2004Arms forum
Upgrading the SK2 steadicam with a second arm section
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
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.
What the thread found
- Adding a second arm section to an SK2 does not meaningfully improve weight capacity and creates practical problems like the arm interfering with the monitor.
- The cost of upgrading an SK2 arm is substantial relative to the performance gains achieved.
- Replacing an arm requires consideration of the vest and gimbal compatibility, as simply swapping components often necessitates upgrading multiple parts of the system.
- Reversing an arm upside-down by flipping it is not a safe modification and can result in structural failure.
- Moving to a different rig entirely, such as purchasing a used alternative or a newer model, may be more cost-effective than attempting incremental upgrades to an SK2.
- The Flyer arm uses a different socket block connector that is smaller than the standard SK2 socket block and requires a Flyer vest to function.
Depends on
- The discussion involves users with varying experience levels and conflicting advice.
- Some claims about arm compatibility and modifications are presented without detailed technical specifications.
- The thread contains informal discussion and some posts in other languages, making certain technical details unclear.
- Specific pricing information is not clearly stated.
- The mention of an arm that may cause an explosion if reversed is anecdotal and lacks systematic documentation.
Gear in this thread
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