2014Arms forum
Spring canister selection for PRO Titan stabilizer arm for narrative cinematography work
12 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A combination of four blue and two black canisters provides load capacity from 13 to 63 pounds without gaps and covers most narrative cinematography scenarios with typical camera packages.
- Purchasing all eight canisters upfront is more economical than buying additional canisters later, as individual canisters cost significantly more than those purchased as part of a complete package.
- A fully loaded Alexa camera weighing 28 to 30 pounds mounted on a typical sled weighing 20 to 23 pounds approaches the maximum capacity of four blue canisters alone.
- Four blue and two black canisters leave no load gaps and sacrifice only 9 pounds of maximum capacity compared to eight total canisters.
- Two blue and two black canisters provide adequate coverage for augmented reality work and have been used for extended periods without needing adjustment.
- Heavier loads such as 3D rigs, IMAX equipment, gyroscopes, or non-standard additions like recorders and ring lights exceed the range of four blue and two black canisters.
Depends on
- The discussion focuses on narrative cinematography with cameras like Alexa, RED, and Sony models; live event requirements may differ.
- Specific load ranges mentioned are based on the PRO Titan arm model from 2014 and may not apply to other stabilizer models or later versions.
- Recommendations reflect experience primarily with standard camera packages and do not cover all specialized filming scenarios.
- One participant admitted to not having used black canisters recently and noted individual experience may vary.