold huge camera rigs up-to
330 lbs. Designed for cinematic
production and equipped with a
Mitchell mount, this model shows
a number of enhancements over
earlier versions including superior
strength feet which can be screwed
to a surface to provide a dependable
and unshakeable shooting platform.
iOgrapher: A number of
manufacturers showed support
mechanisms for the iPad and iPhone.
iOgrapher's solution is a case
design featuring large handles on
either side. Impressively (although
slightly odd-looking), users can
mount accessories such as wide
or telephoto lenses, LED lights and
external microphones to the rig for
a more complete shooting solution.
Available in a variety of colours -
including pink - this package may
seem an irrelevant sideshow. In
this industry, however, it is always
unwise to rule out "consumer
technology", as any DSLR ﬁlmmaker
already appreciates.
Kessler Crane: For ultimate
control, the Kessler Parallax slider

iOgrapher provides a case with
accessory mounting points for the iPad

system was released, providing
automatic panning and ﬁxed-point
shooting capabilities, which is
a great addition to any interview
shot. Previously only available
with motorised panning devices,
Kessler Parallax accomplishes
inward and outward panning autotracking shots, providing users
with a second axis to their linear
movements. Users can select
automatic panning or standard linear
sliding without removing the parallax
bar. It is compatible with a wide
range of Kessler third generation
dollies and sliders.
Libec: Centre stage on the Libec
stand was the very impressive
new Allex tripod head and slider
system. Performing pan, tilt and
slide movements, the new modular
product features a 75 mm dual head,
a 75 mm ball diameter tripod and a
30-inch slider.
Product Evangelist, David
Neptune, commented: "It's an
incredibly high quality product with
lots of features and a very low price
point. Users can drag pan and tilt all
the same speed, movements come
to a stop gently and with no jerk. It's
super smooth and - whether moving
the camera very quickly or merely
creeping along slowly - control
is excellent."
Supporting up to 9 lbs, the
lightweight Allex sticks can be used
separately as a standard tripod or
combined with the slider as needed.
Matthews Studio Equipment:
Among a dozen new Matthews
products at this year's NAB, the
Intel-A-Big Jib caught the eye. It

Libec's Allex tripod head and slider
system

reaches out to up-to 20 feet through
modular extensions while supporting
up-to 35lbs at its full extension. The
jib can drop to nearly 8 feet below
the horizontal. At the back end, a
counterweight bar and a control
bar accommodate remote controls,
zoom and iris controllers. Intel-ABig mounts to a four-wheeled dolly
- perfect for tracking shots - or a
three-wheeled version that can be
used in tight spaces.
Miller: The focus on the stand
may have been the company's
60th anniversary, but in many
ways it was business as usual
with the release of the Cineline
70 Fluid Head. Described by Mike
Lippmann, Miller's European
Manager, as offering "affordable
quality", Cineline 70 can truly claim
to operate in the big-league: it is a
feature rich support system ready
to accommodate fully rigged large
sensor cameras from the likes of
ARRI, Sony, Red and Canon. With
a lightweight design, the heavy-duty
ﬂuid head offers precision ﬂuid drag

Miller's Mike Lippmann shows the
Cineline 70 Fluid Head

control with ultra-soft starts and
smooth stops and perfect diagonal
drag transition. For easy set-up
changes during and in between
takes its counterbalance systems
with rear-mounted controls easily
allow users to capture the picture.
The head also features an extended
sliding range to promote quick and
seamless rebalancing of the rig when
lenses and accessories are changed
resulting in weight distribution shifts.
Constructed of corrosion resistant
alloy, the Cineline 70 Fluid Head
offers dual side mounts for monitors
and accessories, as well as an
assistant's box front mount.
OConnor: Part of the Vitec Group,
the OConnor 60L carbon ﬁbre tripod
and ﬂoor spreader weighs just 9
lbs and has a double extension
design that can safely carry
payloads of up to 209 lbs even at
its maximum height of 154 cm. The
combination of strength and low
weight build, plus its support for
CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

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In Broadcast - May 2014

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