American Cinematographer - September 2008 - (Page 82) New Products & Services Twist and Shoot Introduced last year as a prototype, Panther’s Twister doorway dolly has reached series-production status. To ensure smooth operation, the steering geometry has been enhanced and the drawbar improved; the push bar has also been strengthened and can be assembled in six different positions on the dolly, allowing maximum support when carrying a Steadicam operator. Additionally, the length, width and height of the dolly’s body can be enlarged via side and level platforms; the latter mount above the wheels to offer an enlarged workspace that can be used for storage or as a footrest for the operator during shooting. Matthews’ New Wheels Matthews Studio Equipment has rolled out two new dollies, the Red and the Roundy-Round. Based on key grip Galen Schultz’s design, Matthews first built the Red dolly in 1976, and the company reintroduced it for a new generation of users at the recent Cine Gear Expo in Los Angeles. Featuring a number of benefits for the operator, the Red dolly is far more maneuverable than a wheelchair. It can accommodate Steadicam use with only a few minutes of rigging time, and whether the camera is handheld or hard-mounted, the Red dolly is fast and reliable. All four wheels provide eight different locked positions, allowing for crabbing, roundy-rounds, pivoting on its own axis, and smooth transitions. The dolly is small and compact, measuring 24" wide by 33" long, and weighs 119 pounds. The Roundy-Round doorway dolly is able to make circles as small as 6' in diameter. With its all-wheel steering, the dolly moves through a full range of tight curves using its push bar, pull bar or a combination of both. Like the original doorway dolly, the RoundyRound provides a low-cost, easily maneuvered camera platform as well as a sturdy vehicle to haul equipment. For more information, visit www.msegrip.com. Permitting camera movement on track or on the ground without the need for conversion, the Twister features combined tire and track wheels. Three selectable steering modes — front, rear and roundy-round — allow the Twister to maneuver in any direction, and shifting modes is easily accomplished with 82 September 2008 http://www.msegrip.com
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