2023From a Facebook group: Arri Artemis Trinity
Flying the ARRI Trinity in X-Mode (Omega-style, camera lateral to body) for table-top passes using tilt control via post rotation.
Note (as of October 2026)Curt O. Schaller, the developer of Artemis and Trinity, has no longer been with ARRI since the end of 2025. To our knowledge, ARRI currently has no dedicated team and no official contact persons for its stabilizer systems. In our view, the future of this line is uncertain. If you are buying new, get written confirmation from ARRI beforehand on how long service and spare parts are guaranteed. Have used rigs checked by the manufacturer before you buy.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- X-Mode is achieved by disabling the tilt motor in the RCP-3, locking the tilt axis, deactivating or removing the pendulum, and balancing the sled horizontally and fore-aft via the Bottom Stage as for Omega operation.
- The ARRI Trinity 2 is reported by multiple operators to perform significantly better in this mode than Trinity 1, owing to more sensors and superior gyroscope implementation; it is described as combining Steadicam®, Trinity, and Omega capabilities.
- Tilt is controlled by rolling the post, as with Omega rigs, producing jittery response; operators increase tilt-axis inertia by positioning mass far outboard on the Bottom Stage—using flat-oriented stabilizer arms, placing batteries at arm ends, and using longer arms.
- Gyro stabilization is considered nearly essential in X-Mode, dampening the repurposed tilt axis and smoothing High-to-Low transitions.
- A lighter gyro (such as Kenyon KS-2 or KS-4, single unit) can be used for most shots, whereas a stronger unit (Kenyon KS-6) significantly restricts movement range and speed.
- Whip moves and very rapid dynamic shots are incompatible with gyro operation in this mode.
- With Superpost and post-extenders, the rig can reach the center line of a long table.
- Attempting X-Mode without these configurations places the operator at risk of gimbal lock; Follow-Mode provided marginal improvement in one trial.
Depends on
- Effectiveness and smoothness depend on correct balancing of the Bottom Stage and sled orientation.
- Gyro benefit is contested: efficacy varies by shot type and operator preference.
- Gyro selection critically affects movement capability—operator must choose between stability and dynamic range.
Gear in this thread
Same gear or parts
- 2026Low-mode monitor selection for Volt Brain rig: latency performance of Transvideo Starlite versus current alternatives.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Voltage display discrepancies between camera and RCP on ARRI Artemis Trinity 2: 24 V rail showing 23.4 V at RCP versus 28 V at camera.DisputedFacebookArri Artemis Trinity
- 2026Mounting a Mo-Sys LED-wall tracking sensor on ARRI Trinity 2 with the sensor oriented upward for virtual production.FacebookArri Artemis Trinity
- 2026Power loss on Trinity 2 / Artemis 2 with large cameras (A35, Venice): causes and battery solutions.DisputedFacebookArri Artemis Trinity