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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

What Steady Cam are you using?

Jason beaumont

Jason beaumont

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Im trying to purchase a decent Steady cam for my Scarlet, nothing super super expensive, but that will definitely get the job done.
Does anyone have any recommendations? My friend had a cheap one that worked great for his dslr but couldnt support the weight of the RED.

Any feed back is greatly appreciated.

i went to ebay and saw this one, anyone have any experience with this or something similar?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Steadic...306?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac4d2f812
 
I have a Pilot, but would not recommend it. I used to fly me EX-3 on it and it can just hold an Epic with a Red zoom 17-50. I actually need to run the belt clip battery to power it otherwise its too heavy. So I can only use it for certain types of shots (and I know any serious steadicam guy would laugh at me for even trying, but I've gotten some very cool shots this way)
 
When I had a Scarlet using Canon glass, the Glidecam XR-4000 did it for me, although you do have to break the rules a little bit and some shots come out a little shaky.

Now I am on the Glidecam X-45 Gold Hybrid with X-22 Arm and I am not looking back. Probably the last camera stabilizer system I will buy in my LIFE.
 
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Chad Bonanno said:
When I had a Scarlet using Canon glass, the Glidecam XR-4000 did it for me, although you do have to break the rules a little bit and some shots come out a little shaky.

Now I am on the Glidecam X-45 Gold Hybrid with X-22 Arm and I am not looking back. Probably the last camera stabilizer system I will buy in my LIFE.
Click to expand...

Thank you Chad.

:)
 
olivier burri said:
We use a chinese copy called LAING bought on EBay.
Good build for the price
Quite difficult to achieve the right setup

this is our first try:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHM2G_P9gQI
Click to expand...

Hey Oliver.. Did ou buy yours from the group buy?.. I'm at times so reluctant to purchase anything from Ebay coming from Overseas.... Any advises or reassurance.? Thanks
 
Kerson Raymond said:
Hey Oliver.. Did ou buy yours from the group buy?.. I'm at times so reluctant to purchase anything from Ebay coming from Overseas.... Any advises or reassurance.? Thanks
Click to expand...

I am wondering about them too. How is it working for you? Would you recommend it?
 
I have the LAING, as well. I didn't buy it via the group buy, I bought it a few months ago on Ebay. The seller was trustworthy and communicative.

I have been flying it alot since I got it. It's hard to judge the rig's quality, because as a newbie steadicam op, I have nothing to compare it to (except a demo of an Actioncam Rebel that I flew for a half hour). I have ordered an Actioncam Raptor, and when that lands, I will have a reference for comparison. I have encountered many challenges with the LAING, but many of these could simply be the fact that good steadicam operating is very very difficult.

I find it very hard to maintain a solid horizon, and it's not easy to find dynamic balance. These could be from my lack of experience or the rig...not sure yet. My biggest frustration is that after balancing, when I turn the rig horizontal for drop time, it loses it's balance when it goes vertical again. This may be from the tilt knobs not being tight enough, or the stage not being tight enough (I tighten them with allen keys), or an experienced steadicam op said that it might be because of poor quality bearings in the gimbal. The dock doesn't lock when I put the sled up (the new Red version's does, though). The arm supports a Scarlet, but I think it's slightly stressed under the weight, and booming the arm up requires significant lift from me. Again, I don't really have experience with other steadicam's but if I recall, the Actioncam boomed up with an Alexa like buttah.

For the money, I do think thats it's worth it. But know that it's NOT created thoughtfully by steadicam operators who know the tools, and the industry. It's a copy. The company seems helpful, but will they be there in 3 years, when the rig needs a service or a replacement part? The customized Reduser version looks like it's got some great upgrades, but it still is what it is.

Whichever rig you buy, make sure that you read the steadicam handbook and be aware that it will take hundreds of hours of practice to be a legit operator. I know that I have a long way to go. Here are 2 gigs that I did with the LAING steadicam (on the first vid, I op'd only the nightclub and the running alley stuff)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annota...&feature=iv&src_vid=I6OXjnBIW-4&v=qvdpu8XTvGw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akjUcRHSPdU
 
I use a Sachtler Artemis which, with the heaviest capsules in the arm, is fine for Epic. I've yet to be able to get the lower screen to work, but use the Red 5" monitor on top instead, which I prefer.

Getting dynamic balance wasn't easy until a very talented professional DOP/operator showed me how to set it up with a very slow fall (6-10 seconds) and the battery/screen in quite close, almost at a unity balance. After that things got a lot easier. I still find Don Juan very difficult, but forwards is improving drastically. Still working my way through the Steadicam Operator's Handbook.

You have to put in a lot of practice.
 
Steadicam Zephyr. Not cheap but probably the lowest cost no-excuse-proper Steadicam. Just under $10k
 
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