Their new HI-5 hand unit is a follow-up to their iconic WCU-4 (which has officially been discontinued) and looks to have improved on every aspect from the previous model. Let’s take a look at what you can expect to find with the new HI-5 Hand Unit.
Right out of the gate, the look and design of this new system are extremely ergonomical, sturdy, and was clearly built with focus pullers' actual needs in mind.
With everything that can and will go wrong on a film set, one of the few aspects that should be a seamless process is focus pulling. An already stressful job can prove to be even more stressful with faulty equipment, which is where the new HI-5 Hand Unit hopes to be your be-all-end-all solution to frequency issues, un-user friendly interfaces, and a personalized experience for anyone who uses it.
With the HI-5, perhaps the most impressive aspect of this new release is the inclusion of three swappable radio modules, the RF-EMIP, the RF-2400, and the RF-900 for different regions and frequency regulations and shooting situations.
So no matter where you are or how clear the frequency is you’re working with, having these separate modules will ensure a smooth shoot.
Credit: ARRI
- Multi-axis lens control
- Three swappable radio modules for different regions and situations
- Customizable touch screen interface
- Hot-swap battery technology
- Up to 100 virtual radio channels
- Split-second reconnection time
- High contrast display
- Three user buttons for personalized functions
- Focus knob adjustable to operator preferences
- Focusbug Cine RT support
- Integrated NATO rail and multiple mounting points
- ECS Sync App: easy software updates and lens file management
- Smart pre-marked focus rings detected automatically
- Full camera control of ARRI cameras included with HI-5 as standard
- RED, Panavision and SONY camera control available with optional licenses
ARRI has even stated that as technology evolves and changes in the coming years, new modules can be added to the HI-5:
“ARRI will release three radio modules in the 900 and 2400 MHz ranges, using direct sequence and frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology to cut through interference. Together, they cover a multitude of shooting situations with a significantly improved, robust, and long-range radio link, while ensuring backwards compatibility with existing camera equipment. As technology evolves, even more modules can be added, making the Hi-5 a future-proof investment, able to accommodate future standards for on-set hardware communications.”
You can find more about the new Hi-5 Hand Unit on ARRI’s website here.
