Motion Control Pan/Tilt head

[Larry Gebhardt]

Hello All...

I have a shoot coming up next week where we will be compositing several layers of green screen shots into live action BG plates. I would like to do simple tripod head pan/tilt moves with these instead of locking the shots down, and simplify the post with exactly repeated moves in all of the elements (save tracking everything). I don't want to get into a full-on MoCo rig, just a simple motion encoded head that will repeat the moves. I thought there is something like this existing that once a move is done, it will save the encoder data to a laptop (or other device) for exactly repeating the move for later elements. The Viewfactor's Mirus head would work for us but it is not shipping yet.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of equipment, and where it would be available. We are shooting in LA.

Again, I know that full-on MoCo rigs will do this, but we don't have the budget.

Thanks in advance.

Larry Gebhardt

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Try the Mo-sys system it's nice and can deliver tracking as well.

http://www.mo-sys.com/


Fredrik Callinggard

[Manuel Wenger]

http://www.ravensclaw.us/

didn´t work with this head yet, but it looks promising.

[Adrian T.]

Mirus by viewfactor:
http://www.viewfactor.net/khxc/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=Mirus01

Unfortunately, it's not shipping yet. But maybe they can rent you a prototype head.

[M Most]

Hello All...

I have a shoot coming up next week where we will be compositing several layers of green screen shots into live action BG plates. I would like to do simple tripod head pan/tilt moves with these instead of locking the shots down, and simplify the post with exactly repeated moves in all of the elements (save tracking everything). I don't want to get into a full-on MoCo rig, just a simple motion encoded head that will repeat the moves. I thought there is something like this existing that once a move is done, it will save the encoder data to a laptop (or other device) for exactly repeating the move for later elements.

Hot Gears.
Aerohead.

Be aware that for real accuracy, the sticks themselves must be very heavily bagged, you must be on a stable surface (i.e., not a wooden floor), shutter control must be enabled (I don't think this is possible with a Red, but I could be wrong), and a certain amount of post work in terms of stabilization and slight repositioning is to be expected (less than with film, however).

Also be careful to avoid shooting during earthquakes.

[BrettVegasGober]

http://pacificmotion.net/remoteheads.html

The talon is pretty low cost rental, aerohead is more.

Hope that helps...

[Larry Gebhardt]

Thanks, everyone for your input...I appreciate it. I will be checking out the various suggestions tomorrow (long scout day today). It looks like the Aerohead is what we need but will decide tomorrow.

Thanks again...this forum is really cool!

Larry

[M Most]

Thanks, everyone for your input...I appreciate it. I will be checking out the various suggestions tomorrow (long scout day today). It looks like the Aerohead is what we need but will decide tomorrow.

If you go with the Aerohead, it would be advisable to get a tech to come along with it, unless your crew has experience with it. It would also be a good idea to run through what you need to do, and what other equipment you'll have, with the tech during preproduction, as the Aerohead software is very capable and can do some very useful things (remote start of previous scene playback via a time code trigger, that sort of thing).

Good luck and enjoy.

[Peter McCully]

Check out the post by Jim Arthurs about pseudo motion control if you have a post savy effects wizz - you might be able to avoid MC completely.


http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1373

[michael zaletel]

I saw this at NAB last year and was quite impressed...

The Talon, starting at $12,995 and will do everything you are asking.

http://www.ravensclaw.us/index.html

-shooter