contact: minimalmotions@gmail.com
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Winterclash 2012 Eindhoven, Netherlands
www.winterclash.com

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Shot on the Canons 5d mark 2 and 7d

CamA- Maciej Tomków
CamB- Matt Kacprowicz
CamC- Radek Kojtych

Postproduction and color grading – Maciej Tomków
Motion Graphics – Radek Kojtych
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Special thanks to
DitoGear
www.ditogear.com
CanisLatrans
www.canis-latrans.com

MinimalMotions (c)

If you’d like to republish this news, please download the full press release and media from: http://bit.ly/DitoGearNews022012

Introducing DitoGear™ OmniHead & Lens Drive

DitoGear™ is pleased to announce the release of DitoGear™ OmniHead and LensDrive. Both new products address the expectations of the most demanding cinematographers working with film, digital cinema, timelapse or stop motion needing a compact, precise and fully featured motion control tools.

Both products are available on preorder now at www.ditogear.com/store
Shipping starts on March, 1st.

DitoGear™ OmniHead

DitoGear™ OmniHead is a precise and versatile motorized pan & tilt head for digital cinema, DSLR and timelapse cinematography. High-end build, ultimate precision and motion control features make it another must have in your kit.

Features:

(6, 7, 8 ) with DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controllers
(9, 10 ) Available in 2012

360° rotation in each of axes
With its innovative design, the DitoGear™ OmniHead allows for full 360° x 360° rotation in each of axes. No more limitations.

High precision
Thanks to high precision double bearings on each of axes and power-efficient servo motors the DitoGear™ OmniHead is probably the most precise piece of gear in a sub-10K price range. Backlash-free operation contributes additionally to perfect motion repeatability for VFX.

High speed range
Thanks to servo motors and a proprietary technology by DitoGear™ to control them, the OmniHead delivers unmatched speed range on a single motors setup. With the speed ranging from 45°/s (360° in 8s) to 360° in 450 days, you don’t need to worry about swapping the motors when you switch from timelapse to realtime filming.

Compact build
We understand you usually have too much to carry around. With a compact and lightweight build, the DitoGear™ OmniHead will fit into your luggage easily.

Realtime, timelapse and stop-motion operation
Either use the 3-axis ultra-precise joystick for realtime movements or unleash the power of motion control thanks to DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controllers and upcoming Dragonframe and DitoGear™ moco software integration.

Be as creative as you like with realtime or timelapse operation. Record sophisticated sequences, play them back in real time or in timelapse to design most difficult speed matching shots combining time-lapse and real-time footage into one composite shot. Take an advantage of motion control for your stop-motion animations or motion-controlled macro shots.

Full repeatability for VFX
DitoGear™ OmniSlider is a benchmark product in terms of motion repeatability in compact motion control systems range. Basing on our established tradition, the DitoGear™ OmniHead won’t disappoint you in this matter allowing for fully repeatable movement.

DragonFrame compatibility
Unleash the power of motion control for stop motion work with the upcoming DragonFrame motion control software integration. Now it is a pleasure to reveal complicated scene details by smoothly adjusting the focus. So many new possibilities! (coming in 2012)

DitoGear™ moco software compatibility
With the upcoming multi-axis keyframe-based motion control software this unit will be another block contributing to enormous creative possibilities of your multiaxis DitoGear™ motion control rig. (coming in 2012)

Easy to balance
Thanks to a one-key design approach you’ll easily mount the head on the tripod or DitoGear™ OmniSlider and balance the camera.

Minimized cabling
DitoGear™ OmniHead comes with minimized cabling. Signal and power has been combined within a single RJ-type connector. No more hassle.

Water resistant enclosure
Continuing the tradition of great build of DitoGear™ products, the OmniHead comes with a high-end machined, sealed and weather-proof enclosure.

Upside down operation
Finally, if you’d like to hang it upside down – yes, that’s also possible.

Specifications:

1. Payload: 6kg (13lbs) to 10kg (22lbs)*
2. Angular positioning precision: 0.0225°
3. Max real time operation speed: 45°/s (360°/8s)
4. Current draw: 0.4A – 1A @ 12V
5. Dimensions: 350mm x 215mm x 75.5mm (13.7″ x 8.4″ x 3″)
6. Weight: 2750g (6 lbs)
7. Operating temperatures range: -25°C to 50°C

* recommended max payload is 6kg (13lbs), however, if balanced properly, may work with payloads up to 10kg (22lbs).

DitoGear™ Lensdrive

DitoGear™ LensDrive is a precise and versatile motorized lens drive system for demanding cinematographers and timelapse shooters. High-end build, ultimate precision and motion control features make it another must have in your kit.

Features:

1. Serves as focus or zoom drive
2. Ultimate precision
3. High speed range
4. Noiseless performance
5. High-end durable build
6. Realtime operation
7. Timelapse, stop-motion operation
8. Motion control feature set
9. Full repeatability for VFX
10. DragonFrame compatibility
11. DitoGear™ moco software compatibility
12. Minimized cabling
13. 3rd party focus gear rings compatible

(7, 8, 9) with DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controller
(10, 11) Available in 2012

Serves as focus or zoom drive
The DitoGear™ LensDrive serves as a focus or zoom drive depending on your needs. Or go for both options at once to get full control at discounted price with the Professional, 2-axis bundle!

Ultimate precision
With the digital control interface and high-performance servo motors the DitoGear™ LensDrive performs with an unmatched angular precision of 0.045° (drive gear) making even the extreme macro focus-controlled shots possible.

Noiseless performance
Thanks to unique design and motor choice, this unit performs with the lowest noise level possible to allow for use in most demanding situations.

High-end durable build
To design products that you love and that last. That’s a rule at DitoGear™. True for the DitoGear™ LensDrive as well as for all other products.

Realtime operation
Realtime operation is smooth and easy thanks to DitoGear™ SmoothWheel controller. With ultra low latency, adjustable speed dampening, speed limits and easy calibration, focusing will be precise and easy. Exactly what you needed.

Motion control feature set
Unleash the power of motion control using the DitoGear™ LensDrive with DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controller. Record sophisticated sequences, play them back in real time or in timelapse to design most difficult speed matching shots combining time-lapse and real-time footage into one composite shot. Take an advantage of motion control for your stop-motion animations or motion-controlled macro shots. You have never had so much possibilities to control your focus.

DragonFrame compatibility
Unleash the power of motion control for stop motion work with the upcoming DragonFrame motion control software integration. Now it is a pleasure to reveal complicated scene details by smoothly adjusting the focus. So many new possibilities! (coming in 2012)

DitoGear™ moco software compatibility
With the upcoming multi-axis keyframe-based motion control software this unit will be another block contributing to enormous creative possibilities of your multiaxis DitoGear™ motion control rig. (coming in 2012)

3rd party focus rings compatible
Use your focus gear rings you already have or pair the unit with multiple 3rd party rings available out there.

Specifications:

1. Angular positioning precision: 0.045°
2. Current draw: 0.1 – 0.2A @ 12V DC
3. Electronic backlash compensation
4. Lens gear rings standard: M 0.8, compatible with most 3rd party focus gear rings
5. Real time operation speed range from 360*/1.25s to 360°/35s
6. Dimensions: 165mm x 134mm x 47mm

(3) with DitoGear™ SmoothWheel Controller
(5) with DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controller

Control options

1. DitoGear™ SmoothWheel for realtime operation (1)
2. DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controller for motion control operation
3. DitoGear™ Moco Software
4. Dragonframe Software

(1) Coming soon
(3, 4) Available in 2012

Power supply options:

1. DitoGear™ Power Pack 12Ah
2. DitoGear™ Power Pack 7Ah
3. 3rd Party 12V Batteries or DC power

DitoGear™ SmoothWheel

DitoGear™ SmoothWheel allows for convenient realtime control of DitoGear™ LensDrive unit. Control the focus the way you would control it with a typical mechanic follow focus. Enjoy also max speed limit and automatic and adjustable rotation speed easing thanks to Speed Dampening and Max Speed dials.

DitoGear™ SmoothWheel features

1. Simple and fast calibration to define movement range
2. Adjustable Speed dampening
3. Adjustable Max speed

For the last few weeks I’ve had a chance to “play” with the newest addition to the DitoGear line of motion control sliders, the “OmniSlider Servo”.

I first learned about the DitoGear OmniSlider when I checked the credits of the incredible “Chapel” and “Steel Life” and found that Patryk Kyzny and Robert Paluch, the creators of those movies, were also the founders and driving force behind DitoGear. ‘nuff said…I had to check this out.

One of the first things you’ll notice when you see the DitoGear Omni slider for the first time is it’s sleek elegance and high degree of fit and finish. From its brushed aluminum extruded rail to it’s stylishly designed accessory pieces it seems like something that could have come from the design shop at Apple.

And much like the toys from Cupertino, that sleek design houses an easy to use, versatile, surprisingly powerful and state of the art creativity tool.

Detailed review at: http://rickasnoff.com/archives/1300

Shot on Nikon D7000 w/ various Nikon lenses, GenusTech Bravo follow focus, Cinevate Atlas 30 and, of course, the fantastic smallHD Dp4 & Dp6 monitors.

Edited by Jason Stewart
Camera: 7D
Slider: Ditogear Omnislider
Editor: Media Composer 6
Color: Magic Bullet Looks 2
Music: “Daydreams” by Tycho
Special thanks to Drake Doremus for the music choice!

Music video directed by:
Rogier Wieland

Studio Superwoman:
Danièle Knirim

Interns:
Robert Dines
Talitha Alders
Ane Bang

Technical advise and inspiration:
Gregor van Egdom

Special thanks to:
Niambi Summers

Lass Es Schneien punk/rock cover by:
Rogier Wieland

How much more crazy this could be?

This time our products go to an amazing Danish stop motion film production studio run by Johan Oettinger, The Wired Fly. Johan is doing a lot of great stuff with their team and the project is in fact unique.

What we did is we installed a 2.5 x 2.5 x 1m custom designed motion control cage allowing to position and program camera moves without almost any limitations within the box boundaries. A custom designed moco cage is based on a rig of 4 modified and reinforced DitoGear™ OmniSliders on top of which we have installed a prototype of DitoGear™ Pan Tilt head and a Focus/Zoom Drive.

Temporarily the system is controlled by 7 DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controllers, but in the short time with upcoming Dragon Frame Multiaxis Moco system integration it will be controlled also from Dragon using a convenient keyframe based interface.

Can’t wait to see the upcoming productions by Johan. Keep tuned – a short film showing the progress of building the cage is coming in the following weeks.

Check their work at:
http://wiredfly.dk/
http://vimeo.com/user9595937

More soon.

Making the music video: http://vimeo.com/35624249

That smooth lateral motion and TL control is from the DitoGear OmniSlider servo with a little more motion from using my GenusTech Bravo follow focus as a zoom controller and adding a bit more in post…when Cinevates wireless follow focus/zoom control is (finally released there shouldn’t be any need for the software add-on…

Working on an article/lesson describing the workflow/technique…

Nikon D7000, smallHD Dp6, DitoGear OmniSlider Servo, GenusProducts Bravo follow focus

Trying to solve 2 problems here:

- the difference in light from the forest to the streambed and the need to increase the dynamic range of the “movie” to capture it.

- the fact that HDslrs only shoot down to 1/30th of a second in “Movie Mode” which doesn’t make running water look like it “feels” in my head…

almost happy with this one…I still wanted more “silkiness” in the water…see sample #2 for the next test which gets closer.

Full article to follow soon

Nikon D7000, smallHD Dp6, DitoGear OmniSlider Servo