Either a new Japanese camera mounting, called the ‘Kamera-Kharsi’ or a cameraman on a Segway.
Mike Jordan, Bernie Newnham, Geoff Fletcher
Here’s one for camera people.
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That big bent metal thing strapped to the back and poking over the head of the handheld cameramen in Beijing is just a device to take the weight of the camera, moving it to the waist of the operator. Put simply, its a cheapo (relatively!) version of a steadicam mount. The weight of camera is supported from the frame by a cable (if you look closely).
My friend Pete Eveson told me in the pub this lunchtime (28 August 2015) that the mount is not made by Vinten – it’s made by a Swedish company and is called an “Easyrig”. He uses one – costs around £2K. I’ve now seen a clip and stills showing the cameraman on the Segway – looks like it is controlled in the usual way by leaning this way and that but while gripping a pad on a stalk between the knees rather than a handlebar. Sooner him than me!
Albert Barber
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Mike Jordan
The Segway rider that crashed into Usain Bolt (27 August 2015) also had one.
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And how does a cameraman holding a camera with two hands tell that Segway thing where to go?
And how do they ever stay upright anyway without that leaning post bit on the front?
I caught kids in my road falling off the things that are just two wheels
Martin Eccles
The cameraman was very intent on the shot on the “Segway” (or Chinese copy, of which there are many) which just had wheels, so when the left wheel clipped the tracking camera track, the cameraman lurched and the “Wheels” tried to correct all the sudden sensor inputs, and it ran into Bolt.
Watch here…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/34077210
Pat Heigham
I liked the commentator’s remark:
“…Could have been career-ending!…”
For the cameraman, presumably.
David Deness, Graeme Wall, Peter Cook
They are used these days by cameramen covering Velodrome cycling in the UK for BBC and others. Also athletics in the UK. It’s popular on golf coverage: a Segway is used to great effect, especially tracking up the18th hole.
You steer using either the weight of your body like on a motorbike, or there is a model which has a control column between your knees.
The cameraman I have often seen using one is called Ifor, who is from Wales. Ifor is a steadycam expert.
Albert Barber
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Chris Eames
The Bolt incident is a classic example of a cameraman being effectively blind when working. He was behind Bolt, eye in viewfinder, when one wheel of the machine mounted the track of the 100 metre tracking camera, tipping him, and the machine on top of Bolt. It could have been very nasty. It makes you realise how lucky I was, and the rest of my generation were, to routinely work accompanied by a sound recordist, who I could trust to watch my back, and stop me walking over a cliff, etc. I trusted them absolutely, and as I’m still here they must have done a good job!
Pat Heigham
I witnessed a guy riding a two wheel thing in Waitrose! They are not legal for road use, so that presumably also bans them from pavements.
I equate them to similar dangers as permitting snowboards on ski runs – are the riders in total control of their speed and steering? (OK, not all skiers are, but reckon the latter are probably more accurate).
I recall a case where a young lass was crashed into by a snowboarder on her first day on the slopes – ruined her holiday before it started.
Pat Heigham, Graeme Wall, David Deness
Segways are used for tourist “walking” routes in several European cities, in Paris and Barcelona amongst others, and in the States. First came across them in Boston. You can go on Segway tours in the grounds of Leeds Castle in Kent.
Dave Mundy
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This one is used by the local PC on the board-walk on Barbados (note the mudguards!). I’m just back from Krakow (August 2015) where they have ‘segs’ for hire in the main square, even small ones for kids!
