Cinematographer
Der Ultimate Arm ist extrem widerstandsfähig - er hat in Death Valley bei 54°C und in Alaska bei -40°C funktioniert ohne Probleme.
Gyro-stabilized, remote-controlled telescopic camera crane mounted on a high-speed camera car (Russian Arm design).
Overview
The Ultimate Arm is a gyro-stabilized, remote-controlled telescopic camera crane mounted on a moving support vehicle (camera car). It belongs to the category of vehicle-mounted camera cranes of the "Russian Arm" type and is used to shoot moving footage from the moving car – such as car chases, tracking shots, and action sequences on roads and off-road. The gyro-stabilization compensates for bumps, vibrations, and vehicle movements, keeping the image steady even at high speeds and on uneven terrain.
The system is marketed under the name Ultimate Arm (also listed in industry directories as "Ultimate Arm / Adventure Equipment"). It was developed by George Peters, Lev Yevstratov, and Vasiliy Orlov, as well as Joseph Bednar. The Ultimate Arm is distinct from Filmotechnics' "Russian Arm" / U-Crane (developed by Anatoliy Kokush): both are gyro-stabilized camera car cranes, but they originate from different teams.
How it Works
- Gyro-Stabilized Remote Head: The camera is mounted on a stabilized head at the tip of the crane, which is remotely controlled by the operator – panning, tilting, and framing are independent of the vehicle's movement.
- Vibration Damping: According to operator specifications, the crane arm and the counterweighted tail are structurally decoupled to absorb vibrations and keep the image steady – even with long focal lengths.
- Telescopic Arm: The crane arm can be extended and retracted to dynamically change the camera's position relative to the subject being filmed.
Technical Specifications
The following values are based on operator and rental company information and refer to a specific system/vehicle configuration:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | Gyro-stabilized, remote-controlled telescopic camera crane (vehicle-mounted) |
| Max. Arm Length | approx. 18 feet (around 5.5 m), according to operator |
| Rotation | full 360° rotation in under approx. 4 seconds (operator specification) |
| Payload | for a full-size cinema camera package |
| Operating Speed | Tracking shots at speeds over 100 mph (over ~160 km/h), according to operator |
| Support Vehicle | e.g., Mercedes ML63 (high-speed camera car, all-wheel drive) |
On-Set Usage
The Ultimate Arm is used for dynamic tracking and chase shots where the camera car drives alongside, in front of, or behind the vehicle being filmed. The support vehicle is typically equipped with radio/communication systems, monitors, and seating for the director, cinematographer (DOP), and focus puller, allowing creative decisions to be made directly from the moving car.
Awards
The system has received multiple awards:
- Academy Scientific & Technical Award (Technical Achievement Award), 2006 – presented at the 78th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Scientific & Technical Awards to Lev Yevstratov, George Peters, and Vasiliy Orlov for the development of the Ultimate Arm Camera Crane System.
- Technical Achievement Award of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC), 2011 – to George Peters, Lev Yevstratov, and Joseph Bednar for the design and development of the gyro-stabilized Ultimate Arm camera crane.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Director
Als Alternative zum Russian Arm bietet der Ultimate Arm ähnliche Fähigkeiten. Der Oscar 2006 bestätigt die technische Qualität.
Producer
Adventure Equipment hat den Ultimate Arm entwickelt nachdem Lev Yevstratov Filmotechnic verlassen hatte. Die Rechtsstreitigkeiten um den Namen waren legendär.
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