SilverArrow925 stabilizer?

[Mark B.]

Anyone have experience with this stabilizer? Any opinions on it? Any cheaper alternatives that are still well-built?

http://www.bassonsteady.com.ar/shop/detalle.asp?oynprodid=13

 

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

I recommend it befor BUT nobody agree with me ..most of people here
did not accept it ?:innocent:

 

[Priyesh P.]

oh please, not that "company" again...
read this: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8536&highlight=basson

 

[Alexis Hanawalt]

No one on the Red forums has had very much to say about this product other than secondhand reports. The only direct review was this from Dustin Cross:

I tried a Basson at NAB a couple years ago and thought it was okay, but I am no expert. Something about the placement of the arm was weird for me. It was a little high and kept banging my right elbow.

Knocking something that's suspiciously cheap and few people have actually had their hands on - sounds familiar...

For those of us who WANT to get what we pay for, this product seems like it could be a bargain. Either this or the EasyRig for me...

 

[Alexis Hanawalt]

Here's a review from 2004 by Jason Williams, pulled off http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t167.html:

I've had a Basson rig for three years now, and I will admit, it's had it's problems ... here they all are lol:

Balance problem : turn it 180 and watch it fall forward
Gimbal : rubber seal sticks and causes sled to shake, took me ages to suss that one out
Sled : the top and bottom parts of the sled are cut slanted and the bolts strip the threads inside
The Yoke : the hole that joins the arm connector isn't straight - causes balance problems
The Arm : you're gonna love this : it snapped, a weld on the elbow snapped, dropping my camera (managed to catch it)
The Arm (again) : when running, the arm bangs together, creates some incredible shock on the camera, literally impossible to run and get it smooth
The Monitor : had to get this fixed, the power connector broke
The Vest : screw heads cut t-shirts and tops, I have plenty with air holes now!

That's just a few of the problems I've had with mine ... I know of one other person who the arm broke on, I contacted Basson and they send me new parts free of charge, and I'm glad to say are still working 100% well, and the balance problem has been solved.

All in all, yes it's a cheap rig, and can be argued that it's cheaply made. But it does do the job, I can vouch for that, just bog standard shots come out smoothly.

The arm handles weight quite well, my current camera weighs in at 9.6 kilos, on the Basson rig, that's around half of the tension adjusters, so still some give ... but I'm still nervous of it dropping!

I'm so glad that I'm moving to a Steadicam, the real, genuine piece of kit.

....just thought I'd share my experience with Basson and their products.

Jason

Of note, most people who've actually used it say it's not THAT bad. That discussion also pertains to older models (4 years ago...)

Here's another discussion. Once again, note the difference in tone between the people who actually state that they've used it, and the people who do not. http://www.steadiforum.com/archive/index.php?t-286.html