Condor

Overview

On set, a Condor refers to a mobile (wheeled) aerial work platform (telescopic or articulating boom lift, English: boom lift or cherry picker) used to position lighting, grip equipment, and crew far above ground level. The term originates from the US manufacturer Condor (now Time Manufacturing) and has become a generic name – in common usage, it is now used regardless of the actual manufacturer. The generic term covers both self-propelled platforms (e.g., JLG, Genie) and truck-mounted units; the namesake brand Condor primarily builds truck-mounted platforms such as the models 150-S or 170-S. In German production, the terms Hubsteiger, Arbeitsbühne, or “Steiger” are also commonly used.

Functionally, the Condor belongs to the grip and lighting department, not color correction or post-production: it is essentially a mobile, freely positionable replacement for heavy light sources on a tall stand.

On-Set Usage

The most common application is high-level lighting for night exterior shots – for example, to simulate moonlight or broad base illumination from a great height. Powerful HMI or LED spotlights are mounted in or below the basket for this purpose. Other typical uses:

• Daytime shots: Hanging diffusion (frames) or flags to control sunlight.
• Access to otherwise unreachable positions such as roofs, treetops, or over facades.
• Occasionally as a high vantage point for camera establishing shots.

Due to electrical load, cable management, and personnel weight in the basket, operation is safety-critical; wind speed is monitored with an anemometer, and the platform's load capacity must not be exceeded.

Rigging and Hardware

Lights are classically attached to the basket railing via a vertical speed rail pole – this setup is known in grip jargon as a “Candlestick” and is secured with cheeseboro clamps. Heavy fixtures can also be mounted under the basket using a modular aluminum truss system (e.g., Mod-X).

Redundancy is applied for safety: fixtures are secured simultaneously with ratchet straps and fixed "hard mounts" so that if one connection fails, the other holds. Motorized yokes and remote control allow brightness, color temperature, and beam spread to be adjusted without personnel needing to remain in the basket.

Technical Specifications

Condor platforms are available as straight boom lifts and articulating boom lifts. The working height varies greatly depending on the model: for film lighting, heights in the range of approximately 40 to 60 feet are often sufficient, while larger units can reach many times that. Each platform has a manufacturer-defined load capacity, which is divided into an "unrestricted" area (full boom movement) and a "restricted" area (limited range, usually at maximum height/outreach). Specific values for height and load capacity are model-dependent and must be taken from the respective load chart of the equipment.