Motorized Turntable for table top work?

Hi all:

We have been renting one called the Rev-Pod but it is unreliable, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Does anybody have any suggestions on where to buy or rent a motrorized turntable in LA? Need variable speed, heavy duty for heavier objects as well as lighter.

Any advice appreciated.

Dan

Heavy objects like a car, or heavy objects like a brick?

I built one, ten years ago, from a surplus motor that I found sitting next to the dumpster of a John Deere parts warehouse. It's pretty simple stuff. A belt, a motor, a platter with black carpet.

You could rent mine.

But, I'm talking heavy like a brick, not heavy like a car.

Hi Mike:

I should have clarified, heavy like a brick, not like a car. But then again, I have never heard of car table top shooting ;-)

I think my boss wants to find something professional, it must also be very quiet and must be able to cue, standby, reverse, have start points and end points it can hit, etc.

Thanks for the offer

Dan

Wow those are some requirements.

Its needs a computer system of some sort and the motors have to be stepper motors,

I haven't seen one, but there might be something like that around.

You're looking for motion contol of the turntable. That might be a rare egg. I might call a camera house Pana, or Arri and ask the guys there if they know of any place that might rent something like that.

Just for S & G's, I have never heard of a car manufacturer that DIDN'T shoot their cars on a turntable. I was a Senior Designer / Avid Editor for an Ad Agency for 3.5 years and 2 of their most prominent clients were Nissan & AutoNation. We got manufacturer running ftg tapes all the time with their "beauty shot" cars on turntables. these are usually drive-on turntables in studio that looked something like THIS

...or THIS

...or have one for outdoor use - like THIS

Is this what you need for your brick?

- Joey

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

Hi Joey:

Well, I spent two days last week shooting 6" high Tinker Bell maquettes so I think those car turntables might be overkill.

Someone out there must make a replacement for this "Rev-Pod" we have been renting from Alan Gordon. So many people shoot tabletop with rotation on the object being shot for jewelry, watches, beverages, etc.

Will let you guys know whayt I find as I keep searching.

Best,

Dan

One of our shooters rents a pretty cool variable speed rig that we use to spin golf clubs for camera (very large P.I.T.A. to get them to spin STRAIGHT if you have never tried it). It looks like a large power drill encased in a metal box. The only thing sticking out is the chuck where the shaft is held.

- Joey

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

Hi guys:

Found this [www.atlaswelding.com]

It's actually used by guys welding various items that need to be positioned but if you read the specs, it looks pretty good for tabletop. $895.00 is not cheap but these things are built like a tank and will probably last decades.

I think we may go for one of these, if we do, I will report back on how it works.

Best,

Dan