Can’t get a grip on the latest and greatest camera support
launched at NAB? We tracked moving camera systems at the show and found
lots of new twists on old themes for both field and studio production.
Losmandy Spider Dolly
The Spider Dolly works best on flat surfaces but bends to fit most spaces.
This first product is not new by any means, but it
continues to be refined and is one of my favorite moving camera tools
on the market today. The Spider Dolly by Losmandy is a simple idea that
begs the question, “Why didn’t I think of that?” It consists of an
expandable spreader dolly that latches to the feet of your tripod. One
of the spreader arms has an additional wing that articulates freely
from the other two. This lets the dolly roll smoothly on a track that
doesn’t have evenly spaced or even straight rails. In fact, the system
comes with an available flexible coil of hose-like vinyl-rubber
material (although it’s solid) that can be arranged in nearly infinite
patterns of straight and curved paths for the dolly to follow. This
system would make it easy to set up a track in odd-shaped rooms. Its
drawback, when compared to rigid track systems, is that it has to be on
flat, but not necessarily level surfaces. The system could also be used
as a tabletop track for product shots, if you mounted a high-hat post
or short tripod to the hub of the Spider Dolly.
P+S Technik Skater Dolly
Skater Dolly glides where most other dollies can’t.
Speaking of tabletop dollies for product shots, the Skater
Dolly by P+S Technik has got to be one of the most innovative dollies
I’ve ever seen. The design is functionally simple but the mechanics are
precise and elegant. The price is a little higher than would be
expected for a piece of hardware with limited application, but for
inventive camera tracking, it’s second to none. By simply turning the
dials and adjusting the degrees in which the three independent wheels
are angled to each other, one can dial in straight lines or infinite
smooth curves that could encircle the product or item being shot.
Because the camera plate can mount directly to the central
hub of the Skater Dolly, the center of gravity is low and there’s less
leverage to cause noticeable jiggles in the camera while moving. The
three modified inline skate wheels provide a smooth movement without
slippage or too much stickiness.
Microdolly Hollywood LadderDolly & Indie-Dolly
Ladderdolly
More affordable track and dolly combinations, which are
also easy to set up, were demoed at the Indie-Dolly Systems and
Microdolly Hollywood booths. Simple, complete packages are available
from both companies that include everything needed to get rolling,
except the tripod, and additional track is available from both
companies. The Indie-Dolly product is a fairly heavy-duty setup with
solid manufacturing, intended for broadcast use, while the Microdolly
is a quick system for smaller camera operators.
Indie-Dolly system
The Ladderdolly from Microdolly is a system that
installs the standard Microdolly track to any straight aluminum ladder,
which allows inexpensive but sturdy track mounting across uneven
terrain, divides, through windows, over the hood of a car or even up
and down stairs, with minimal blocking. Place it across two sawhorses
and you have a quick tabletop system.
VF Gadgets Shooter Scooter
VF Gadgets’ terrain dolly doubles as a gear cart.
This ride-on doorway dolly or field dolly, which also
acts as a gear cart — and also might double as a go-cart— was one of my
favorite finds at NAB. A pneumatic tire ride provides smooth rolling
motion. The camera operator can be standing or sitting and shoot with
either a shoulder mount, pedestal, or stabilizer arm (like Steadicam),
without the need for a vest. The grip can be pushed or pulled, there’s
a rickshaw and bicycle-towing attachment, and quick-release wheels for
a track system. The cart has mounts for all sorts of gear, posts,
lighting or sound equipment. It even folds up so you can carry it
easily and can fit in the trunk of your car. Very cool!
Panther U-Bangi II
One more rolling gizmo I thought was trick was the
U-Bangi II by Panther. The Panther products were shown at the Abel
CineTech booth. This is a precision-bearing rail system for doing
studio product shots or other short tracking moves on a straight path,
like virtual globe shots using a map or panning through large
photographs. The internal wheel mechanism is flawlessly smooth and the
system was surprisingly stable when mounted on just two standard
ENG-style tripods. A high-hat mount with a tripod head lets the
operator move freely. Though just the slightest energy is needed to
start rolling, it didn’t feel like it would lightly free-roll— a very
nice sign. Smooth resistance but easy movement is what you get for the
money with the U-Bangi II (the feeling was like moving your finger
through gelatin). But, I have to ask: What’s with the name?
The U-Bangi II is light to the touch.
Ringlite
Abel CineTech was demonstrating lots of other great
gear at its booth, including lighting hardware. Another favorite of
mine was the Ringlite. With a simple design that houses all of the
lighting hardware and a really easy-to-use, dual-rail mount similar to
a matte box mount, this even intensity, P.O.V. light couldn’t be
simpler to use. Great for portrait, interview or macro product shots,
the Ringlite would make even my crummy lighting skills get that much
better. It has a 9-inch lens hole in the middle and is about 19 inches
in total diameter. The unit uses LEDs to provide the light (LEDs last a
long time, and consume less power than bulbs). It’s also fairly light,
which means it could be used for shoulder-mount or stabilizer-mounted
shooting.
Ringlite’s P.O.V. light mounts on your camera like a matte box.
IDX VL-4SI
IDX has steadily been making partnerships with
camera and support gear manufacturers over the past few years, making
it one of the most trusted names in power supplies and batteries. In
fact, the IDX booth was a demonstration point for Tiffen’s Steadicam
products. Steadicam is now marketing its own battery products for its
line of camera stabilizers, but the manufacturing is being done by IDX.
I was impressed by IDX’s new charger, the VL-4Si, which looks like it
could power a space station, but is really just designed to charge four
V-Mount batteries. The unit is part of a family of VL-type chargers. It
also can charge NP-type cells with a simple adapter. Connect via a USB
port to your computer and you can monitor battery maintenance and
performance. The unit has an LCD display for easy data reading as well.
The IDX VL-4Si charger can juice up to four V-Mount batteries at once.
Tiffen Steadicam (and Lego Steadicam!)
Speaking of Steadicam, Tiffen continues to show up
at NAB each year with the most innovative stabilizer technology in the
industry. There was more good stuff this year, including new Iso
Elastic arm developments, several other new products and upgrades to
existing lines. Last year Tiffen introduced the Steadicam Flyer, the
first affordable yet full-featured Steadicam on the market. This year
the company offered a Special Edition unit with a more comfortable and
durable leather-lined vest, all possible accessories included, and a
hard case with wheels for transport. I’m in the midst of a field test
now, so look for more details to follow.
Also of note, Tiffen turned more than a few heads with
its new, limited-edition LEGO Steadicam. Yes, you read that correctly:
Tiffen unveiled a stabilizer made from LEGO blocks. Operator Mikko
Wilson, from Finland, created it. (Sorry, only one exists right now and
it’s not for sale.) I took it for a spin and it was sweet, though the
LEGO camera mounted on top didn’t produce any, um, images. And I had
such high hopes for the lens, which was assembled out of tiny toy tires!
Holloway works the Tiffen Steadicam…
… and the LEGO Steadicam
COMPANY FINDER
Losmandy
www.porta-jib.com/spider_dolly.htm
P+S Technik
www.pstechnik.de/en/skater.php
Indie Dolly
www.indiedolly.com
Microdolly Hollywood
www.microdolly.com/micro_7.html
VF Gadgets
www.vfgadgets.com
Ringlite
www.ringlite.com
