2012Operating forum
Operating a lightweight steadicam rig with a tethered video feed instead of wireless
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Lighter steadicam rigs are more susceptible to interference from tether cables because reduced mass provides less inertia to counteract the pull from the cable.
- Using thin, lightweight BNC cables as jumpers routed from camera to gimbal arm minimizes the tether's impact on the rig's movement.
- Operators should practice extensively with the tether cable before shooting to understand how it affects stabilization and control.
- Purchasing new wireless video transmitters under five hundred dollars that serve both director monitoring and focus pulling is not practical; rental or budget-friendly options may be available.
- The Paralynx Arrow is presented as a low-cost and straightforward wireless option for this application.
Depends on
- The advice applies specifically to low-budget productions and lightweight rigs; performance characteristics may differ with heavier professional steadicam systems.
- No performance data or specific weight thresholds are provided to determine when a rig becomes too light for tethered operation.
- The Paralynx Arrow recommendation lacks details about its capabilities, cost, or suitability for simultaneous director and focus-puller feeds.