Best compact stabilizer for a7s

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visata

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Can you recommend what's the best compact stabilizer for a7s which would be easy to carry around on trips? I did some limited research and found these MinisturdyFlight, Nebula 4000 Lite? Are there any other options I should consider?
 
Check this thread. I have the Nebula 4000 and it works but not with all lenses, it needs some DIY tweaks to take a quick release plate, etc. It seems the new Came Single is better, and it's not much more expensive (no idea if it will take bigger lenses or a QR plate without issues)
 
Samuel H said:
Check this thread. I have the Nebula 4000 and it works but not with all lenses, it needs some DIY tweaks to take a quick release plate, etc. It seems the new Came Single is better, and it's not much more expensive (no idea if it will take bigger lenses or a QR plate without issues)
Click to expand...

I stumbled upon that thread minutes later! Would you buy anything else if you didn't have your Nebula 4000 now? By the way, is lite edition?
 
If my N4000 got stolen tomorrow, I'd be choosing between the N4000 and the Came Single. If the Came Single has a bit more room for moving the arms to balance the camera, that would be the one.
 
Thanks, Samuel. I was looking for a Came Single review outside of the company, I will watch the video soon.

The video I linked above, Dave D, that stabiliser also has the problem with the Sony centre balancing, not enough offset in the design of that model. Hopefully Came factored this in their design, for the sake of the Sony a7 series users and perhaps other cams. Even if you're within payload capacity, no use thrashing the motors to balance a camera. Cya.
 
I made a big mistake: I researched a bit more on the came single. Now I want one. I has a built-in joystick, and the batteries last longer (and they are easily replaced).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezX9E505Lyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs1ALzBVc88

I'm not willilng to lose a lot of money on my N4000, but if somebody is in Europe and is afraid about buying directly from China, mine has had less than 100 hours of use.
 
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Samuel H said:
I made a big mistake: I researched a bit more on the came single. Now I want one. I has a built-in joystick, and the batteries last longer (and they are easily replaced).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezX9E505Lyo
Click to expand...

hehe, I also read everything I found about came single and according to my research it's the most advanced gimbal to date. Sounds like the gadget I want :) There are more videos available on youtube now and the footage seems very good. I will most likely order it.

Dave Dudgale is reviewing came single and should be publishing his review soon. Not sure when but he told me yesterday he was editing it.
 
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You know, my steadicam has seen better days and I was considering getting a replacement, but all anyone is talking about these days is those motorized gimbals. The good ones are too pricey for me (Ronin, Movi) and the cheap ones seem to have more jitter than a real balance-based stabilizer. Not much, they look remarkably good to be honest, but considering how much cheaper a good non-motorized one is, and how much longer they last (mine is well over a decade old and would have lasted longer if I were the original owner of it), is it really worth it?

I don't know. I keep going back and forth in my head on the subject.
 
My new Beholder DS-1 is on its way. Should have it by about the 31st.
I got if for my BMPCC's and Samsung NX-1. The weight limit is much greater than almost all of the others.
It doesn't have encoders (as far as I know anyway) but it comes setup and ready to use and it's a lot cheaper than many of the others.

For the BMCC with a matte box and monitor a traditional steadycam still can't be beat.
 
M. Gilden said:
You know, my steadicam has seen better days and I was considering getting a replacement, but all anyone is talking about these days is those motorized gimbals. The good ones are too pricey for me (Ronin, Movi) and the cheap ones seem to have more jitter than a real balance-based stabilizer. Not much, they look remarkably good to be honest, but considering how much cheaper a good non-motorized one is, and how much longer they last (mine is well over a decade old and would have lasted longer if I were the original owner of it), is it really worth it?

I don't know. I keep going back and forth in my head on the subject.
Click to expand...

as someone thats used, and enjoyed, those motorized gimballs extensively (movi, ronin)....other than a few select instances: setting up and using a steadicam has ultimately been easier and netted similar results.
 
caseywilsondp said:
as someone thats used, and enjoyed, those motorized gimballs extensively (movi, ronin)....other than a few select instances: setting up and using a steadicam has ultimately been easier and netted similar results.
Click to expand...

Easier? Interesting. I thought the draw to these was that they are easier to set up and go in less time, and you have more freedom of movement (don't have to be as careful or trained).
My impression, at least with the cheap motorized ones (not the Ronin and Movi class machines), is that there is a compromise of quality for the benefit of it being easier. On almost all of the review and test videos that I've seen, I notice micro-adjustment corrections by the gimbal to keep the camera straight. A steadicam or other non-motorized weight-based gimbal, once properly balanced, doesn't make micro adjustments. The problem is that if the operator is not careful or the balance isn't perfect, the camera might go where *it* wants instead of where you want. But, at least it does it smoothly! ;)

My argument until now has been that unless I have the budget for the "big boys", I'd rather practice with steadicam since it is smoother and actually costs less than even the cheapest motorized ones.

I'm curious, what was harder about the motorized ones? Harder to transport and assemble on location? Or harder to use?
 
Once you set it up for a particular camera is easy to get up and go, but that's the same with a regular steadicam. At least with the movi and ronin you have to perfectly balance a camera not just to swing slowly back to level (as with a steadicam), but it needs to be so perfect as to stay in any position you place it (at least to be 'properly' balanced). Then you need to adjust the motors via software to get your windows and adjustments just right. In my experience initial balancing takes a good bit longer.
 
I own both the glidecam HD 2000 and Ronin M. The Ronin M is much easier to use for someone new to both tools. However, I have not mastered either. The problem with the gimbel is that I can not place it down anywhere. The stand has to go with the gimbel and so this slows me down at weddings.

Ronin M setup is also eaiser for me.
 
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I've not been blown away by gimbals on a practical level. I have a Letus Helix Jr which is very well built, great service and an excellent performer.

But set up on all of these things is so much hassle that when you have people waiting it's quite impractical at times and even once you think you've set it up you see the footage and realise you had to tweak more. A steadicam you know once it is balanced well. A gimbal you can get away with less than perfect balancing, letting the motors take the strain, but not realise you have added motion issues when you view full size footage.

I think some kind of user feedback for balancing is needed on all of these, a lights system showing where balance isn't ideal. It's all a bit poke around in the dark. For all the technology in there that basic set up of tweak one axis, tweak the next, tweak the final, then go back and tweak again is pretty stoneage.

There are times when, with a small camera like the A7sII, it's easier to IBIS, use your arms and have someone haul you around on something with wheels...!

That's all IMHO and YMMV!

cheers
Paul
 
To match what I do with my Nebula 4000, I would have to improve my steadicam skills A LOT. Being good at technical stuff but not so great at physical stuff, the gimbal suits *me* a lot better. YMMV.

BTW this is a good example of what "even I" can get out of a gimbal (in this case, N4000 with RX100 IV). Trying to do the same with a steadicam, the horizon was never even close to stable, or the moves so clean.
 
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