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Posts Tagged ‘Edelkrone’

Edelkrone launches JibONE motion control with mobile app and motorized head support

22 Jan

Edelkrone has launched a new app-controlled jib called JibONE that can be used with the HeadONE and HeadPLUS motorized heads for capturing a variety of shots. The jib supports 50cm (19.6in) of horizontal, vertical and diagonal motion in any direction, including looping motion. Despite its capabilities, Edelkrone says the model is compact enough to store in a backpack.

The JibONE is made from CNC machined aluminum and stainless steel; it measures 61 x 17 x 15cm (24 x 6.7 x 5.9in) when folded and weighs 5.5kg (12lbs) when used with the 1kg (2.2lbs) counterweight. Edelkrone recommends that users keep their setup load to less than 5kg (11lbs). The company says that all DSLR models are compatible with the JibONE.

HeadONE and HeadPLUS motorized heads used with the JibONE.

Operators have two different battery options to choose from for powering the JibONE: LP-E6 and NP-F batteries. Battery life varies based on which are used, but when the JibONE is powered with two Canon LP-E6 14.4Wh batteries (for a total of 28.8Wh), users can expect two hours of continuous operation at full speed or up to 12,000 still images when used in time-lapse mode.

Connectivity comes in the form of Bluetooth LE which enables users to control the jib using an iPhone running iOS 11 or newer or an Android handset running version 5.0 or later. The mobile app offers a simplified interface for recording poses, setting up motion loops, adjusting speed and more. Users can also program camera motions with the jib by manually adjusting the device.

The JibONE is available from Edelkrone now for $ 1000.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone expands 3D-printed ORTAK line with new SKATER 3D kit

31 Aug

Earlier this summer, Edelkrone introduced ORTAK, a line of the company’s products sold at cheaper prices to customers who must 3D print the item’s various components at home. Edelkrone kicked off this lineup with the FlexTILT Head 3D, a 3D-printed and DIY version of its FlexTILT Head 2. The company is back with another product in the ORTAK line with the relaunched and modified PocketSKATER 2.

PocketSKATER 2 was originally launched by Edelkrone as a three-wheel camera skater with the FlexTILT head built-in; it previously cost around $ 250 USD before the company discontinued the product. With this relaunch, the new SKATER 3D has a modified design that enables customers to print the product’s base components using readily accessible 3D printers.

The obvious benefit to the ORTAK product line is reduced cost. The new SKATER 3D, for example, is offered in two parts: a freely available 3D blueprint that can be downloaded from the company’s website and a $ 29 USD kit featuring the CNC-machined aluminum parts for assembling the 3D-printed components.

Edelkrone refers to this arrangement as ‘co-manufacturing,’ one targeted specifically at consumers who already own a 3D printer. The previously launched FlexTILT Head 3D is available as a digital download with a $ 29 USD aluminum parts kit. Both ORTAK products are available now.

Via: DIY Photography

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone now offers a 3D-printed DIY solution for its FlexTILT tripod head

17 Jun

Meet FlexTILT Head 3D, a version of Edelkrone’s popular tripod head that can be 3D-printed and pieced together as a DIY project for a fraction of the cost of Edelkrone’s FlexTILT Head 2.

As we noted in our review, the Edelkrone FlexTILT Head 2 is a wonderful little tool for both videos and stills. The articulating head allows for unique possibilities, especially when paired with dollies and other motion units—but it doesn’t come cheap.

The areas in red are the components that are 3D printed, while the dark grey components and silver screws are those Edelkrone ships to you for $ 29.

Edelkrone’s solution to this is a new line of products called ORTAK. The ORTAK lineup is a co-manufacturing collection that will allow you to 3D print the basic components of Edelkrone products and buy the more integral pieces from Edelkrone at a much lower cost than the fully-produced version.

For the FlexTILT Head 3D, Edelkrone will handle manufacturing the metal components required, including the hex screws, washers, brackets and mounting points, which will sell for $ 29. The body of the FlexTILT Head 3D is up to you to print using the files provided, for free, by Edelkrone on its ORTAK webpage. In addition to a document detailing the building process, Edelkrone has also created a detailed video:

Edelkrone specifically mentions the ORTAK FlexTILT Head 3D has been tested on the Ultimaker S5, Ultimaker 3 and Zaxe 3D printers. However, the STL file Edelkrone provides is more than capable of being printed with other units. Even if you don’t own a 3D printer yourself—or know someone who does—there are other options, including online platforms like Shapeways—not to mention many libraries now offer access to 3D printers at low or no cost if you’re a member.

Regardless of how you get the components printed, it’s safe to say the end result should come out for a good bit less than the $ 149 Edelkrone’s FlexTILT Head 2 retails for.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: Edelkrone DollyONE with FlexTILT Head 2

16 May

Edelkrone DollyONE and FlexTILT Head 2
$ 699 and $ 149 | edelkrone.com

Let’s face it, we’re all on a journey to improve our shooting, and some shots can be especially challenging in video work. There are lots of situations where incorporating some camera movement can create additional interest in shots. I’ve recently started using a combination of tools that have proven quite useful in this respect.

The Edelkrone DollyONE (DO) is an app-controlled, motorized flat surface camera dolly. The dolly can be used either in a simple track along a straight line or an arc around a subject.

The FlexTILT Head 2 (FTH2) is a lightweight head. The head extends, tilts and pans and it can to be mounted on any standard 1/4″ or 3/8″ screw mount or it can be used on its own on a flat surface.

Combining these two products allows easy camera mounting, re-positioning and movement either for video work or time lapse photography.

Key Features

  • Arcing and linear movements without a track
  • Control of dolly movements via an app
  • Ability to create different position presets
  • Speed Control including ease in and ease out rate
  • Remote triggering of cameras with optional cable
  • Head allows vertical extension
  • Head folds flat
The DollyONE with the low profile FlexTILT Head 2. The vertically extending head is a really great idea.

Uses

I first discovered Edelkrone as a company some years ago when they launched their unusual take on the slider, the SliderPLUS. Then later I found out that they had launched a motorized system and I was very interested in using some of their products to help with my work. While not cheap, they have a very professional feel to them and their customer service is second to none. I’ve been using Edelkrone’s sliders for a couple of months, and decided that maybe I should be looking at branching out to some longer tracking shots and more importantly, some arcing ones.

While I tried to get similar-looking shots with my existing equipment, I just wasn’t happy with the results. The fact that this combination allows you to combine long tracking shots with the time-lapse function in the app meant that I could explore other avenues in my work.

The dolly operates on a single Canon LP-E6 battery.

Specifications

On picking up the box I was first struck by the weight of the DollyONE, measuring 160 x 160 x 57.5mm (6.3 x 6.3 x 2.26 in) and weighing in at 1.6 kg (3.52 lbs), while the dolly itself can handle loads of up to 6.8 kg (15 lbs). In addition to the DollyONE I chose to use the FlexTILT Head 2 to mount the camera to the dolly. It is possible to use a small tripod head instead, as the dolly uses a standard retractable 3/8″ screw for mounting.

Why then use the Edlekrone head? It offers the ability to vertically extend the camera position and tilt it without having to change the height of the dolly, something I found incredibly useful. I couldn’t use a tripod with the dolly by its very nature so I needed a way of easily changing the height of the camera. The maximum vertical extension is 180mm (7.25 in) which doesn’t sound like much but covers quite a lot of situations for me in close-up product work.

The FlexTILT Head 2 can be used without a mount.

The head also allows panning, though not quite through 360 degrees. At first this might seem like a problem, however there is a good reason for this; it allows you to easily tighten the head on to the screw mount on the dolly. This is achieved by rotating the head until the stop is reached and then using the end stop to tighten the head down. The mount on the head is a standard 3/8″ screw thread and Edelkrone includes a couple of 3/8″ to 1/4″ adapters in the box for other applications.

Tensions on the FlexTILT Head 2 can be altered for tilt and extension.

The FlexTILT Head 2 also provides the ability to adjust the tensions on each of the joints, and this includes the pan friction. I did this almost immediately as with a Sony a7 III and Sony 24-105mm F4 it was a little too loose. Your setup will probably be different but the the head is rated for loads up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) so some adjustment may be necessary. I’m pleased to say I’ve not encountered any loosening of the joints since I adjusted them. The Hex keys required to make all these adjustments are included in the box. One other feature is a small leveling bubble embedded into the base.

Tensions on the FlexTILT Head 2 can be altered for panning as well.

Setup

As with the other Edelkrone products I’ve used before the setup on the DollyONE was quick and easy. There are no buttons on the unit, just two adjustment wheels for tension and two sockets for camera control. There’s not even a power button.

After attaching the FlexTILT Head 2 to the dolly, inserting the battery in the base (Canon LP-E6) and waiting for the confirmation beep I could then start the app. This is the only way to control the Edelkrone range of motorized products. There is a single app for all product combinations and it is available for iOS and Android devices.

Control

When starting the app it checks for neighboring compatible Edelkrone devices that are powered up. It is possible to use 3- or 4-axis control and there are a number of Edelkrone products which can be controlled at the same time. This includes the HeadONE and HeadPLUS, the SliderONE V2 and SliderPLUS, the DollyPLUS and even the Focus Module. The interface itself changes according to the devices it finds, in this case as I had only one device it offered a relatively simple 1-axis control.

The first thing to do is decide what sort of movement you need as you have three choices when selecting the ‘Path’ button on screen: Slide, Arc or Dolly In/Out.

Of course you can choose to pan the camera on the head so that the movement is not either directly parallel or at 90 degrees to the direction of travel.

The three options available when choosing the path of the dolly:

A basic slide with the lens pointing perpendicular to the direction of travel.

An arcing movement. The angle is calculated when the camera moves automatically to an off center position. You have to angle the camera with an on screen button for the arc to be calculated.

An in out move, note here that the lens is at 90 degrees to the arrow on the dolly.

The result is that you can create three distinctive movements depending on how you program the device in the app. The video below shows some real world examples of these movements.

Programmable movements include Slide, Arc, and Dolly In/Out.

Moving experience

My first attempt at a move was a simple dolly move from left to right. After setting the path type I was then able to set preset positions with the pose button. There are three positions available to start with, which increases to six when the first three have been used. The pose buttons allow saving shots from the camera on a smart device; the photo is saved on the pose button to act as a reference. Simply tapping the respective button will initiate the move.

At 100% I was slightly worried that the dolly might not stop the first time I selected it – it’s that quick. I shouldn’t have been concerned though. It’s also possible to set it to a crawl, and with a gentle in and out curve it’s incredibly slow. I set it to make a move with the speed set to 1% and the ease in/out set all the way to the left. A move over a distance of 44cm (17.25 in) took eight and a half minutes, at 100% set to minimum ease in/out it took four seconds.

When initiating any move you get a read out on the button of the time remaining, which changes when you adjust any of the sliders. Although the move can’t be updated live you need to stop the current move for the new settings to take effect. However, sometimes the real-time readout of how long this is going to take doesn’t update every second when moving very slowly.

The app has a simple single axis control with just a DollyONE.

Power Mode adds more torque for heavier payloads.

The Path lets you choose between Slide, Arc or Dolly In/Out.

The three pose buttons allow you to set individual dolly positions. You can move between them by tapping, You can also save reference photos to each position.

When all three are set these buttons shrink to reveal three more.

Speed control from scarily fast to hardly perceptible.

Ease In/Out can have a huge effect on overall movement duration.

Additional Time-Lapse and Stop Motion functions which are highly configurable.

The speed of this move and the ease in and ease out dynamic can be adjusted with the appropriate slider underneath the row of pose buttons. You can cancel or delete moves by tapping the pose button at the top right hand side, denoted by the usual ‘x’. You can also quickly reposition the dolly by double tapping on the pose button. Another function is the ability to loop back and forth by tapping simultaneously on the two poses that you want the dolly to move between.

The app also offers some additional buttons, one is a very tempting ‘record’ button that doesn’t do much at the moment apart from bringing up a ‘feature that we’re working on’ message. I reached out to Edelkrone about this and they told me that it’s going to be enabled for the DollyONE in the near future. It is available when using other Edelkrone products.

This button will allow the recording of bespoke timings using the on screen controls via a macro record function. This will allow an amazing flexibility in terms of moving between poses in a non-linear way and even allowing movement to be terminated and reinitialized if required mid-move. This becomes even more powerful when you combine this with other Edelkrone motorized products. It’s even possible to convert these movements into time lapse and stop-motion tracking movements.

The main time lapse option page.

It also offers the ability to change the interval dynamically as well as the step size.

Intervals can be set in 0.1 second increments.

Number of exposures can be set here.

The app also easily enables you to send feedback messages to the customer support team. I found myself doing this on a few occasions, to ask questions or suggest new ideas. Customer support with Edelkrone products has been excellent. Included in the app are links to the various product set-up videos on YouTube which can be really useful.

The app contains some other functions behind the buttons on the bottom. Time lapse and stop frame both can be used with the correct cable by plugging into the right hand socket to trigger the shutter on your camera. The left hand socket is for LANC control which is going to be supported in upcoming updated firmware.

The LANC and remote shutter sockets.

In actual use I found the app very intuitive, a minor issue was getting the timing right for the tapping on two pose buttons to get the loop function working. Due to limitations of this sort of system i.e. a Dolly that isn’t on tracks, there is some drift in repeated looping movements. Edelkrone advise that repeated movements are only accurate for around five to ten loops. Set-up is key to getting the best performance.

The two tension controls on the side of the dolly need to be set appropriately for the weight of the camera, lens and head. They have to be set so that the dolly doesn’t drag across the surface it’s on, but they also have to be set so that there is no rocking of the dolly during movement. This can be tested by gently pressing alternately on the sides that don’t house the tension wheels to see if there is any side to side movement.

In practice I found that I was able to get acceptable results over quite a few more than that with careful adjustment – around 100. While there was a drift of around 12mm (1/2 in) perpendicular to the move it was almost perfect along the length of travel. Your mileage will vary as this depends on the balance of the camera and also the resistance of the surface you are using.

The tension adjuster, one per dolly wheel.

Setting up arcing movements was also easy. You do need to follow the instructions in the app to first place the camera at the start position, line it up with the on-screen controls and then the DollyONE will move slightly to one side. You then need to use the on-screen buttons to re-center the camera – this provides the dolly with enough information to derive an arc which can then be used for 360-degree movements around a subject. You can of course make a different sort of arcing move and re-orient the camera so that it faces outward. This can be useful for parallel moves around subjects placed in an arc.

Practical considerations

I got around 90 minutes of battery life when setting it up in loop mode at 30% over a 75cm (30 in) move. Edelkrone states that the expected life is 60 minutes when set to 100%. I did find that the in-app battery level meter was rather pessimistic. It showed the battery to be exhausted when in fact I had around 30% of life remaining. An update to make this more accurate is being worked on by their R&D department.

You may find from time to time that the main control slider disappears and is replaced by the message ‘recover path’. You then have to select this option and the dolly relocates itself to recalculate the original position. This only tends to happen if the DollyONE gets moved manually either deliberately or by accident.

While using the dolly I found that there are surfaces you should avoid – basically ones that are glossy and uneven. Glossy will cause issues with traction; heavily varnished wood for example isn’t great. Uneven ones can also cause traction problems but will also introduce some vibration and can be noisy if that’s a consideration. You can’t use it on carpet and rugs as the clearance of the wheels underneath is only about 5mm (0.2 in).

One of only 2 dolly wheels.

Ideas for improvement

As usual nothing is perfect and there are a few things that could be improved. I’d like the ability to use external power as the run time with a single LP-E6 can be a little limited when using the time lapse function over extended periods.

One thing that is not as easily available as it could be with the DollyONE is the ability to rotate 360 degrees around its own center axis via a single button press. It is feasible to make your own 360 degree arc. You do this by setting it up in such a way that the second position that you choose to orient the dolly is 90 degrees to the first position. This is not as intuitive as it could be but I’m told that a simpler way of doing this will be added at a later date.

For the FlexTILT Head 2 I do wish that the tension adjustments were tool-less. I realize that accommodating this and maintaining a low profile head might prove difficult. Although not having to adjust up to eight hex bolts would be beneficial, even though the need for it is rare.

Conclusion

What at first may seem like quite niche products have actually given me more inspiration for new shots than I thought possible. I haven’t even touched on the fact that you could actually mount things on the DollyOne and use it as a movable platform for some subjects. I’m sure there are many more uses that I haven’t even considered yet.

These are not budget products but I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for. My old, cheap dolly skater and head were used once and they haven’t been out of their boxes for over two years. The DollyONE and FlexTILT Head 2 are a natural pairing and I eagerly await the updates that will make this system even more creativity-inspiring.

What we like

  • Ease of use
  • Build quality
  • Low noise
  • Extensive time lapse options
  • Customer support

What we’d like to see improved

  • Battery Life indication accuracy (planned for future update)
  • No one-button 360 degree panorama option (planned for future update)
  • Tools required to adjust head tensions

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone beefs up its slider range with new models and a better app

09 Dec

German video accessories manufacturer Edelkrone has introduced a range of new and updated products to its collection of portable camera sliders. It has upgraded its SliderOne with a SliderOne Pro and introduced a new generation of Wing and Wing Pro models, while the App that controls the SliderOne Pro and the new SurfaceOne has been improved with enhanced timelapse features.

The SliderOne Pro is 2 inches (~5cm) longer than the original model, and now has a more powerful and accurate motor that can take more weight as well as control its movements more precisely.

The power of the motor means it can lift more kit at steeper angles, with the company claiming 8lb/3.6kg can be worked at a 45° angle and 4.4lb/2kg can be moved on a vertical incline. The slider itself is lighter than before but can still move kit weighing up to 20lb/9kg on the flat.

The new app offers greater control over timelapse sequences so that the period between shots can be slowed or quickened during a sequence, and the speed at which the camera is moved can also be varied to create zoom and slowed-time effects.

The same app is used to control the new SurfaceOne, a motorized camera support that drives across flat surfaces that was released a couple of months ago.

It is designed to shoot in an arc around a subject and requires only two laser-positioned references for it to circle a subject at a constant distance. The SurfaceOne can work with small or large subjects, and can also be programed to drive the camera in a linear path or to pan outwards to create a panoramic view.

For those wishing to shift their camera manually, Edelkrone has also introduced a second generation of the Wing and the Wing Pro.

These elbow-jointed arms allow users to shift the camera in a straight line from side to side or in a zooming motion, just by pushing it. These models use what Edelkrone calls ‘SteadyMove’—a form of adjustable resistance that irons out uneven pushing pressure to create smooth motion in the footage.

The Wing is the smaller model and can handle up to 16lb/7.2kg, while the Wing Pro can manage 48lb/21.7kg. They both provide 1.3ft/40cm of motion.

The final new product is the StandOne, which is an all-terrain camera stand with four tensioned adjustable legs that can hold the camera level on uneven ground. The stand folds to a compact size for transporting and can hold 15lb/6.8kg of equipment.

For more information on any of the new and improved products, visit the Edelkrone website.

Prices:
StandOne €170 + VAT
SliderOne Pro €590 + VAT
SurfaceOne €1,000 + VAT
StandOne €170 + VAT
Wing/Wing Pro €400/700 + VAT

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone launches SurfaceONE 2-axis smart motion control system

11 Aug

Edelkrone has launched the SurfaceONE 2-axis motion control system which, according to its branding, is “the world’s smartest 2-axis motion control system.” The system is designed to capture straight, curved (targeted) and panning shots, all of which can be combined with a timelapse mode for smooth motion sequences.

The SurfaceONE is controlled through an Android or iOS app, and Apple Watch support will be available soon as well. Subjects can be targeted independent of distance and the system can be used as an endless slider or for automatic pans with angular speed adjustment.

When shooting timelapses with the SurfaceONE, speed, shooting interval and other parameters can be set in the app. Once set up, your camera is supported by a flexible tilting head, which allows for easy fine-tuning of the lens angle and keeps the rig stable. Edelkrone also says the SurfaceONE motor is very silent and should therefore not be audible in video clips.

More information is available on the Edelkrone website, where you can order the SurfaceONE for $ 690.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone launches SliderPLUS X and Motion Kit 4-axis motion control system

15 Apr

Accessory-maker Edelkrone has launched its latest motion control product for videographers. The SliderPLUS X & Motion Kit is a slider and motion head combo that offers 4 axes of control – slide, pan, tilt and focus, all controllable via a smartphone app. Edelkrone claims its new rig is the ‘world’s smartest and most portable 4-Axis motion control system.’

The system allows you to lock the lens and focus onto a subject for a slide. You can program complex motion by movements the head and slider manually to ‘record’ the motion and it’s possible to create looping sequences as well. Edelkrone is still working on a number of features that will be added at a later stage via app and firmware updates respectively. Eventually users will be able to convert programmed motion paths into time-lapse or stop-motion animations and the camera will be controllable during live recordings. You’ll also be able to program your lenses into the system, so focus calibration can be saved for future use.

The SliderPLUS X & Motion Kit will set you back $ 3,700, $ 1,000 for the slider and $ 2,700 for the Motion head. That’s a serious investment, but given the rig might help set your videography apart from the competition it could well be worth it from a business point of view. More information can be found on the Edelkrone website and in the video below. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone Wing adds non-motorized gliding to any tripod

25 Aug

Edelkrone has launched Wing, a non-motorized sliding armature that attaches to a tripod and glides a camera in a straight line without rails.  Wing has a total gliding range of 40cm / 16in and is made from CNC machined lightweight aluminum. According to Edelkrone, Wing is designed to stay out of the shot at all points.

When collapsed, Wing measures 147 x 45 x 66cm / 5.7 x 1.7 x 2.6in and weighs 0.54kg / 1.2lb. The unit features a 3/8”-16 mounting port on the bottom and a standard 1/4”-20 mounting screw on the top, as well as locking and drag adjustment mechanisms to fix the camera in place or alter the amount of friction.

Wing is available to purchase now for $ 249.

 
Via: Gizmodo

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone introduces QuickReleaseONE, a universal quick release adapter

28 Aug

Edelkrone has introduced its QuickReleaseONE, a device the company says is the first universal quick release on the market. The QuickReleaseONE screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of a camera, and attaches to the 1/4″-20 screw on any tripod plate. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Edelkrone launches collapsible PocketSkater 2 for DSLR videographers

23 Jun

Video accessories manufacturer Edelkrone has launched a new dolly for DSLRs that’s designed to fold up and fit in your pocket. The PocketSkater 2 features three wheels and a tilting Flextilt head so photographers can shoot moving footage with the camera angled upwards or down. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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