Flowcine has announced the xSPINE and the GLINK, two new additions to its family of camera support products. The xSPINE and GLINK have also been made to complement each other and can be used with both Steadicams and gimbals.
xSpine
The xSPINE vest is being touted as the world’s first universal vest made for any type of camera operator. It was designed with versatility and maneuverability in mind.
The xSPINE has adjustments for all kinds of body sizes. The shoulders and sides have telescopic adjustments that can be set so they fit both larger and smaller operators. Both front and back can quickly be adjusted in height. All pads have extra CELL PE layers to be able to tweak the stiffness and thickness of the padding. Additional side panel pads are available for operators preferring those.
The xSPINE can currently be used for Steadicam operation both as front and back mount in various configurations. It also allows the operator to mount a gimbal support system such as the GLINK. The xSPINE weighs in at 3.9kg (8.6lb). This weight is a good compromise between comfort and rigidity.
The pads include a dual-layered air mesh system with air channels for ventilation. The vest utilizes memory foam that is claimed to make it more comfortable to wear.
The xSPINE is made out of carbon fiber and/or low weight aluminum.
All main sections such as front, back, and sides can be detached with quick release pins so that the vest to be packed down.
All parts are also fully adjustable for different operator sizes. The curved carbon fiber bars in the front keeps the chest region free to ease breathing, also making it an excellent choice for all body size operators.
The xSPINE incorporates dual locked ladder strap adjustments in the front, quickly enabling the operator to adjust settings on the fly, and be able to open up or close any side of the vest. The buckles are designed so no accidental opening can be performed, while still allowing the operator to open them safely even while carrying a payload to perform adjustments or corrections while resting. The extra-wide straps keep the vest as rigid as possible while maintaining an easy procedure for opening and closing the vest.
The xSPINE is built to be able to take a wide range of accessories and mounting options. Flowcine currently have mounting options for the following products and accessories:
- Flowcine xBONE CF back mount
- Flowcine xR3ACH (with xSPINE mount)
- Flowcine xBONE (with xSPINE mount)
- Flowcine Front mount
- Flowcine GLINK
There are also a bunch of accessories such as the tool and accessory clip-on and the baby pin mount to enable easy hanging of the vest between usage.
Pricing & Pre-Orders
The xSPINE is sold as is or in kits with your choice of mount. Either you go Front mount or back mount through the xBONE CF or xR3ACH. Flowcine also has kits including the xARM as well.
The xSPINE is estimated to start shipping in November. It’ll ship “first come first serve” based on pre-orders. You can sign up today to save your spot in line, just send Flowcine an email at [email protected].
I don’t currently have any information on the price.
Glink
The GLINK is a brand new body support system that has been made specifically to work with larger gimbals such as the MoVI M10, M15, MoVI Pro, and DJI Ronin 2. It is based around the xSpine which as I mentioned earlier, is a new universal camera operator vest that can be used for both steadicam and gimbal work.
| It can also work with other types of electronic heads such as the Betz Wave, ARRI Trinity, MK-V Omega, or just fixed cameras in handheld mode (separate handheld unit mount). It is claimed to allow the operator to produce smooth walking and running shots eliminating steps and other axial errors produced from the human body. |
It includes the Flowcine xSPINE vest, two telescopic mounts with retraction bracket arms, two vertical isolation arms and arm posts, two triaxial gimbals, and a carbon fiber frame that serves as the main mounting platform for the electronic gimbals.
Apart from the vertical Z-axis isolation, it also allows the operator to pan at both sides while walking in straight lines, and also offers a very big linear boom range thanks to the retraction brackets at the back allowing the operator to boom all the way from over eye level to low mode camera lens positioning in a straight vertical line.
Both GLINK stabilization arms are based on our Flowcine’s already proven xARM technology and offer effective boom action, with a lift range between 6 – 18.5kg (13 – 40.5lbs).
There is also a docking station that allows you to balance both your camera and gimbal in the system.
As I already mentioned, the GLINK can accommodate most popular electronic gimbals, such as the MoVI M10, M15, and MoVI PRO and the DJI Ronin 2 which can all be mounted directly to the GLINK. There is also a separate telescopic handheld mount that allows the operator to mount any camera directly on the carbon fiber frame without using any electronic gimbal.
Gimbals can be mounted over slung or underslung for different height possibilities, and if you combine it with Flowcine’s long telescopic arm posts, this can all be combined for super low or high mode camera positioning.
The GLINK system can be fully adjusted to work with different body sizes. The shoulders and sides of the xSPINE have telescopic adjustments that can be set so they fit both large or small operators. Both front and back can be adjustable in height. All pads have extra CELL PE layers to be able to tweak the stiffness and thickness of the padding.
The retraction brackets (fore and aft gimbal positioning) section can be adjusted up and down along the xSPINE dovetail for lower or higher shots.
The adjustable socket blocks on the retraction brackets can also be telescopically extended in width to adjust clearance from the sides of your body according to your body size.
The socket blocks can be adjusted around tilt to adjust fore and aft position, allowing the gimbal/camera to stay in a given position from the operator’s body.
The GLINK stabilization arms can be tuned, through the GLINK spring cores so that the arms float in a close to a horizontal position.
The arm post can be adjusted for in height and depending on connection either connect for high (over slung) or low mode (underslung) operation.
Both GLINK gimbal handles at each side can be adjusted without tools on the GLINK CF top frame to allow good tilting balance of your camera and gimbal.
The MoVI TITH/R2 mount allows for further dovetail plate balancing, allowing the operator to shift the fore and aft placement of the gimbal for precise 100% tilting balance.
Monitors, batteries, and other accessories can be mounted via either the GLINK monitor clamps and/or the GLINK foot, all around the CF frame ring at any needed position.
There are three different spring cores for the GLINK. They each have a different weight range, and you choose which spring to use based on the weight of your camera package and gimbal:
- Orange: 6.0-11.0 KG – 13.0-24.0
- LBSBlack: 10.0-15.5 KG – 22.0-34.0
- LBSGrey: 12.5-18.5 KG – 27.5-40.5 LBS
Price & Availability
The GLINK will be sold in three different packages, the small, the medium or the large. The small package includes everything you need to get started, the medium adds cases to the vest and GLINK as well as the docking station, and a second set of spring cores. The large package is for you who want it all. It contains the full CF Frame, all spring cores, the Docking station, both cases, and lots of accessories.
The GLINK is estimated to start shipping in November. It’ll ship “first come first serve” based on pre-orders. Sign up today to save your spot in line, just send Flowcine an email at [email protected].
Above you can see the prices for the three different available options.
