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MotoCrane – World’s First Universal Automotive Camera Crane System
Is hanging out of your car window with your MøVi not quite getting you the shot? No budget for a Russian Arm? Check out the MotoCrane, the world’s first universal automotive camera crane system.
The result is apparently a world’s first in the universal automotive camera crane system market. To obtain these sorts of shots before it would take a lot of rigging and/or a purpose built vehicle, like a Russian Arm. The MotoCrane now challenges anyone with standard sized vehicle and half an hour to spare.
The MotoCrane is made up of three modules, the ARMA jib arm, ACRO gimbal head and ATILIS base.
The reach of the suction mounts on the ATILIS base is 2.5’x2.5′ MIN, 4’x4′ MAX, so technically speaking any vehicle with a flat, non-fabric, non-glass roof of this size will be compatible.
The ARMA Jib arm offers 360 degrees of rotation and 70 degrees of vertical lift (30 up, 45 down) and you get unlimited rotation & 180 degree tilt/roll on the ACRO head. Compatible cameras start from small mirrorless systems (GH4, A7s) up to the ARRI Alexa Mini, RED EPIC and Sony F55; basically anything within a 25lbs payload is compatible.
And then there’s the MotoCrane Command Central iOS app and wireless control panel. Utilizing an actual iPad as the interface, the operator can adjust and control the MotoCrane system, from camera moves to ACRO head configuration.
MotoCrane Tech Specs:
- Included Accessories | iPad, Gamevice, HD Monitor, 1x Lens Control
- iOS App | Free; coming soon.
- Max Payload | 25 lbs
- ARMA motion | Unlimited Rotation, 30 deg up, 45 down
- ACRO motion | Unlimited Rotation, Tilt & Roll: 180 deg
- Max Speed | 80 MPH
- Lens Height from Roof | 3′ above, 3′ below
- Boom Length | 6′ from center, 9′ total
- Max Controlled Speed ARMA: 4 sec 360º Swing
- Max Controlled Speed ACRO: 1 sec 360º Pan
- Weather | Water resistant
- Power Input | Cigarette Lighter; 12V/10amp (fused in cable)
- Roof | Flat, glossy mounting points (non-fabric, non-glass)
- ATLIS Area | 2.5’x2.5′ MIN, 4’x4′ MAX
- Suction Cups | 6 inch diameter, 70 lb load rating each (x4)
- Security Harness | Straps to wheel fenders rated to 300 lbs each (x4)
- SYSTEM | 95 lbs unloaded, 170 lbs fully loaded (including max payload),
- ATLIS Base | 35 lb unloaded weight
- ARMA Boom | 50 lbs unloaded weight
- ACRO Head | 10 lbs unloaded weight
Pricing and availability: TBC (will update article as soon as it’s released).
It will probably not be cheap, but it will be sure to shake things up by closing the gap considerably between affordable-for-all filmmaking and top-end purpose built.
Would you trust the MotoCrane with your camera and your car? Let us know in the comments below!
Brice Faldi January 9, 2017
OMONDIEU !!! Antoine Saad Fercken
Antoine Delaby January 9, 2017
Le set-up semble exportable : on pourrait l’installer sur notre meilleur véhicule régie ever : VW California Ocean.
Brice Faldi January 9, 2017
Le bras a l’air assez court et ne semble déjà pas pouvoir atteindre le bas de la portiere sur une S4, alors sur le Calif…
Brice Faldi January 9, 2017
Et c’était pas toi qui était déjà flippé de sa hauteur en temps normal ? :D
Guillaume Fercken January 9, 2017
Le Faldi Arm avec Osmo a du souci à se faire
Ted Evans January 9, 2017
Bim Ajadi your next toy 😉
Tim Shoebridge January 9, 2017
Can these things be used legally on public roads? The promo video would kind of suggest that it can… which is a bit surprising imho
Ian Hunter January 18, 2017
Depends on which country you’re in.
Remember this is very much an international blog.
Eric Van Vuuren January 9, 2017
Omg I need that. Can I do a long-term review Nino?!
Nino Leitner January 9, 2017
I’ll do my best, but you gotta give me the long-term BMW to “review”, haha :-D
Eric Van Vuuren January 9, 2017
Deal, done, taken care of!!
Nino Leitner January 9, 2017
haha *dreaming*
paolo baroni January 9, 2017
pricing will not be friendly….
Derek Sexton Horani January 9, 2017
I think I need this or something
Benoît Regord January 9, 2017
John 😏
John Leclercq January 10, 2017
yess je l’avais vu !!!! j’adore !!! affaire a suivre ;)
Tony Lykke Lorentzen January 10, 2017
Please leave stuff like this to professionals. We don’t need prices to come down on this type of gear or we’ll have all kinds of idiots driving around with this kind of rig making a lot of trouble for the working professionals who actually know what they’re doing ;-)
Nino Leitner January 10, 2017
This could be copy / pasted to drones as well? :)
Tony Lykke Lorentzen January 10, 2017
Certainly could 😂👌🏼
Kurt Wallrath January 10, 2017
We already have “idiots”‘ making rigs like this. It’s great the prices are coming down so the idiots can afford a reliable set up instead of building a sketch Franken-rig!
Alister Chapman January 10, 2017
I’m with Tony, this is dangerous gear. Last thing we want is people with no experience driving along public roads wiping out other road users. It’s the skilled specialist operators that make rigs like this work so well. Better to hire the rig and an experienced operator/driver.
Nino Leitner January 10, 2017
I think we might not have to deal with this at all, there is no way that thing would get a permission to be used in most European countries.
Alister Chapman January 10, 2017
When has needing permission stopped people from doing stupid things? Think Sarah Jones.
Tony Lykke Lorentzen January 10, 2017
Alister Chapman Exactly!
Zachary Nelson January 10, 2017
Safety is a fundamental component of MotoCrane. Safety for the car, the camera and most importantly the operators. The entire system, while robust enough to be versatile, is compact enough to operate very comfortably without concern of collision. In the app, operators define safe limits for the system to operate based on the application. And remember, this is while everyone is safely restrained in the cabin. No hanging out of windows or doors. That, to me, is unsafe and unfair to working professionals. There are many professionals who have the skill and experience to manage a system like MotoCrane without compromising safety. Thanks for the comments everyone.
Thomas Kuerzl January 17, 2017
well i am using vehicles like Russian arm or whatever you wanna call the system a lot on my car commercials and i am not worried about the people inside the vehicle but i am concerned about what an unexperienced person can do to someone outside the vehicle with a system like that….. for a good reason operating the camera and operating the arm are split on any professional system. !!!!!!!!
Kim Armand Nielsen January 10, 2017
Should have seen it coming: The upgraded selfie-stick :-o
Thomas Kuerzl January 17, 2017
hahaha yeah
Thomas Kuerzl January 17, 2017
yes pls! i ´ve seen too many accidents from professionals already! don’t wanna imagine someone looses control of that thing anywhere in public just because he thinks he can handle it
Gleb Volkov January 10, 2017
No low angles :(
Adam Griffith January 10, 2017
Nice!
Janne Amunét January 10, 2017
Saw this right before you posted as well. Supremely interesting. Opens up new location possibilities without breaking the budget
Tom Truong January 10, 2017
Could use to hang a guy with a guitar at the other end… I could see a low budget Mad Max in the making. ;-)
Ville-Veikko Heinonen January 10, 2017
I’m pretty sure this will still cost a huge amount of money. And I can’t say much yet, but judging by the short video clip, it will probably need an air suspension and a pretty even road to give good results. Looking forward to the price though!
abin cleatus January 10, 2017
Need to know the price
Sascha Reinhardt January 10, 2017
Allein die Befestigung… Heilge Scheisse
Das gesamte System wiegt bis 77 kg
-4 Saugnäpfe a 31kg =´127 kg maximale ideale Saugkraft?
Aufm vibrierenden Blechdach. Sind das aktive Saugnäpfe?
-Und Haken, welche an den Kotflügeln eingehängt werden? Im Ernst? An welchem Kotflügel kann man überhaupt punktuell mit 136kg Zugkraft ziehen? 4 Gurte mit insgesamt etwa 544 kg Gesamtbelastung?
Bei dynamischen Fahrzuständen verringert sich das, beim starken Bremsen z.B, nehmen praktisch nur die hinteren Hurte Kraft auf.
Ich seh das schon auf nem Audi RS oder nem AMG Benz montiert werden und davonfliegen…
Roman Prudkin January 12, 2017
Very nice tools.How much this guy?
Harry Rabin January 17, 2017
Well it all depends on the price point wether or not its worth jumping into this arena for INDIE filmmakers. Definitely no gorilla style shooting with that mounted on your car, a real attention getter especially with the local law enforcement. The Inspire 2 is most likely a cheaper solution. The thought of suction cups doing the job is also a bit nerve racking with an arm flying around so I imagine there are severe speed limitations too. Bottomline is you have to wonder why noone else has decided to make an affordable commercially available russian arm style product before…
Zachary Nelson January 17, 2017
Harry,
We have driven alongside state troopers with the head positioned over the front and rear of vehicles with no hassle. Of course, operation of MotoCrane must be done in accordance with state law. At each of the 4 feet that attach to the roof, there is 70lbs of suction, a strap that distributes load to the fender, and another strap that actually runs through the cabin of the vehicle. It is a completely fool-proof system. The system is rated to 80mph and 1g of lateral/longitudinal acceleration. If you can achieve what you need with an Inspire 2, more power to you. For DP’s who need to run a 25lbs cinema rig at up to 80mph for a proper 10 hour day without ever changing a battery, MotoCrane is here.
Harry Rabin January 17, 2017
What kind of training do you provide for operating this arm? Biggest concern as always is safety. Would like to do or see a shootout/comparison with this against a drone. Any idea on price point yet?
Zachary Nelson January 17, 2017
Safety is fundamental to MotoCrane. Safety for the car, the camera, and most importantly the crew and potential bystanders. Like I said, we regularly operate MotoCrane on public roads in positions that are completely legal. The system is robust enough for flexible positioning of the camera, and compact enough to operate comfortably and safely. MotoCrane is establishing it’s global dealer network, and we will likely be launching a MotoCrane Academy course for certification through dealers. Also, 1/3 of the MotoCrane iOS app is dedicated to Tutorials like setup, walkthroughs, troubleshooting, and pro tips. Within the app, the operator also defines limits for a safe range of motion. Camera cars and drones are different tools, built and optimized for different things. If you’re trying to fly a heavy-lift drone 1′ off the ground at max speed and max capacity for an extended period of time, you’re missing the point. Thanks for your questions and hopefully you get the opportunity to experience MotoCrane. Cheers.