Hi there
my first post on here. Hoping someone can help me.
I purchased two ARRI S cameras and accompanying variable speed motors. The previous owner used the camera with an 8v battery but the charger was broken so I (perhaps mistakenly discarded them). I’ve been shooting on this camera for a few projects now using 12v RC battery packs as recommended to me. I’ve mostly been shooting 400ft magazines with torque motors that say they have been modded for 12v. I burnt out a few arri fixed speed motors using 12v (I was again mistakenly told they were 12v motors) but these variable speed ones have been going ok for a few years now. On Recent shoots though I’ve noticed fluctuations in speed and visual distortions when I get the footage back. I can only describe this fluctuation as like someone rapidly pulling focus at the start of the shot (only sometimes my carefully set focus is pulled out by the force of the fluctuation). I can only assume that this is caused by a surge in voltage that is too much much for the camera and is momentarily pushing the film out of the gate. I thought that tightening the torque motor between shots would help reduce this but it’s not solving the issue alone.
Does anyone know how I can address and solve this issue?
Is it my batteries / motor or is the arri in need of a service?
I was looking to purchase a 12v Tobin motor and a more reliable 12v battery (any suggestions?) - but I want to ascertain that this is indeed the solution before throwing money at it irrationally.
thanks kindly for any help or advice,
all the best
Luke
Glasgow, Scotland