Blackbird and Sony EX1

Buck Forester

Buck Forester

Well-known member
I ordered my Blackbird stabilizer a couple months ago and never to a chance to use it. I finally got it out today and was able to quickly balance it and chase my kids around with it and I'm very impressed! I have the Glidecam 4000 and I never was able to get it to work properly (I'm a rookie at this stuff though). But the fact I was able to get the Blackbird easily balanced says a lot, ha ha! I still have a lot to learn as far as 'skillfully' using a stabilizer when following a subject, but that will come with time. I love this thing!
 
I'm impressed that you can get the EX1 working on that stabilizer. I have the Blackbird that I had purchased for the Canon 7D but haven't tried it with the EX1 yet - I had feared that the EX1 was going to be too heavy for it. I'm assuming you have to put the entire set of weights on it as well as have the balance pole at the longest position? Do you have any additional accessories on the camera or is it the bare camera with the BP-U30 battery?
 
I used the larger sized battery. I tried it at first with my Sony .8x wide angle lens but that sucker is so heavy it made the rig too front heavy. I might have been able to get it to work but I just took it off and used the bare lens (with hood).

It's obviously fairly heavy (the EX1 is heavy by its durn self) but I have no problem holding it on the Blackbird for as long as any shot I needed.

I used all the base weights and had the extension bar as low as it can go but I didn't use the 'additional' extension bar. It's surprisingly easy to adjust, which I like. If I get a chance to take a pic in the next coupla daze I'll be happy to do so.
 
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Thanks, Buck - I'd be curious to see it. I might try to set it up for a shoot I have this coming week/weekend to see how it behaves, and if I want to try to use it. I have to imagine it'll be uncomfortable to carry for very long... :)
 
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