Cine Gear Expo NYC - 2023
(1 & 2) Avenger Buccaneer - This new crank stand has a compact design with a low load point and a maximum capacity of 176lbs. When fully retracted, the receiver sits at 3’1” making it very easy to mount larger, heavier units to (especially if you’re vertically challenged). Fully extended it reaches a height of 9’8”, which leaves a little to be desired as it’s competitors typically sit around 11’+, but for how compact the stand is the low height is a fair trade off. I didn’t get a photo of it when it was fully compacted, but it’s certainly smaller than any other crank stand. I think this would be a good option for studios, but it’s low “under carriage” might present some issues on some location shoots. It seems like it was specifically designed for the Arri S-360, as it has a magnetic mounting plate for the Sky Panel Remote in between the crank handles, and a ballast mount that sits those square mounting plates on the back of the Arri S-Series ballasts. If you own an S-360 and you’re looking for a stand, this is undeniable the one to buy.
(3 - 5) Creamsource - This was by far my favorite booth at the expo for a variety of reasons. I’m a fanboy of their units, the Vortex Series specifically, and they were showing off their new LNX system and FlashSync feature. The LNX will allow you to connect any number of Vortex units together using their proprietary system of pins and locking plates, to create an array as large as you’d like. They come fixed with 1”-2” rail mounts, and a set comes with six (6) brackets and twenty-four (24) pins. That case set-up should allow you to mount six (6) Vortex’s together. In photo 5 you can see the way they’ve mounted them together and onto a small rail rig. Their FlashSync feature stole the show for me though. I’ve seen it before, but getting a hands on experience with it and learning how it works really sold me on how much fun you can have with it. Essentially, you can sync up to 32 Vortex units with a Phantom Flex 4k to Flash in any interval you’d like up to 1000fps. They make and sell a FlashBandit, but I was told that it currently is limited to 60fps with all other cameras aside from the Phantom Flex 4k (updates are being made).
(6) Astera/DoP Choice - I just liked this little Nyx Dome adapter from DoP Choice. It’s a pretty clever design that really maximizes the usefulness of a Nyx bulb.
(7) LiteGear - On the left side of the photo you can see LiteGear’s new unit, the Auroris. It comes in 10’x10’ and 5’x10’ configurations and essentially it’s a Spectrum version of their LiteTiles, sold as an “all-in-one” soft-box system. It comes with the truss frame, diffusions, skirts, mounting hardware, dimmer and cables. The output was great for RGB and CCT, and if you know what you’re doing they say it can be set up and ready to flu in under 4 minutes. I think this could be VERY useful in studio situations where vertical space is limited and you need full spectrum color.
(8) Young & Grumpy - I took my buddy Rob, from Young & Grumpy Studios, to BookOff in Industry City. He’s starting an action figure collection now.
