We’ve featured the Exhauss and Letus Helix Pro gimbal combination on this website before. The exoskeleton, which looks like something straight out of an Alien movie, uses iso-elastic arms to remove the bounce from the operator’s step when walking. Combined with the Helix Pro it supports reasonable sized camera packages. The controls of the Helix allow for reasonably precise moves and the end result is a look that is somewhere between a traditional Steadicam and good handheld work.
Each time we run a story about the system there are a string of online comments saying that it looks ridiculous and cumbersome. It is true that you probably wouldn’t want to use the Exhauss and Helix combo for a discreet fly-on-the-wall documentary, but there are plenty of instances where it has turned out to be a practical alternative to rival systems. In the UK, several well known DPs have adopted it for major TV drama series. In the video above, Director of Photography Gavin Finney BSC explains why he chose the Exhauss and Helix on a 13-week-long shoot for ITV’s psychological criminal drama Unforgotten. The setup was supplied by UK Letus agent and operator Mr.Helix and carried an ARRI Alexa Mini with a Angenieux cine zoom lens and motors. The final package weighed in at 16.7Kg.
Finney explains how he tested various other gimbal systems before opting for the Exhauss/Helix combo. The whole package was left mainly configured so that it could be taken out of its box and used almost immediately. Finney cites the look of the shots, the speed of operation, the ability to carry larger payloads and the ease with which it can go through doors among the reasons he ultimately chose it.
The show’s director Andy Wilson and producer Tim Bradley also praise the system in the video. They didn’t have the budget for a Steadicam for the whole thirteen week shoot and were looking for alternatives. The were impressed with how the Exhauss/Helix setup allowed them to quickly get shots that they envisaged. In the end they actually used the setup to shoot longer narrative scenes and carry out some unique moves that would have been hard to accomplish with other setups.
Another of the main attractions that the DPs we’ve spoken to cite is that, unlike with a Steadicam, they feel able to operate the setup themselves. This makes it easier to translate their vision into a reality.
The behind-the-scenes footage in the video is pretty convincing. Do let us know what you think.
Sourse: newsshooter.com
There’s a lot of hating here for some reason. They obviously found it worked for them and used it extensively. They stated their reasons for not using steadicam or handheld and it looks like to me they could have afforded a steadicam. Apart from that and for aesthetic reasons I often find the use of steadicam (or any steadying system) dubious and I think can detract from a scene and make you aware of the camera which defeats the purpose in my view. I have a shoot coming up where I will use the Exo but not with the gimbal necessarily as I want a more handheld feel at different heights. I don’t think I will be using it to move from room to room, up and down stairs etc as I don’t want to audience to feel the presence of the camera.
So much talk and so little actual footage. And the little bits didn`t impress me. The precision of the movements is not on par with a Steadicam. One step backwards, in my very personal opinion…
The show is mid season here in the UK. It looks fantastic. The camera movements are fluid and natural. I had no idea how this was achieved until I read this article. At the end of the day it’s down to the skill of the camera operator, DP Gavin Finney, getting the most out of the kit.
For those who are watching this series of Unforgotten Series 2 this is a great BTS video showing the expertise of the technical crew over several setups. I’m a self shooting documentary shooter and it’s always interesting to see how top-end television is put together.
Given that the show hasn’t aired yet then it isn’t surprising there isn’t a lot of footage. If you want to see more of what it looks like then watch Jon Conroy’s work in Luther https://www.amazon.co.uk/Luthe…
I don’t think it is a replacement for Steadicam. No electronic system is as deliberate, or precise as a Steadicam (although I would say that as I’ve done the Steadicam course). In the video they are clear that its a different look. I guess you either like it, or you don’t.
Personally I’m excited to try the single axis version of the Letus on top of a Steadicam. Hopefully we can get the best of both worlds on smaller Steadicams, without the expense of an AR system.
Thanks for the hint!
I’m with you regarding combining Steadicam and a one axis gimbal. It doesn’t even need to be a 360° one, the Betz Wave One for example dampens just a small amount of roll but that’s enough and it’s very popular amongst Steadicam operators because keeping a steady horizon can be a tough one, especially outside at windy conditions.
The claims of getting through doorways needs to be scrutinized. I owned an Exo and sold it because without twisting it, it could not get through your average apartment / bedroom doorway. The twist method of getting through doorways works for going straight through and continuing in that direction, but makes turning at or just after the doorway difficult to impossible. For instance, if you have to go through a doorway and immediately turn left or right (landing or hallway), it’s next to impossible with the twist technique. I also found the Exo, for my body type incredibly uncomfortable on the hips, making them sore after an hour or so. Not to mention, with the weight on the hips (as it’s designed), the swivel motion of hips does transmit to the arms, adding to a slight sway motion. Also, it’s cumbersome – the protruding back swivels create a long profile making it often a difficult fit. Adjusting the arm tension as well as a quick method of releasing a gimbal is a POA. I always felt this was a piece of gear designed by someone who never works on sets. Currently, I’m using a Ready Rig with Pro Arms to support a gimbal and while not perfect is leaps ahead of the Exo in terms of usability, smaller profile and can slip through doorways, no twist needed.
T Nails, did you have the newer version of the Exo? just curious. Like Gavin recommends in the video, I think its best to try different systems, What fits one person does not fit the next. There is no one size fits all. The weight of the Exo is obviously on the lower part of the body, in that sense its close to a regular Steadicam. Personally I have an Easyrig and Serene as my preferred solution. I don’t like the look of gimbal footage that doesn’t have vertical stabilisation. Just my 2 cents.
I had the early ones. But the overall design in terms of profile, size, mechanics and weight have changed little. Getting through doorways was the deal breaker and looks like it still is. The arm width of what I saw in the video, looks exactly the same as the model I had. Twisting the arms to get through is not a solid solution, especially with a compound move (turning, booming, etc). I went through several support systems before settling on the Ready Rig. But I do find the Easy Rig/Serene especially with the Puppeteer to be quite awesome for 4th Axis and sway.
There’s one big issue with most body harnesses for gimbals that is, that most of them force the operator to extend the mass of the camera quite far away in front of your body. Anyone who ever tried that with a Steadicam (and I did) will know what that means: huge stress on your back, especially the lower back. There is a reason the back mounted vests or the newer Fawcett vest were introduced for the Steadicam. And these new contraptions are as cumbersome as it could be – they kind of completely contradict the core beauty of a gimbal, that is, being insanely compact and (if properly configured) very light weight.
If you op a gimbal a lot (which I do), you do need a support vest or arms like mutant. I still do many shots without it (tight spots, certain maneuvers). But you are right about the further out you have you rig the more torque it sends to the lower back. Which is why the design and fit of the vest is crucial. When I owned the Exhauss, I could never get a great fit with the vest. The overall build and design were crude. The adjustment, cumbersome. I’ve stuck with the Ready Rig because the vest is by far the easiest for me to get on, quick to adjust and it spreads the weight far better. No sore spots. But regardless, with or without a vest, I do quite a few exercises to strengthen the lower back.
I do not understand why “exoskeleton” term (name) is used. I know, advertising names/ terms can be catchy but think about how misleading this product’s name is. When part of the gimbal transfers all the weight into the hips then IT IS NOT exoskeleton. Exoskeleteon protrudes all the way to the ground, relieveing stress from human “skeleton”.
Exo-skeleton demands use of servo-motors and it’s something which looks like “mech-skeleton” THING and You sit inside of it. Such thing can relieve stress. All ohe other “skeletons” can only put more stress into various another parts of the body (for example hips) which can cause health problems later on.
The best definition I can find for an Exoskeleton is here http://exoskeletonreport.com/w…
Nowhere have I seen any online definition either in the natural or tech world that defines it as you do. I would accept that usually an exoskeleton requires powering, but the arguement here is that it does enhance your natural ability to support a weight.
Well done Riz!