Steadicam Scout at DVinfo.net

Sean Seah · September 13th, 2010, 03:31 AM

USD6995 for the basic system
Handles up to 18Ibs .. a nice segmentation with pro features

Another new system to get our $$ ha ha... Price is sexy but I wonder how it compares to a Zephyr and Flyer. I was set on Zephyr but the pricing is out of my expectation and they removed the C stand from the USD8995 basic kit.

Seems like this Vest is the same one as the Zephyr with a similar design as the Flyer stage and Pilot sled.
Hope to see some videos from IBC soon.

Dave Gish · September 13th, 2010, 04:59 AM

Steadicam Scout

Looks like a scaled up version of the Pilot, with a movable lower spar.

But no ability to add screw-on weights to the stage, which is something I always use with the Pilot. Basicly, no matter what camera and accessories I fly, I keep the top weight pretty much the same by varying the number screw-on weights at the stage. I suppose you could also use weight plates between the camera and the dovetail plate, but that seems like it would take longer to move between sticks and steadicam.

Sean Seah · September 13th, 2010, 05:39 AM

Good point Dave. Didn't notice the lacking option for screw on weights.

Joe Lawry · September 13th, 2010, 06:22 AM

hmmmm very interesting...

so many options now.. yet, i still want a big rig.

Robert Wall · September 13th, 2010, 11:55 AM

Seems like a flyer arm and vest. I'm not sure what this is aimed at?? This sort of fits between the flyer and the pilot, which seems like a strange place to introduce a new product with the zepher out too. Maybe as an eventual total replacement for the pilot?

Andrew Stone · September 13th, 2010, 12:19 PM

The Zephyr will ultimately be way more usable this this. Much beefier build. I suspect you can get dynamic balance achieved with the Scout but you will have to be careful as the weigh options are limited on the lower spar although it does have an extendible post which will help in that regard. You can buy a Matthews or Avenger/Manfrotto C-stand for under $200 that would be WAY better than the one TIFFEN sells and you can use it with good sized light when you aren't flying your rig. With the docking bracket you can use any decent light stand as the base for the mounting bracket.

Accessories increase the weight of the rig dramatically and once you get into operating a rig you will find all of a sudden you need a lot of outboard gear that you never dreamed you would need.

I run an EX3 and with accessories I am at the top of the weight range of my Flyer. I really need a bigger rig.

Dave Gish · September 13th, 2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Stone

I run an EX3 and with accessories I am at the top of the weight range of my Flyer. I really need a bigger rig.

I've flown an EX3 on my Pilot with a shotgun, wireless mic, and wireless video, and the arm was level.
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachme...ion-ex3_1t.jpg

Do you power the EX3 from the sled? Do you remove the EVF hood? What accessories are you using?

Sean Seah · September 14th, 2010, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Wall

Seems like a flyer arm and vest. I'm not sure what this is aimed at?? This sort of fits between the flyer and the pilot, which seems like a strange place to introduce a new product with the zepher out too. Maybe as an eventual total replacement for the pilot?

They are gong the Sony way... segmentizing the market further with payload. Pilot will stay. I just wonder why they didnt give the optional weights to the stage. But then again, the Zephyr is the same isnt it.

Mark Schlicher · September 17th, 2010, 06:57 PM

The Scout specs are about identical to the Flyer LE. The vest is the same, the arm looks the same and specs the same as the all-but-most-recent Flyer arms. They use Pilot components in the bottom spar because the Pilot design is a clever, lower-cost way to achieve dynamic balance easily.

Unlike the Zephyr, the Scout appears to be an SD-only sled...maybe the coax and BNC are HD-SDI rated but they don't advertise them as such. From the pics it seems that maybe the Scout's gimbal is not tool-less and the Zephyr's is, but the brochures are unclear.

So, my quess it that the Scout replaces the Flyer...expect the Flyer to go away soon, it is redundant.

The Zephyr's specs seem to be beefing up to 24-pound payload. If confirmed, that separates it from the Scout. Also has a lot more connections (power and video), is HD-ready and so-on. All this helps it bridge the gap between the Flyer and the Archer2. But it shares (in a clever re-purposing) bottom stage components with the Scout, reducing manufacturing costs. Zephyr brochure shows and describes a "continuation of the Flyer vest" but Youtube videos have surfaced with what look like prototype or modified vests with chest ratchet buckles instead of the Flyer-style snap-clips and velcro.

Mark Schlicher · September 17th, 2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Stone

You can buy a Matthews or Avenger/Manfrotto C-stand for under $200 that would be WAY better than the one TIFFEN sells.

The old "Steadi-stands" were bunk. The newer Flyers ship with short turtle-base c-stands that I heard were comparable to the Matthews (or maybe are??) The short post on those stands make it possible to stow in the case just like the old stands.

September 13th, 2010, 03:31 AM	#1
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Steadicam Scout USD6995 for the basic system Handles up to 18Ibs .. a nice segmentation with pro features Another new system to get our $$ ha ha... Price is sexy but I wonder how it compares to a Zephyr and Flyer. I was set on Zephyr but the pricing is out of my expectation and they removed the C stand from the USD8995 basic kit. Seems like this Vest is the same one as the Zephyr with a similar design as the Flyer stage and Pilot sled. Hope to see some videos from IBC soon. __________________ Firewerkz Films SGP

September 13th, 2010, 05:39 AM	#3
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Good point Dave. Didn't notice the lacking option for screw on weights. __________________ Firewerkz Films SGP

September 13th, 2010, 04:59 AM	#2
Dave Gish Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverdale, NJ Posts: 468	Steadicam Scout Looks like a scaled up version of the Pilot, with a movable lower spar. But no ability to add screw-on weights to the stage, which is something I always use with the Pilot. Basicly, no matter what camera and accessories I fly, I keep the top weight pretty much the same by varying the number screw-on weights at the stage. I suppose you could also use weight plates between the camera and the dovetail plate, but that seems like it would take longer to move between sticks and steadicam.

September 13th, 2010, 06:22 AM	#4
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	hmmmm very interesting... so many options now.. yet, i still want a big rig.

September 13th, 2010, 11:55 AM	#5
Robert Wall Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 39	Seems like a flyer arm and vest. I'm not sure what this is aimed at?? This sort of fits between the flyer and the pilot, which seems like a strange place to introduce a new product with the zepher out too. Maybe as an eventual total replacement for the pilot?

September 13th, 2010, 12:19 PM	#6
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	The Zephyr will ultimately be way more usable this this. Much beefier build. I suspect you can get dynamic balance achieved with the Scout but you will have to be careful as the weigh options are limited on the lower spar although it does have an extendible post which will help in that regard. You can buy a Matthews or Avenger/Manfrotto C-stand for under $200 that would be WAY better than the one TIFFEN sells and you can use it with good sized light when you aren't flying your rig. With the docking bracket you can use any decent light stand as the base for the mounting bracket. Accessories increase the weight of the rig dramatically and once you get into operating a rig you will find all of a sudden you need a lot of outboard gear that you never dreamed you would need. I run an EX3 and with accessories I am at the top of the weight range of my Flyer. I really need a bigger rig.

September 17th, 2010, 06:57 PM	#9
Mark Schlicher Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 189	The Scout specs are about identical to the Flyer LE. The vest is the same, the arm looks the same and specs the same as the all-but-most-recent Flyer arms. They use Pilot components in the bottom spar because the Pilot design is a clever, lower-cost way to achieve dynamic balance easily. Unlike the Zephyr, the Scout appears to be an SD-only sled...maybe the coax and BNC are HD-SDI rated but they don't advertise them as such. From the pics it seems that maybe the Scout's gimbal is not tool-less and the Zephyr's is, but the brochures are unclear. So, my quess it that the Scout replaces the Flyer...expect the Flyer to go away soon, it is redundant. The Zephyr's specs seem to be beefing up to 24-pound payload. If confirmed, that separates it from the Scout. Also has a lot more connections (power and video), is HD-ready and so-on. All this helps it bridge the gap between the Flyer and the Archer2. But it shares (in a clever re-purposing) bottom stage components with the Scout, reducing manufacturing costs. Zephyr brochure shows and describes a "continuation of the Flyer vest" but Youtube videos have surfaced with what look like prototype or modified vests with chest ratchet buckles instead of the Flyer-style snap-clips and velcro.