GROUP BUY: CAME steadycam 2-15kg >1600USD

[Richard Stevens]

Also interested for one if good hardware review.
Los Angeles, CA area

 

[Noel R.]

Its worth noting that when using this gear you will not be building the good will of the steadicam community. Its a middle finger to the manufacturers who make quality gear and the guys and gals who have spent years mastering it. Too cheap to not be making compromises in materials and design (as already noted by Kwan) - although it is interesting that the manufacturer seems to have taken his request to modify the vest. +1 for China.

That said, before spending $1500 on this kit that may break and injure you or someone else on your set, or prevent any respectable steadicam operator from offering advice about proper operation (proper form should make your back stronger not leave you in pain) you may check to be sure you've got proper liability insurance for when a spring snaps into the eye of the leading actress and you've got a chiropractor on speed dial because you couldn't get the vest to fit properly. Or just realize that even though its cheap at $1500... its $1500 that will sit in your closet because the proper adjustments for finding balance on a repeatable basis took too long to achieve.

Just an honest two cents.

Kyle, if the Chinese Stabilizer's performance is not on PAR with STEADICAM then it shouldn't have a negative affect on Steadicam sales. Regardless what people should be hiring is the operator, the stabilizer is only part of the equation. An untrained operator is fairly useless.

I'm not a steadicam expert, but I can tell the difference between between something that is cheaply made, and something that is built with quality. Your reference to the spring snapping and hitting someone in the eye seems a bit exagerated.

I would prefer an objective review of the Chinese stabilizer. Many of the comments coming from people who say this thing is going to snap, and fall appart are coming from people who have never held, or tried it out. I would hope that STEADICAM delivers better performance, especially at what they charge. If there are shortcomings I would like to know what those are using real tests, and side by side comparisons. If there is something negative about the chinese stabilizer I would prefer to see that backed up with cold hard facts, because otherwise you are just spreading FUD.

 

[Arnaud Paris]

Interested, Los Angeles

 

[Dan Kanes]

You will feel the limitations of the tool and understand the need of a real steadicam rig, that is if the thing doesn't break before, and you will have waisted $1500 for nothing. Hire a steadicam operator instead, or take a workshop and learn how to fly for that money.

Also, I have seen many new operators trying to fly a Zephyr or else without proper training and thinking that the steadicam is not working and painful. It is not! Take a 2 day workshop, learn how to use it and you will be happier.

This is really good advice. Thanks!

 

[ivan friedman]

hi I am interested too, to switzerland

 

[Mike Smith]

Its worth noting that when using this gear you will not be building the good will of the steadicam community.

What, like using Red isn't building the good will of the Arri Alexa community? We wouldn't want that now, would we?

Its a middle finger to the manufacturers who make quality gear and the guys and gals who have spent years mastering it.

But if I go out and buy a Zephyr without formal training, it doesn't do the latter? I honestly don't think Garrett Brown is losing too much sleep about the former. Most people looking to buy one of these are curious about stabilizers and if they find out it's for them, they are most likely to migrate to a "pro" system like Steadicam. If not, they've only spent $1500 instead of $9000+. If anything, it will enhance Steadicam sales.

proper form should make your back stronger not leave you in pain...

Do you have data to back this up? I've never heard any operator claim that using "proper form" makes their back stronger. Just that it doesn't hurt so much at the end of the day.

...you may check to be sure you've got proper liability insurance for when a spring snaps into the eye of the leading actress

Really? So using "genuine" Steadicam equipment exempts you from liability insurance? Can you provide data to back that up?

Look, I own genuine Steadicam equipment and there is no doubt it is top notch. But who am I to begrudge other people buying lower cost versions to try it out? I doubt seriously these Chinese versions will be used by pro operators on a "pro" set any time soon. No-one need worry about their jobs here. And if they turn out to be really good, and they DO end up used on "pro" sets, then they wouldn't be the first non-Steadicam product so used.

 

[Kyle Broom]

Interested, LA.

 

[Peter Karlsson]

Also interested! Add me to the list. Im in Stockholm, Sweden.

 

[Curran Giddens]

Add me too. ship to USA.

 

[Jeremiah Patton]

Mike I'm definitely one of those stabilizer curious RED owners you talk about, for me, doing a workshop would be cost prohibitive due to travel. Especially when considering I can get a stabilizer for cheeper and then read and learn by experience. If history has taught me anything, getting my feet wet is just the first step of many required to swim in the deep end of this business.

 

[Justin Chin]

I agree. I wouldn't take this on any of my larger budget shows, but on lower budget ones. There's no substitute to hiring professionals.

For me the price is just good enough for me to create shots that I might need on smaller projects for clients as well as my own work.

It will be important to inspect the gear and make sure it can at least be safe. If anyone has one in the San Francisco Bay Area I'd love to check it out.

Its worth noting that when using this gear you will not be building the good will of the steadicam community. Its a middle finger to the manufacturers who make quality gear and the guys and gals who have spent years mastering it. Too cheap to not be making compromises in materials and design (as already noted by Kwan) - although it is interesting that the manufacturer seems to have taken his request to modify the vest. +1 for China.

That said, before spending $1500 on this kit that may break and injure you or someone else on your set, or prevent any respectable steadicam operator from offering advice about proper operation (proper form should make your back stronger not leave you in pain) you may check to be sure you've got proper liability insurance for when a spring snaps into the eye of the leading actress and you've got a chiropractor on speed dial because you couldn't get the vest to fit properly. Or just realize that even though its cheap at $1500... its $1500 that will sit in your closet because the proper adjustments for finding balance on a repeatable basis took too long to achieve.

Just an honest two cents.

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

Knockoff:
Good for low/no budget gigs with only a couple of stabilized shots.
Good for building skills

Proper operator with his own proper gear - everything else.

Obviously if the knockoff is really bad its a waste on several levels, if its at least decent - not great - it might suit some folks quite nicely.

Cheers - #19

 

[David Kellermann]

Update: The manufacturer sent me an email that as long as we purchase 10 or more units, it's USD1495/pcs including shipment to every buyer (excluding Africa and Southern America, but that's probably negotiable).

I requested some photos of the actual product as well as a list of all items in the set. Like others requested, I asked him if a custom metal box is included and if there is some power and video distribution box (4pin Lemo, HDMI, HD-SDI).

Also, I asked him if he can deliver a test unit to an experienced steadicam op like fellow reduser Jay Kim to review the unit. I guess it would be fair to let him then use this test to promote his product, but that's of course up to the tester.

 

[Alex Kornreich]

Really? So using "genuine" Steadicam equipment exempts you from liability insurance? Can you provide data to back that up?

Yes, with proper form the lower back gets stronger. The top operators in the world have been doing it 15-30 years. If it was killing their back, I don't they would have lasted so long. I've been operating for full time for 2 years, and part time for the prior 2. I've never had any back pain, and I fly much bigger cameras than this thing can fly.

However, if the vest is low quality and doesn't support your torso properly, then you can have very serious injury. It's ok to use a cheap rig if you're not flying heavy cameras, but since this can fly over 30 lbs, I think it's a very big risk.

Here's another thing to consider. You're going to trust $30K-$100K of equipment on a $1600 steadicam, when all other steadicams in this weight range are over $20K? If you've got $1600 to throw around, then by all means go for it. But if you're actually planning on using it for professional work, I wouldn't even consider this as an option.

And lastly, since most of you are considering this as a rig to learn on, it is only good to learn on if it has the proper adjustments to achieve dynamic balance, has a decent gimbal, and proper vest support. Without these things, you will develop bad habits and negate any learning.

Regarding testing the rig, make sure you have a professional op take a look at it. A newbie or non-op will have no clue what to look for. The build quality being "solid" means nothing.

 

[Kwan Khan]

Update: The manufacturer sent me an email that as long as we purchase 10 or more units, it's USD1495/pcs including shipment to every buyer (excluding Africa and Southern America, but that's probably negotiable).

I requested some photos of the actual product as well as a list of all items in the set. Like others requested, I asked him if a custom metal box is included and if there is some power and video distribution box (4pin Lemo, HDMI, HD-SDI).

Also, I asked him if he can deliver a test unit to an experienced steadicam op like fellow reduser Jay Kim to review the unit. I guess it would be fair to let him then use this test to promote his product, but that's of course up to the tester.

Well, I did request you, not to negotiate yet. My starting BID (to manufacture) would be under $1000/per system for us as redusers to prompt his item (not to buy).
But I guess It won't happen, so Good luck Sir (lol)

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Update: The manufacturer sent me an email that as long as we purchase 10 or more units, it's USD1495/pcs including shipment to every buyer (excluding Africa and Southern America, but that's probably negotiable).

It must be possible to get a better discount than $105 for 50+ units.

 

[Oje Unuigboje]

Please add me too - Shipping to Atlanta, USA.

 

[Steve Das]

It must be possible to get a better discount than $105 for 50+ units.

Like they say...Everything's negotiable....even Re-Negotiable.

There looks to be around 60-70 interested now.
And if the thing works w/o major flaws...numbers might go up more.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Like they say...Everything's negotiable....even Re-Negotiable.

There looks to be around 60-70 interested now.
And if the thing works w/o major flaws...numbers might go up more.

If the price is ~$1,200 I am sure we can get over 100 people on board. I'm looking forward to hear what people demoing the unit think.

 

[Joel Arvidsson]

Im interested have you talked about a deadline yet.