Turtle X Review

Turtle X – it may sound like a new variety of sea animal but actually it is a camera support/storage solution. Made in Sweden by Johan Hellsten, a cameraman and inventor, it is a novel idea. Combining a camera support system and a storage solution, the Turtle X is designed for light hand-cameras and consists of a backpack with fairly robust shoulder straps and large storage compartments. The difference here is that a hidden compartment contains a camera support system.

The support system consists of an aluminium bar that exits the Turtle X just behind your right shoulder and then curves horizontally over your shoulder and forward to leave a locking adapter attached to a cord dangling just in front of your head.

By attaching a camera to the locking adapter by its top carrying handle, the camera will just sit at the top of the bar. Although it’s not much use like that, the ingenious design of the Turtle X allows for adjustments to the adapter both backwards and forwards, and to the tension of the cord that in turn allows the camera to be pulled down to any position and stay there.

I tried the new Sony EX1 with the Turtle X to see if it would both fit the bag and be useable on the support system. My findings were that this is probably the largest camera that will fit the bag. It fitted snugly, and there were enough spare compartments and space to store batteries and memory cards/tapes. It would also accept a small light if required. The back-pack part of the Turtle X is very well engineered with nice soft compartments and the ability to alter the size of them. The outside is robust and will protect the contents. It is also detachable from the harness so that you can use the Turtle X just as a camera support system. Just looking at the storage system and the harness I found them to be comfortable and practical, if anything they are over-engineered. I don’t mean this in a detrimental way, the quality of workmanship is brilliant and the number of fixings, buckles and zips ensure a very efficient storage system, ideal for those long shoots where you need to hand hold. Designed primarily for the news and event videographer, it will also be useful if you are doing wildlife or other work where you need to transport and hold a camera for a long time.

As I said earlier, it is a very good way of transporting your gear. Because it is easy to carry you could even use it on a motorcycle or cycle. I can’t say how it would be on a long walk but it seemed to be comfortable for an hours standing around. It looks like it is based on a professional hiking rock sack with a shoulder support system that also goes through the hips thereby spreading the load quite well. The bag and support system on their own weigh in at eleven pounds which, with the quality and number of fittings, is not too bad.

The EX1 dangled quiet nicely and safely and, once the tension was adjusted by a wheel in the hidden compartment, it would stay exactly where you wanted it. The backward and forward adjustment is very easy too, a small wheel on the support bar allows for the cord to be adjusted. This is ideal for ensuring a proper position for viewing through the eyepiece or for viewing via the LCD screen.

Support systems to date include tripods, monopods and steady cams, so introducing something completely different is probably going to be tough, but hand holding non-shoulder type cameras is always a hit and miss affair, and to be blunt, after two or three hours it can become nearly impossible to get good shots. The Turtle X support system is a cross between a shoulder-mount and a steady cam. Because the bar is attached to your back, the amount of shake to the camera from your hands is reduced, the cord acts as a buffer and almost negates any camera shake. The other positive thing is that you can just let go of the camera and it will just sit there staying exactly where you let go of it. The advantage of this is that it allows your arms to recover. The fact that the weight is distributed through the back and hips ensures comfort for long periods.

In use I found this method of camera support excellent. You can draw the camera down to waist level and the tension of the cord ensures a steady shot. I am not saying it is as good as a tripod or steady cam, but it is a whole lot better than hand holding it in the normal fashion, and you can also have the camera in more positions than in hand holding. Shooting above your head is easy, and again much steadier than hand holding and with the added advantage of less fatigue on the arms.

Matt our model is about six foot five in height and the advantage of looking over crowds is apparent. The camera placed at the top of the bar will see quite easily over anyone six feet tall, and for news camera crews this could be a valuable extra. On the down side however, there was a moment when he walked through a door and ‘pole axed’ the top of the door frame. I had to laugh because we had not thought about air traffic control for the support bar, fortunately the camera just had a mild heart attack caused by stopping abruptly and Matt had an equally abrupt change in altitude and angle of attack. Providing you practice using this system, I feel it could be valuable in many areas of our industry. Those on the go will find it invaluable and those that just need it occasionally will benefit from a well-designed piece of kit.

Looking at the way the whole system works and the detail given negates slightly the cost, but when I was told how much it cost I fell off my seat. Now don’t get me wrong, you pay for what you get, and this is extremely well made and thought out. They have designed it for a specific task and it does this brilliantly. However, if you just forked out for your EX1 or the like, you will get a shock when you find out that the Turtle X will cost you over £700, and that is my only remark that is detrimental. I would put a price of maybe £400, as a price where they would fly of the shelf, but £700 is just too much for this system Basically it is a rucksack with a clever bar that supports your camera. A rucksack and monopod will do an equally good job and that would set me back about £350. Reduce the price and watch it fly off the shelf.

I think that Johan made a good invention and it is thought through very well. You get a dvd with a video guide to using it: this is well worth looking at just for a laugh. You can see the enthusiasm of the inventor who knows nothing about presentation and selling telling you that he is over forty and needs glasses!!

You need to talk to Production Gear if you want one of these quite brilliant support and storage systems. They can be found at www.videogear.co.uk or 0208 236 1212. They are a nice team who tell it like it is and know the products inside out.

Ed. note: Since this review UK importer Production Gear have managed to negotiate a better price from the Easyrig company in Sweden. I mentioned to Simon Beer at retailer Production Gear that the Turtle X is a superbly built product that works really well, but it is somewhat expensive for what it is. Since then Simon has managed to get Easyrig in Sweden to reduce the price by over £100. The new lower price is now £495 plus vat. Well done Simon.