Movcam has announced the Helm, a high end remote stabilizing head that can handle some pretty impressive payloads.
Helm has a maximum load capacity of 23kg (50.70lb) and allows for both horizontal and vertical camera positioning with 3-axis stabilisation. The system will also be able to be used on car supports, cranes, jibs, as well as letting users go handheld. The remote stabilizing head can pan 360-degrees and has 180-degrees of tilt available.
Helm will also be compatible with a new wireless wheel control system as well as the Dark Tower wireless camera control and video transmission systems. Both wireless and wired modes are available for controlling Helm.
Movcam does show a type of vibration isolator in their renderings that looks similar to systems from Kessler, RigWheels, and FlowCine. It’s unclear whether this is something the company will also be making.
The Helm’s functionality looks very similar to that of the Letus Helix Remote Head which is capable of handling large camera packages up to 27.21kg (60lb). The Letus Helix Remote Head has the ability to spin 360-degrees on all axis. It is also modular so that the roll axis can be used independently like on a Steadicam rig. Alternatively, the pan motor can be released leaving the tilt and roll axis, converting into a 2-axis unit for Steadicam work. The Letus Helix Remote Head does come at quite a cost though, with the complete package coming in at $40,000 USD.
The MōVI XL is priced at USD $19,999 and has a maximum payload of 50lb.
ARRI also make the Stabilized Remote Head SRH-3 which can handle payloads of up to 30 kg (66 lbs.) The SRH-3 weighs in at 9 kg (19.8 lbs), which is substantially heavier than the Movcam Helm – 5.8kg/ 12.78lb (3-axis), 4.7kg/ 10.36lb (2-axis). The ARRI SRH-3 head and control board costs €51,500.
Details are still very scarce on the Helm, but Movcam has been field testing the product over the last few weeks. It’s certainly not vapourware, and Movcam will have Helm on display at BIRTV in Beijing, where Newsshooter will be sure to check it out.
Key features
3-axis stabilisation, option to dismount from the pan motor to use as a 2-axis head
Maximum 23kg (50.70lb) load capacity
Vertical and horizontal positioning
Supports vehicle (car and place) and handheld modes
Compatible with Dark Tower system
Compatible with wireless wheel control system
Can work in both wireless and wired modes
Specifications
472 x 433 x 191mm
Weight: 5.8kg/ 12.78lb (3-axis), 4.7kg/ 10.36lb (2-axis)
Pan angle: 360 degrees
Tilt angle +/- 180 degrees
Working temp: -20 – 50 degrees C
Price
Movcam tells Newsshooter that the approximate pricing is $15,000 USD. We are not sure if that is for the 2-axis or 3-axis version.
