15/05/2009
Judges from broadcast and video industry magazines rewarded Vinten®, a Vitec Group brand, for its new Vision AS range of pan and tilt heads at the 2009 NAB convention. DV magazine presented Vinten with its Best of Show Black Diamond Award, and Videography presented the company with its Best of Show Vidy Award.
The new Vision AS range is the culmination of several years of research into customer needs as-well-as manufacturing and materials technology, resulting in a number of state-of-the-art improvements to Vinten’s popular Vision range of pan and tilt heads, sporting a payload range from 4.4 lbs to 32 lbs (2.0kg to 14.5kg).
The changes to the pan and tilt heads go beyond the stylish new look and rugged, non-reflective black coating. Throughout the four heads, controls have been optimized, beefed up and relocated for user convenience.
A staple of the Vinten Vision pan and tilt head range is the unique Perfect Balance technology, which allows the camera to be moved in any direction under fingertip control, without the constant re-adjustment necessary with other systems. Vision AS designers have moved the counterbalance adjustment from the rear of the head to its base and provided a 4-to-1 gear ratio to make counterbalance adjustment easier. Because the Perfect Balance system provides infinite adjustment rather than step adjustment, the user can achieve the exact counterbalance for any individual camera payload.
And Vinten’s sideload camera plate has been added to the Vision AS range to allow operators to mount and unmount the camera in seconds, reducing set-up time and providing operational flexibility.
Pan and tilt brake knobs tend to take the brunt of punishment on any pan and tilt head system, so the Vision AS team took three steps: made the knobs of more durable materials, strengthened their means of attachment, and relocated the tilt brake so that it is protected by the body of the pan and tilt head itself. Additionally, a pair of spare brake knobs is included in the field service kit so a camera operator is not out of business in the unlikely event a Vision AS brake knob is damaged on a shoot.
A favorite feature among Vinten Vision customers, the multi-turn, infinite drag adjustment for pan and tilt continues to provide a wide enough range to satisfy even the most discriminating operators.
Another feature designed to save the camera operator’s day is a compartment on the Vision AS pan and tilt heads that holds a pair of spare 3/8” camera plate screws and a spare ¼” screw and pin assembly for small camcorders.
And in response to customer input, the leveling bubble has been increased in size and its accuracy, and located at the left rear of the head for easy view (with minimal parallax) from a shooting position. Illumination now comes from a bold blue LED for easy visibility in dark or low light situations. A spare battery for the illumination system is included in the field service kit.
This new pan and tilt head series includes the Vision 3 AS (4.4 to 11 lbs / 2 to 5kg) with a 75mm bowl, Vision 5 AS (9.9-23.1 lbs / 4.5-10.5kg) with a 75mm bowl, Vision 8 AS (12.1-27.6 lbs / 5.5-12.5kg) with a 100mm bowl, and the Vision 10 AS (14.3-32.0 lbs / 6.5-14.5kg) with a 100mm bowl.
Vision AS pan and tilt heads are available individually or in systems featuring a variety of 75mm and 100mm Pozi-Loc tripods, floor or mid-level spreaders, and an ergonomically designed Petrol™ carrying case.
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