The new Tango by
Tiffen Steadicam

In 1973 I wanted the freedom to move the lens from the floor to the ceiling, but my first crane-like prototype was too complex and heavy to succeed.

The ultimate Steadicam® invention was a satisfying and ultimately successful compromise, but by 2009 a camera revolution was well underway – lenses and HD imaging chips were finally being separated from their heavy CCU’s – and I started over with a new idea: a conventional Steadicam sled at one end of an accessory spar, stabilizing a “mini- sled” at the other end to at last yield that long-sought floor-to-ceiling boom range with direct and intuitive control.

Two competing prototypes were secretly developed at the Tiffen skunk-works in 2009: a stubbornly non-functional mechanical version, and an electronic, servo-powered version that worked brilliantly but was slower, noisier and heavier…

In early 2010, after much head-scratching, the simple, all-mechanical version moved up along the rail and thrillingly took the lead…

Compared to the servo version the mechanical item is just as stable and almost as easy to use, but is simple, agile, familiar, lightweight, versatile, silent, and fast.

TANGOtm (patent pending) is a actually a Steadicam accessory, for use with today’s miniature HD cameras, to finally give us long-sought floor-to-ceiling boom range with pan control, lateral reach, full stability, intuitive operating and simple, economical construction.

Iti’s designed to be a straightforward, bolt-on addition to compatible Steadicam sleds – including future new models, and existing late-model sleds that can be factory-modified.

Videomaker.com

-Rugged, all-mechanical construction
-Uses your adapted Steadicam sled plus our 6 lb Tango extension
-No electronics, gyros, wiring, connectors or power-hungry components
-Large-aperture, interior cable-path for camera/CCU interconnection o Nine-foot continuous elevation and traverse with back-pan and back-tilt
-360˚ pan, ±90˚ tilt available throughout boom range
-Normal and adjustable pan/tilt inertia
-Camera pokes into small openings with full angular control -Intuitive operation for Steadicam operators (no joystick)
-Balances and feels like a single, virtual sled carrying all components
-Comfortable, centered operating position – even at full up/down boom
-Operator-leveled – exactly like Steadicam
-6 lb camera payload @ 3:1 extension = 29 lb total
-Rapid conversion from “Tango” mode to conventional Steadicam
-Stable: walking, running, climbing stairs-No servo motor noise
-Ultra-rapid traverse, elevation, pan/tilt

-StudentFilmmaker.com

It’s turned into a kind of mechanical Tour-de-Force
The 3D transmits “master” pan/tilt/roll moves to a “slave” sled at the other end of the telescoping central spar, so the camera payload mimics every nuance – fast or slow – of your operating input. With your eyes closed, it feels like a normal Steadicam.

-Garrett Brown, SOC
www.GarrettBrown.com

Definitions:
Master sled: your regular Steadicam sled, but with weights or other payload items in place of the camera
Slave sled: the “mini sled” at the remote end of the Tango spar
Active gimbal handle: the central gimbal and handle at the c.g. of the tango spar, which is supported by the arm post.

Related Links: STEADICAM TANGO

The Steadicam Guild presents, the Stabilizer Gear Expo and Steadicam Operator Summit.
Sunday, June 6th 2010
1:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.
Casting Office Bar and Grill
3575 Cahuenga Boulevard West
Universal City, CA 91608

The purpose of this expo is to bring professional Steadicam operators and the leading body worn camera stabilizer and accessory manufacturers all together in one place so that the products can be compared, side by side.

In the upper level Steadicam Operator Summit & Swap Meet
Operator’s from around the world are invited to come to the summit to meet and greet top Steadicam Operators, swap stories and swap Steadicam related equipment.
Buy, Trade or sell

The Operators Master Class
Monday and Tuesday, June 7 & 8
Location: Hollywood, California
Lead instructor: Charles Papert, SOC

The unique aspect of this class is the focus on a scripted scene that is as close as possible to an elaborate Steadicam “one-er” that an operator may encounter on set. Actual actors are on hand to perform the scene which is custom-written for the location. Due to the small class size, students will have the opportunity for multiple takes which will be played back and evaluated by the instructor. This “real-life” experience has proven to be extremely valuable for prior participants.

For more information please check out the Stabilizer Gear Expo website at
Stabilizer Gear Expo

For more information contact Jessica Lopez, SG Events Chair
steadicamguildevents@gmail.com

Cost $5 (To the Hollywood Heritage)

Address: 2100 North Highland Avenue,
Hollywood, California
(Across from the Hollywood Bowl)

http://www.Hollywoodheritage.org

View the Trailer below

Questions: steadicamguildevents@gmail.com