LOON is back!

[RPSharman]

My boom op just let me know he purchased a new LOON as his second pole.  They are in Los Angeles, and his 21' internal coil was their first build.

Contact a dealer near you!

[studiomprd]

there could be more to this all...

[John Moore]

Anyone know the main difference between their Loon pole & their Penta pole? (Other than the price, of course!).

John

[Adam Douglass]

Oh, great. Just last week, I finally gave up on Loon and bought a K-Tek instead. Maybe I can return it. If not, K-Teks are still good poles, but I would have preferred a Loon.

[Adam Douglass]

Or, I suppose, I could hang on to the K-Tek (which is 16' 10", internal coiled cable) for now. If Loon proves to be stable, I could buy one of their 21' poles later on for those (rare) situations when a 16' 10" pole is too short. Decisions, decisions.

[studiomprd]

" Oh, great.  "

Life is a Bitch!

technology advances, products go on "sale",  companies fold, and crap happens.

[studiomprd]

"  If Loon proves to be stable, "

there might be a back-story....

shutting down, going dark, remaining silent, then suddenly reemerging somewhere new...

" for those (rare) situations when a 16' 10" pole is too short.  "

or a shorter pole for those more frequent situations where 16' is too ...long

[Adam Douglass]

" for those (rare) situations when a 16' 10" pole is too short. "

or a shorter pole for those more frequent situations where 16' is too ...long

I have a 12' Wilcox pole which I like just fine, and I've never had a need for anything shorter.

[Zack]

Yay!!  I'm even happier knowing they're only 3 hours from me.. instead of 3 days

[Zack]

do you have their actual adress and telephone ?

Not yet.

[Marc Wielage]

I found some information buried on one of their sites:

Loonworks/Kintla Corp.

43234 Business Park Drive, #101

Temecula, CA 92590

951-676-3600

951-676-3611 fax

sales@loonworks.com

--Marc W.

[Derek H]

How is the finish on the Loon poles?  I usually prefer VDB's glossy smooth finish to the matte dry finish of the K-Teks.. Always thought that the gloss finish made for less handling noise.

Loon's poles have a similar finish appearance to K-Tek, can anyone comment on how it handles?

Thanks,

d

[Zack]

How is the finish on the Loon poles?  I usually prefer VDB's glossy smooth finish to the matte dry finish of the K-Teks.. Always thought that the gloss finish made for less handling noise.

Loon's poles have a similar finish appearance to K-Tek, can anyone comment on how it handles?

Thanks,

d

They have a very nice composite looking finish, grainy in a way, hard to explain but looks nice.  It's not a matte finish yet it's not glossy to me either.  I find very little handling noise when I need to slide my hands around, very light overall as well.

[johnpaul215]

How is the finish on the Loon poles?  I usually prefer VDB's glossy smooth finish to the matte dry finish of the K-Teks.. Always thought that the gloss finish made for less handling noise.

Loon's poles have a similar finish appearance to K-Tek, can anyone comment on how it handles?

Thanks,

d

I REALLY like my loon. It's 18' so I use mostly for film and certain documentary work.

If I am mixing a film, my boom op only gives it up if it is something really tight and he switches to the little k-tek 7' mini pole.

My 12' is an older style VBD boom. the inner tubes have a matte finish and kind of suddenly they started to leave grey residue on my hands. I have cleaned them a few times, but it's still happening. When I replace this pole I would definitely consider buying another Loon.

The bigger difference I notice between poles is the locks. Some can be tightened to that point where you can silently adjust your length (for docu-ENG-reality), and others really lock up which is great for a film where you are using a heavy mic (like a long shotgun) that might make other poles have a segment twist.

[Matt Radlauer]

I recieved my Loon 12' poll yesterday...Let me just tell you!! This thing is awesome!!

compared to the PSC and K-Tek I've been using, this is hands down the best.

Finish is smooth, but not slippery...All the joints are smooth and easy to adjust. I dont have the wing, so I've set the base so my 90degree xlr is flush.

So far I love it, and love having an extra 4+ feet to work with.

[Zack]

grats!

[Jimmy Tuffrey]

The bigger difference I notice between poles is the locks. Some can be tightened to that point where you can silently adjust your length (for docu-ENG-reality), and others really lock up which is great for a film where you are using a heavy mic (like a long shotgun) that might make other poles have a segment twist.

I find this too. With my VDB I leave the locking collars semi tight and just push pull the pole to change length. If it was for a long gun mic' I'd prefer a pole such as Panamic which has a very easy on off kinda locking collar. For doco eng stuff though the vdb style works for me.

How is the Loon in this regard? What are the ocking collars like?

[DjGo]

This week I worked my Loon Penta, swinging it for a job. When I was holding it above my head with one hand, my grip very tight, I suddenly heard a cracking noise.. I literally squeezed my boom... I was very surprised, cause till then I thought it was my toughest and best boompole..

Diego

[soundtrane]

well, maybe the finish is another thing, but robustness and other characteristics also matter, probably more than the finish? just a thought...

[studiomprd]

"  a cracking noise. "

you broke it??

[DjGo]

what did you think about when it happen  ?,

how much you love your  Job or what you can do to producer neck ?:_)

probably both..

it's not broken, but I managed to squeeze the carbon again this week... I still have to close inspect it to see if it really has cracks..

[JackHenry]

probably both..

it's not broken, but I managed to squeeze the carbon again this week... I still have to close inspect it to see if it really has cracks..

Be very careful of carbon fibre splinters. They are almost impossible to see and remove and can lead to the loss of a finger through infection very quickly. (particularly if working in remote locations) I know someone that nearly lost a finger because of CF splinters. It had swollen quite a lot, and when he finally got it looked at 4 weeks later, required surgery to find and remove it. Much longer and the finger would have been removed.

[DjGo]

Be very careful of carbon fibre splinters. They are almost impossible to see and remove and can lead to the loss of a finger through infection very quickly. (particularly if working in remote locations) I know someone that nearly lost a finger because of CF splinters. It had swollen quite a lot, and when he finally got it looked at 4 weeks later, required surgery to find and remove it. Much longer and the finger would have been removed.

oh man, i didn't know that. Thanks for the warning..

[Arnold F.]

As of two minutes ago Loon does not appear to be back, at least by phone. 

[hemmerlinj]

This week I worked my Loon Penta, swinging it for a job. When I was holding it above my head with one hand, my grip very tight, I suddenly heard a cracking noise.. I literally squeezed my boom... I was very surprised, cause till then I thought it was my toughest and best boompole..

Diego

Are you sure it was the carbon tubing.  I own a 12' Loon and I have had a problem with collette ( I think that's what they call it) that holds the stud at the end.  Under the wieght of Rycote blimp with my 416 or KMR81 or larger mic the plastice collette insert that holds stud will make a noise as the stud slips and tilts under the weight.  It can have a crack type of noise.  I had loon send me new parts, but this didn't solve the problem.  I no longer use a blimp on this pole.  If I need the blimp then my 17' K-tek comes out of the case.  I generally just use my Loon for ENG gigs only now.  I still love it, but that issue was a bit of a bummer.

J. Hemmerlin