"Is that a selfie stick for giants?" No less than three people asked us this while testing the Genustech Charters Pole on a recent afternoon here in New York. It's a fair question, since its basic form factor resembles a selfie stick, only much, much bigger, and one that you could extend all the way out to almost 20 feet.
Designed by cinematographer Rodney Charters, it's a simple concept, really. It's just a telescoping pole, but it couldn't have existed in such a usable way before because as you keep adding tubes the weight really starts to add up. A pole of this length can only exist due to low-cost carbon fiber; plastic (too flimsy) or metal (too heavy) don't make any sense. It's a tool we've long needed, and now it's here because technology has made it happen.
Credit: Genustech
We know we've long needed it because there have been so many slung-together tools on set jerry-rigged to do the same sorts of tasks this pole is designed to simplify. If you have ever taken two c-stand arms and slid them together to make a "suicide arm" to mount a china ball, or you've ever rigged a GoPro to the end of a sound boom pole, you've been trying to get the kind of shots that a Charters Pole makes easy.
Camera mount
As a camera mount, it only really makes sense with stabilization, which we achieved for testing using the inexpensive Snoppa (only $149 at B&H), with the thinking that at least if we knocked it into a tree or a building and destroyed it we wouldn't be breaking the bank. Combined with a stabilizer, you can get some very interesting shots, though it's not the kind of tool you would want to rely on heavily. It is exhausting to operate smoothly, as you are constantly afraid of what you might accidentally hit it into, and you need to keep the shot moving to keep it smooth.
For a dramatic establisher, it will definitely add production value, but you'll need to cut to coverage quite quickly and won't be able to use the Charters for both your establisher and your master. As a camera mount, the pole makes the most sense not for the shoot day, but for the scout day. Rig your phone up on it to get an overhead for doing a camera plot, to see different angles you might want to get later with a crane, and it's a huge time saver, especially in a city like New York where drones are restricted. It's also easier to carry than a drone (it'll fit in your tripod case and doesn't have fragile propellers), and you don't have to worry about keeping it charged.
Lighting mount
While you can use it as a camera mount occasionally, the pole really shines as a lighting mount and we imagine that will be most of its use. Sometimes you just want to stick a backlight to skim right at the edge of frame, but you aren't working on a stage with a grid, and a strong pole that allows for mounting a lightweight LED unit at the end of a long arm is a life saver.
The other common scenario that is probably worth the purchase price alone is mounting up a china ball for a long walk and talk covered by Steadicam or gimbal. The length of the Charters Pole should give the grip operating the pole a few extra steps to stay behind the Steadicam operator, making the whole unit more fluid and just a bit safer.
Credit: Genustech
A worthwhile investment
A lot of thought went into the design, with adjustable tension for each of the levels of the extension tubes and a ball-adjustable mount at the head that should make for the right mounting platform whatever your application.
It's pricey, but since it's the sort of tool that only really makes sense in carbon fiber, the price feels right. If you find yourself frequently needing the kind of light placement it offers, it's a worthwhile investment. In addition to camera placement and lighting mounts, we did have to admit, in the end, that yes, it could also be a selfie stick for a well-heeled giant.
Available now from B&H for $453.20.
Tech Specs:
- 19.2'/6m max length
- 3.3'/1m compressed length
- 3.9lb unit weight
- 1.1lb/500gram max payload
- -20°-50° Celsius working temperature range
