Steadicam Ultra2 sled design features and practical field experience

Gear

ZephyrCan I fly my Alexa or RED on a Zephyr?389

Master SeriesIs a used Master Series rig worth buying as a first big rig?191

BFDHow do I power my BFD receiver from my camera or sled?186

VoltCan I retrofit a Volt onto my existing sled or gimbal?168

ArtemisHow do I power my camera and accessories from an Artemis sled?166

MDRWhere can I mount my Preston MDR on my rig?143

ModulusIs there a Modulus option for HD wireless video?141

G-70Will my G-70 fit my vest, gimbal or sled?126

FI+ZCan I control iris and zoom wirelessly, not just focus?60

HU3Where can I get my HU3 repaired, refurbished or repainted?60

CineLiveHow do I pack and case my CineLive rig for transport?54

G-70XHow does the G-70X compare to Pro Titan, Xarm and other arms?46

Trinity 2Is Trinity 2 SUP 3.0 firmware safe to install or buggy?46

Ultra VestWhich vest should I choose for my body size, comfort and operator type?39

2006Sled forum

20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

The Ultra2 represents a comprehensive redesign of the Ultra system with improvements to the sled, vest, and arm aimed at improving operator precision and ease of use.
The new gimbal is fully field serviceable and the electronic components were simplified into a small, usable box rather than the previous larger electronic section.
The arm provides a wide boom range with a light and stiff construction that operators found to have an excellent feel during use.
The battery system and overall sled electronics design were praised for being straightforward and practical in the field.
A need exists for standardized mounting brackets to accommodate follow focus systems like Preston receivers on the junction box, as alternative solutions using velcro are less reliable.
Chrosziel produced brackets for mounting focus system receivers on previous Steadicam models, and similar solutions were adapted by operators in Europe.

Feedback is based on limited hands-on experience from early demonstrations rather than extended production use.
The post diameter dimension was noted as a potential concern by at least one operator but was not elaborated upon.
No final information was available regarding whether Tiffen would add standard follow focus brackets in production versions.
The discussion touched on various focus system mounting solutions across different Steadicam models (Master, Ultra, Pro, Ultra2) without comprehensive documentation of all options.