NovaCam camera systems and engineering
We are a small business specializing in engineering, re-engineering and reconditioning motion picture equipment.
My name is Larry Gebhardt. I have been a cinematographer for many years, having shot my first 16mm film back in 1980. For the kind of stuff I specialized in, renting gear was not always an option, and I acquired a lot of equipment along the way - cameras, lenses, support equipment of all kinds, etc.
With a degree in engineering, I have rarely been totally satisfied with off-the-shelf equipment and have often thought that the people designing this stuff don't actually use it. As a result, I have always looked for ways to improve it. So buying, modifying, adding features, refurbishing and later selling this gear as I moved on to other stuff, has been a big part of my career.
In 2000, with suggestions from others, I decided to put a name on this expertise and team of collaborators with whom I have worked, and NovaCam was born.
About NovaCam:
Over the years I have worked with a diverse team of mechanical engineering whiz-kids, high precision CNC machine shops, metal plating shops, optical specialists and others. NovaCam is the product of those continuing associations.
We started in business by acquiring equipment from many sources in all conditions and refurbishing it to functionally new condition, often adding a bit of our own engineering based on our personal field experience. We still do this but not quite as much, as other avenues opened up. We also have a few products of our own.
As time went on, reconditioning, re-engineering and modifying OConnor Tripod Heads has become our main business. It seems that there is a LOT of older but still functionally modern and much loved OConnor equipment that is no longer supported by OConnor, and that is where we step in.
We are a small business specializing in engineering, re-engineering and reconditioning motion picture equipment.
My name is Larry Gebhardt. I have been a cinematographer for many years, having shot my first 16mm film back in 1980. For the kind of stuff I specialized in, renting gear was not always an option, and I acquired a lot of equipment along the way - cameras, lenses, support equipment of all kinds, etc.
With a degree in engineering, I have rarely been totally satisfied with off-the-shelf equipment and have often thought that the people designing this stuff don't actually use it. As a result, I have always looked for ways to improve it. So buying, modifying, adding features, refurbishing and later selling this gear as I moved on to other stuff, has been a big part of my career.
In 2000, with suggestions from others, I decided to put a name on this expertise and team of collaborators with whom I have worked, and NovaCam was born.
About NovaCam:
Over the years I have worked with a diverse team of mechanical engineering whiz-kids, high precision CNC machine shops, metal plating shops, optical specialists and others. NovaCam is the product of those continuing associations.
We started in business by acquiring equipment from many sources in all conditions and refurbishing it to functionally new condition, often adding a bit of our own engineering based on our personal field experience. We still do this but not quite as much, as other avenues opened up. We also have a few products of our own.
As time went on, reconditioning, re-engineering and modifying OConnor Tripod Heads has become our main business. It seems that there is a LOT of older but still functionally modern and much loved OConnor equipment that is no longer supported by OConnor, and that is where we step in.
Our Shop:
This is our shop...small but capable. Here we have several lathes, a milling machine and a large assortment of machine tooling. We also have a tech room (not shown) with a host of precision measuring equipment, specialized tools and a Richter Bench Collimator for the occasional optical job.
And when the job requires expertise beyond ours, such as making high tolerance parts that are no longer available, we turn to specialists such as our partner high precision CNC machine shop, a Haas equipped shop capable of maintaining tolerances down to a few ten thousands of a inch (.0001") ... holding dimensions closer than even lens mount work requires.
Our Products / Services:
OConnor Fluid Tripod Heads
We specialize in reconditioning the late model OConnor fluid heads - all versions of the 1030, the DV and the 515 series heads, up to the 2060, 2560, 2575, etc. series. Please see the OConnor page. We service and overhaul these heads and to further add value, we have developed a modification for the smaller heads that you won't find elsewhere, the NovaCam HDF Conversion.
"HDF" is short for "High Density Fluid". We start with the smaller standard OConnor heads (515 through the 1030 series) and upgrade them with specially formulated higher viscosity fluid and other tweaks to give the operator the feel of a larger head - for smoother, more solid moves with a head that is more suited for shooting with smaller, lighter digital cameras - cameras such as a lightly configured RED Komodo, Sony FX9 , Blackmagic 6K, etc.
For shooting docs, run'n'gun stuff, etc - carry less weight around but still have the smooth moves of a larger head. Please see the NovaCam HDF page for details.
Canon Telephoto FD Lens Conversions
Several years ago, we developed a PL mount conversion for the Canon 150-600mm FD mount lens, similar to the ones that Century Optics (now Schneider) offered. It worked very well and several people suggested that we convert more of them. We converted a few to PL mount as well as a few of the fixed primes. We offer this on a one off basis.
Time Lapse Rigs
In the past, we have designed and built never before seen rigs and devices such as the "TeleJib", a telescoping jib arm designed to be easily carried to remote locations and perform "Z" moves in time lapse - a dolly move where the camera moves toward a subject without the track being seen in the shot. E.g., a direct ahead shot moving the camera through a window, fence, etc. (in addition to standard moves). One of these was used by DreamCore, a production company shooting all over the world for a Large Format project for Dubai. We offer these types of products also on a one off basis. Please contact us for further information.
Other Stuff
We love to brainstorm and can throw a bunch of talent toward an idea for a piece of equipment to get a shot that hasn't been done before. I know that is a tall enterprise, but we have done it before, actually many times and it has been a hallmark of my personal career. Please contact us if you want some help with your idea.
Thanks for listening.
We specialize in reconditioning the late model OConnor fluid heads - all versions of the 1030, the DV and the 515 series heads, up to the 2060, 2560, 2575, etc. series. Please see the OConnor page. We service and overhaul these heads and to further add value, we have developed a modification for the smaller heads that you won't find elsewhere, the NovaCam HDF Conversion.
"HDF" is short for "High Density Fluid". We start with the smaller standard OConnor heads (515 through the 1030 series) and upgrade them with specially formulated higher viscosity fluid and other tweaks to give the operator the feel of a larger head - for smoother, more solid moves with a head that is more suited for shooting with smaller, lighter digital cameras - cameras such as a lightly configured RED Komodo, Sony FX9 , Blackmagic 6K, etc.
For shooting docs, run'n'gun stuff, etc - carry less weight around but still have the smooth moves of a larger head. Please see the NovaCam HDF page for details.
Canon Telephoto FD Lens Conversions
Several years ago, we developed a PL mount conversion for the Canon 150-600mm FD mount lens, similar to the ones that Century Optics (now Schneider) offered. It worked very well and several people suggested that we convert more of them. We converted a few to PL mount as well as a few of the fixed primes. We offer this on a one off basis.
Time Lapse Rigs
In the past, we have designed and built never before seen rigs and devices such as the "TeleJib", a telescoping jib arm designed to be easily carried to remote locations and perform "Z" moves in time lapse - a dolly move where the camera moves toward a subject without the track being seen in the shot. E.g., a direct ahead shot moving the camera through a window, fence, etc. (in addition to standard moves). One of these was used by DreamCore, a production company shooting all over the world for a Large Format project for Dubai. We offer these types of products also on a one off basis. Please contact us for further information.
Other Stuff
We love to brainstorm and can throw a bunch of talent toward an idea for a piece of equipment to get a shot that hasn't been done before. I know that is a tall enterprise, but we have done it before, actually many times and it has been a hallmark of my personal career. Please contact us if you want some help with your idea.
Thanks for listening.