Cheap stabilization rigs - pics!

Kholi said:
I'm really thinkin' the ole GlideCam is the way to go. hmmm.
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I'm with Kholi on this one. As a fellow Glidecam 4000 user myself. I must say that the GL2000 will adapt to the D90 in the most cost effective manner out there.

It's easy to balance and also enables the camera to be quickly removed. Additionally you can use the arm brace if your rig get's too heavy for you.


I wouldn't recommend the GL 4000 with a HVX200 with mattebox, but I would recommend it for a D90 with mattebox and accessories.
 
I'm with ya, Joseph. I think a D90 with a decent mattebox, rails, FF and maybe one or two other doo-dads would play nice on a GL2000 and a MonoPod.

Think I'm gonna have to grab both of those. Let me ask ya, though, you think a GL4000 + HPX170Ultimate Full out setup would be too heavy?
 
The GL2000 or GL4000 from Glidecam give you more options for upgrades as well as more weight options.

If the Canon HV20 is supposidly too heavy for the ModoSteady. I would definitely go with the Glidecam for the Nikon D90!
 
ESTEBEVERDE said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixA92dO-1gg
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I watched this dude's video. He does a pretty decent review. Personally, I wouldn't go for the ModoSteady. It's a Steadicam Merlin/Junior look-a-like with some added "bonuses" like a tabletop mount and a shoulder brace. However, it does have the advantage of price point being $200. The tripod legs turning into the grip would just bother me. There's no brace for it at all! And it can only handle up to 1.6 lbs load capacity.

Bottom line on the ModoSteady:
The Nikon D90 body weight 1.375 lbs.
The standard lens that comes with the camera is the Nikkor 18-105 VR weight 0.925 lbs.
Therefore going on camera specs... that ModoSteady cannot work with the D90+lens combination.

It'd be great for those little pocket cameras, just not this situation.
 
NikonGuy,

That's a pretty interesting idea. My only thing is how well would that work while moving through a house? It seems to be built more for static shots.
 
jstunzi said:
NikonGuy,

That's a pretty interesting idea. My only thing is how well would that work while moving through a house? It seems to be built more for static shots.
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Thats true. I was just thinking for those that take casual shots around town or at a concert or those situations where you stand still with the camera but dont want to carry a tripod around.

I have no idea if this works though, it just seemed cheap and simple from the video and in theory should help a little with the hand shake.
 
Keep in mind my friend this is a "community for filmmaking" so most people are looking for solutions like shouldermounts, steadicams, and other higher grade stabilization systems. I think the best solution for around the house shots is always a monopod. You add stability and control to your setup at a low cost.
 
Does anyone have any thoughts on how well or poorly doing follow focus with a glidecam 2000 would work?

My proposed technique would be to lightly touch the lenses focus ring with two fingers, rather than moving the camera from near the gimbal mount. The only balancing stabilizer I have used was the $15 "poor man's steadicam" type. I know that 35mm shooters use a full on steadicam for this with wireless follow focus and an assistant- that is current far out of the scope of my budget and ability.

I guess I want to know if this seems like it would work better than just handholding with a strap to help stabilize it, which is what I'm currently doing- that works ok for short shots but it is very difficult and just produces ok results.
 
Well... depending on how heavy your rig is, you might be able to maintain proper focus with on a glidecam 2000. Keep in mind that your arm is going to get tired over time because all of the weight of the camera is put on your forearm and wrist holding the grip.

You're going to move the camera follow focusing most likely, but if you practice... i think it's doable.
 
Well I haven't finished the post yet, but there's an actual rig already available through Zacuto using their new micro-baseplate.

20080920-cfqqgqd7uyhcnyfs71h5j5833y.jpg


Should work like a charm.
 
Well... the picture before was actually photoshopped and showed the camera on their universal baseplate which is longer than the new micro-baseplate.

This is an actual rig! No photoshopping!
 
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