American Cinematographer - March 2011 - 70

maximum speed of approximately 31 mph. The maximum flight duration per take is 6 minutes.The system allows for low altitude shots over wind-sensitive terrain such as sand, water and snow without its rotor blades causing visible turbulence. Restrictions can occur in strong winds, rain and snowfall. The Campilots multicopter boasts a ready-to-fly weight of less than 11 pounds, including the remote head and camera. The multicopter measures approximately 31" in diameter and 18" high. The Campilots team ensures a fast system setup, and special film liability insurance is provided with the Campilots service. For additional information, visit www.campilots.com.

outdoors in unlevel environments; the channels of the leveling kit are lightweight and measure only 36" long, making them extremely portable. FlexTrak is available for $450 per 40' piece. The system works best with the Losmandy Spider Dolly. For additional information, visit www.porta-jib.com. Steadicam Floats with Phantom The Tiffen Company has introduced the Steadicam Phantom, a low-cost rig that performs like the company’s top-of-the-line Ultra2. The basic Phantom system starts with a 29"-49" telescoping carbon-fiber post coupled to the Ultra2 stage (which features Tiffen’s patented +/- 20-degree tilt head) and terminates in a new solid base. Outfitted with the Ultra2 Gimbal, SD LCD 700 nit monitor and dual-battery mount for 12 and 24 volts (either V-Lock or Anton Bauer), the Phantom fills the need for a heavy duty, high performance, low-cost rig. Also included is the G-70 Iso-Elastic Stabilizer Arm, Ultra2 Vest, Docking and Balancing bracket, addon weights and the Steadicam logo hard sled case with wheels. Options for the Phantom rig include Tiffen’s patented “go-to” motorized stage and a variety of monitors, including the 8.4", 1,400 nit HD UltraBrite2, plus batteries, chargers, cases, cables, vehicle mounts and more. The Phantom is designed to be userfriendly, field-serviceable, tool-free, straightforward and versatile so the operator can quickly and easily configure the rig to the best advantage for each shot. Sled length, balance and inertia can all be quickly changed, and the rig can quickly be switched into low mode, all without tools or extra parts. The Phantom basic package is available for $44,950. For additional information, visit www.tiffen.com. Element Technica Designs Atom Rig for Red Epic Element Technica, a provider of stereoscopic 3-D rigs for a broad range of cameras and applications, has introduced the Atom, a camera-specific 3-D beam-splitter rig designed for the Red Epic digital camera.
American Cinematographer

Porta-Jib Rolls Out Improved FlexTrak After 10 years of success with its revolutionary FlexTrak, Porta-Jib has unveiled an improved version of the dolly track, which can be used for both straight runs and curves. The basic unit is 40', which can be looped back on itself to create one 17' run of parallel track; two pieces can also be laid parallel to create a 40' run. Each section can be rolled up into a compact, 2'diameter bundle for easy transportation inside of any vehicle. Each 40' section of the updated FlexTrak weighs 30 pounds, 10 pounds lighter than the previous version. While the original FlexTrak worked best at room temperature or above, the improved FlexTrak works well at cooler temperatures, and it retains little or no memory from being stored in a coiled position. These improvements are possible thanks to an improved construction incorporating steel-reinforced tubing, which has the integrity and strength to support a dolly and is processed for an ultra-smooth finish. As with the original FlexTrak, setup is easy, with no joints to wedge. Additionally, a leveling kit enables FlexTrak to be used
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Designing the Atom specifically for the Epic has allowed for a streamlined rig with minimum size and weight. Although compact, the rig is still able to accommodate full-sized PL and PV prime lenses as well as smaller zooms like the Angenieux Optimo 16-42 or 30-80mm. Like other Technica 3-D rigs, the Atom provides full interocular and convergence control, and it also allows for recording of interocular, convergence and lens metadata. The Atom is available in either aluminum or magnesium construction; the magnesium model shaves 5 pounds off the weight, weighing only 13 pounds on its own and approximately 36 pounds when rigged with a pair of Epics. The Atom Pro Kit, machined of magnesium and compatible with both aluminum and magnesium rigs, integrates multiplexing, sync and power conditioning electronics in the Atom to eliminate three external components from the rig. The Pro Kit includes a pair of Epic-specific 3-D modules to eliminate up to four cables per camera, and as many as 12 or more cables from the rig. The Pro electronics are housed in a distinctive shark’s fin design assembly on the rig. The basic aluminum Atom 3-D rig system is available for $64,000. For more information, visit www.technica3d.com. VF Gadgets Offers DSLR SwissCage Kit VFGadgets has introduced the DSLR SwissCage Kit from Upgrade Innovations to securely support a whole camera and lens configuration for professionals using DSLRs in video production. The SwissCage Kit is designed to be equally useful in both extreme rigging and studio work. The camera is firmly locked between the threaded bottom mount and the top

http://www.porta-jib.com http://www.campilots.com http://www.technica3d.com http://www.tiffen.com

American Cinematographer - March 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - March 2011