Cheap Steadicam Merlin Alternative- thoughts?
- Thread starter jrod81
- Start date
Pookie
Veteran
Go with the Steadicam JR for the $150, no question.
what the what, just heard about this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00103BRMQ/prolost-20
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00103BRMQ/prolost-20
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Yes.
That first eBay item has no side-to-side adjustment, so good luck balancing for a level shot.
- Mikko
That first eBay item has no side-to-side adjustment, so good luck balancing for a level shot.
- Mikko
Pookie
Veteran
Like he said :thumbsup:
plinkoking
New member
by far the best mount for the money, and for $130 delivered you cant go wrong. www.smoothmount.com
Chris Light
Veteran
could the photos on that website be any more blurry? the gimbal looks tiny and fragile, but it's so out of focus, i can't really see what it's made of.
ATL Media Group
Veteran
Actually for much better build quality the U3X longbow for $149 on e-bay would be a better option. I got one a while back and use it on my 2nd cam (the Merlin is on my main cam).
Just search for U3X on e-bay.
From the looks of it the main components are PVC and electrical conduit. I agree that is one terrible photo.
farfromsubtle
Well-known member
Wow... thats some pretty high praise considering you own a Merlin. That's enough to make me consider one of those. Can you give some cons/caveats with the U3X?
Anybody ever try the stead-DSLR? http://steaddslr.blogspot.com/
ATL Media Group
Veteran
Yes, it is. Biggest issue is getting it balanced the first time. On the Merlin I have nice weight adjustments and camera slider plate to make it pretty easy to balance. With the U3X I had to add washers and tweak for about two hours to get it right with the light HMC40. Once I got it right, it is very easy to plop the cam on and start shooting smooth flying shots.
It's just a long plastic coated tube with weights at the bottom, middle and top side. You gently bend the long tube to balance it left/right and up/down.
It works quite well for the price.
ETA... I tried it with a Z1 and was very frustrated when I first got it.. I e-mailed the seller after about two weeks asking how to get it working and told him I will try it with the much lighter HMC40 when it arrives. He replied right away telling me that if I couldn't get it to work he'd give me a refund right away. Very good communication and fast shipping from the U3X guy on eBay.