Rigs, Sticks and Steady Cam...

[LizaWitz]

I travel an extraordinary amount, and so I keep my gearset to that which goes in the backpack. So the small and light aspect of the GH1 is a big part of its appeal to me. I'm looking for some options to allow better shooting within the compromises forced upon me by the size and weight budget. My pack is currently 23 pounds, and that includes a cheap and overly heavy monopod.

The current plan is to get a modosteady.
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-585-ModoSteady-Camcorder-Stabilizer/dp/B00103BRMQ/

I've seen reviews from people who say that if you take the time to balance it, this makes a pretty good steadicam. Appealing to me is that it folds up pretty small, and allows two other shooting positions. However, I may just stick with my monopod-- with some practice it makes a reasonably decent steadicam, and an adequate tripod when I strap it to a fence or whatever.

Anyone else thinking of different rigging plans due to the size of this camera? Or are y'all going to Zacuto or Red Rock to put it on rails?

[dadoboy]

Wow, that's super cheap. But yeah, using a monopod is a good inexpensive idea for stabilizing DSLR's.

[Nektonic]

Whoa, I like the looks of that modosteady. I was thinking of the Hague mini stabilizer myself, and getting a separate shoulder mount device, but this seems to do both.

I can't afford a Zacuto rig, but was looking at some Red Rock stuff. If I go with a GH1, I really want to keep my rig and overall setup small and stealthy.

[Finster]

Liza - it says that the modosteady's weight capacity is 1.7lbs. The GH1's body alone weighs nearly 14oz. Slap on the kit lens and I wonder if you're over the capacity limit???

Would something like the Glidecam 2000 Pro Stabilizer (http://www.amazon.com/Glidecam-2000-Pro-Stabilizer-Cameras/dp/B0000AUR1Z/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1241071654&sr=1-1) be overkill???

I've never owned a stabilizer/steadicam - that's why I'm asking.

[Nektonic]

Would something like the Glidecam 2000 Pro Stabilizer (http://www.amazon.com/Glidecam-2000-Pro-Stabilizer-Cameras/dp/B0000AUR1Z/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1241071654&sr=1-1) be overkill???

I've never owned a stabilizer/steadicam - that's why I'm asking.

I don't know. It might since the GH1 is so small and light. I've got a Varizoom Flow Pod, which might also be overkill. If I end up getting a GH1 this summer I will test it with that first.

I wouldn't mind having something smaller and more portable like the Hague Mini Stabilizer or the Manfrotto Modosteady though. Especially for location scouting and vacation usage with a GH1.

[LizaWitz]

Liza - it says that the modosteady's weight capacity is 1.7lbs. The GH1's body alone weighs nearly 14oz. Slap on the kit lens and I wonder if you're over the capacity limit???

Ok, the body is 13.58 ounces, the lens is 16.23 ounces. Together that is 29.81 ounces.
The modosteady is rated at 1.7 pounds, or 27.2 ounces. So, we're over by 2.61 ounces.

I think the construction can physically handle the weight, but that the issue with the weight limit is the amount of counterbalance weights. I think to make this work there will have to be some addition to the counterbalance weight. I also think that the camera is going to have to be mounted in some way so that the counterbalance is under the center of gravity for the camera, which is probably a fair bit forward from the screw mount on the bottom of the camera. So, I think some time in the garage may be necessary to get things just right.

[Finster]

What got me thinking about the modosteady weight capacity w/ GH1 was this 1-star review on B&H:

"I bought this to use with my Canon HV30 with the wide angle lens and so far unsatisfied with the results. I can't for the life of me get this thing balanced. I am currently looking for ways to modify the arm to allow for more weight on the bottom of the rig for more accurate counter balancing .... If you have a super light camera this should work perfect but make sure your camera isn't borderline on the weight limit or over."

But who knows.

[LizaWitz]

I think its going to take some experimentation. Here's a video of someone using it with an HV20 plus wide angle lens adapter:
http://www.vimeo.com/1024985

Unfortunately, the Hague Mini has the same weight capacity.
http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_mini_motion_cam_steadicam_type_camcorder_sta bilizer.htm

The glidecam is rated for 6 pounds. Seems ideally there would be something between the two.... but the compactability has me thinking I should try to adapt the modosteady.

[androoow]

can't recall who, but someone here said they flew their D90 on the MMC by adding few more weights... D90 with kit lens = 1040g approx vs GH1 with kit lens = 845g approx.. unsure if he said the D90 was with kit lens!!!

The GH1 would be approx 45g over the MMC printed limit , and it seems strong enough to take a bit more weight but ...wel..l there we are!

[Kholi]

It was Mattsand (mattias) and it worked really well. I had the MMC for a day, didn't like it myself but it's going to be a great addition.

[saaby]

What about something along the lines of the SteadyTracker UltraLite (http://www.steadytracker.com/steady5.html).

Still reasonably small and light-weight, but rated for "up to 5 lbs"

That should give you plenty of wiggle room for a GH1, adaptor, some heavy Nikon or Canon 35mm glass, and even a Zoom audio recorder or something on top.