Why the Cinetech Super Falcon II Has Become a Go-To Dolly

Need a dolly? Got budget constraints, but can’t afford to compromise? We have a fleet of multiple owned Cinetech Super Falcon IIs, which we can add on to camera packages at a competitive rate. 

Whether you are navigating a cramped interior or filming a sweeping tracking shot, your grip equipment can dictate how effectively you execute a director’s vision.

Designed as a total, uncompromising substitute for traditional heavyweight production dollies, this high-end piece of grip machinery combines a compact footprint with heavy-duty capability. It is rapidly gaining popularity among DoPs and key grips within the industry.

The Super Falcon II is engineered to handle the industry standards of high-end camera packages while remaining small enough to squeeze through tight doorways.

Key Technical Specifications:

• Maximum Camera Height: 117 cm
• Minimum Camera Height: 42 cm
• Vertical Boom Travel: 72 cm
• Total Carrying Weight: 140 kg
• Lifting Capacity: Up to 60 kg of camera package

Equipped with a highly precise flow regulating valve, the Super Falcon II ensures that vertical booming moves are dead silent and completely repeatable, with incredibly gentle stops and starts.

Another one of the standout design features of the Super Falcon II is its versatile steering geometry. With a simple adjustment, the dolly adapts to three distinct movement styles:

• Conventional Steering: The rear wheels rotate 360° while the front wheels stay locked, functioning like a standard automobile. Perfect for broad tracking shots and standard repositioning.
• Crab Steering: All four wheels rotate 360° in unison, allowing the dolly to glide diagonally or sideways. This is invaluable when navigating tight hallways or tracking parallel to an actor moving through a complex room layout.
• Round Steering: All wheels rotate in perfect synchrony, allowing the dolly to rotate 360° completely within its own footprint. It forms a perfect circle around its central axis, opening up creative options for fluid panning and wrap-around moves.

The dolly uses bi-component wheels that run silently on standard straight or curved tracks, but can quickly swap to a soft pneumatic wheel package for running straight on smooth flooring.

Ideal Production Use Cases

The unique architecture of the Super Falcon II lends itself perfectly to several specific production scenarios:

High-End Narrative & Indie Features
Because it behaves like a much larger studio dolly but packs down to a highly portable footprint, independent features and high-end dramas use it to maintain high production value without needing a massive grip truck.

Commercials and Music Videos
When rapid setups and stylised camera work are required, the Super Falcon II’s fast hydraulic recharge (via either an electric pump or a manual foot pump) ensures zero downtime between takes.

Tight Practical Interiors
Traditional heavy dollies can be a nightmare to squeeze into real-world house locations or narrow corridors. The Super Falcon II’s tight width (minimum 52 cm / 20.4 in) means it navigates practical locations with ease.

Shot Examples

The integration of a double-articulated hydraulic arm and multi-mode steering allows operators to capture classic, complex cinematic shots:

• Start on a wide master shot at eye level, track smoothly forward toward an actor, and seamlessly boom down to a low-angle close-up in one continuous fluid movement to emphasise a moment of realisation.
• Utilising the Round Steering mode on smooth ground or curved track, the dolly can tightly circle a pair of actors during a dramatic confrontation, keeping the background spinning dynamically while keeping the subject dead-centre.
• Thanks to its narrow profile, the dolly can execute a tracking shot that glides cleanly through a narrow doorway or tight office space, trailing right behind a character without clipping the frame.

Hire the Cinetech Super Falcon II from VMI

Investing in high-end grip gear can be cost-prohibitive, which is why we offer flexible pricing, through a simple phone call. The Cinetech Super Falcon II is fully kitted and ready through VMI. Our comprehensive hire package can include everything you might need from Moy and Boss risers to sideboards, pushbars, and adjustable seat pads, ensuring your grip team has everything they need straight out of the case.

Email us at rentaldesk@vmi.tv or call 020 8922 1222 to check availability or pricing.