C100: Looking for a stabilizer for the C100

Michael Thames said:
that must have been where I read that. Sorry for the confusion...
Click to expand...

No apology necessary. I'm wondering how the two work together since there doesn't appear to be any visual evidence on the web. Spinning handles pose a problem here...

I'll have to go back and look for the Helix Pro (Double Helix) shot with the Ready-Rig.

Found it but can't upload it...
 
Last edited:
control4userguy said:
I don't think you'll want to be attaching anything to the right handle. Michael, confirm this?
Click to expand...

I just looked at the pictures of the Helix Jr. again, and it seems that you could just attach the straps of the Ready Rig in between the handles and the tilt pivot point. It looks like it would work really well that way.
 
At any rate here, I think the bigger issue with Letus is whether or not they choose to join every other gimbal supplier out there and incorporate high-res encoders. Unique design or not, the final product can't have micro vibs or not be able to "dial-out" running or stairs. Also, battery life can't suffer just because the unit's motors are constantly trying to counter the angle sensor.

Unfortunately, the REDUSER GB bunch hasn't reported any operational notes beyond trouble setting-up. The NAB video is a few minutes of form talk. I appreciate the uniqueness of design but MoVI (et al) does quite well with the traditional approach too.

Oh, one last thing, here's another way to use a vest with the Helix-
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...ex-Lights-Vinten-Tripod&highlight=letus+helix
 
Last edited:
It's unfortunate that the most current thread on gimbals/C100 is old and located in the Support sub-forum http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?343958-Best-Gimbal-System-for-c100ii&highlight=gimbal

There really should be more activity given the number of 3-axis gimbals now showing-up and, (very) unfortunate that some don't command the asking price IMO. If ever there was a mark-up opportunity, this is the device to score a nice profit on. Sorry to hi-jack this thread and perhaps I will start one for newbies looking to bypass the traditional stabilizer field. I should attempt to redeem myself after that sentence, I have seen the light and will invest in a Steadicam and training very soon.
 
Same for a gimbal- M5, Ronin M, not really aimed at C100/300 cams with anything substantial out front but people buy them with that in mind. HD2000 is not aimed at cinema cam users but you may be able to strip a 100 and put a light weight 24 on and have some luck. I surely don't know...

Plenty of knock-offs of the 4000 for just a few hundos.
 
control4userguy said:
It's unfortunate that the most current thread on gimbals/C100 is old and located in the Support sub-forum http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?343958-Best-Gimbal-System-for-c100ii&highlight=gimbal

There really should be more activity given the number of 3-axis gimbals now showing-up and, (very) unfortunate that some don't command the asking price IMO. If ever there was a mark-up opportunity, this is the device to score a nice profit on. Sorry to hi-jack this thread and perhaps I will start one for newbies looking to bypass the traditional stabilizer field. I should attempt to redeem myself after that sentence, I have seen the light and will invest in a Steadicam and training very soon.
Click to expand...

So all this gimimal gabal talk has you running for a Steadcam? I considered that route, and have to admit Devin Graham makes it look easy. I look at his videos and say to myself yea, I could do that. The problem is I'm not gonna run down the street chasing skateboarders and criminals in an action packed thriller, not that there is any thing wrong with that, but it's just not my thing. On top of it if you show up to film with a Movi, or any number of gimbals people look at that and think you are a professional not a teenager making a home movie. In this business image is everything. Those stead cams with a full metal jacket are just down right un-sexy, plus they make you walk funny..... Very un-cool. I don't have my finger on the pulse in the video business but from a hobbyist point of view I'd say Glidecams are on the way out, at least that's what I'm hearing on the YouTubes.

I have an an old Glide-cam with a vest etc. I bought on Craiglist a few years ago. After looking at that plate with 6 or 8 screw adjustments I said screw it and put it in the shed.

i was was talking the other day to some musicians I'm filming next month telling them about my new Helix. I could see them getting very excited about this and thinking damn this guy is a professional (even tho I'm not) but they think I am..... Ha. They said that must have cost a lot of money! It's like saying you have a 5D3 and people say yea yea, but if you tell them you have an Alexa then they stop talking and look up. Not quite the same analogy but you know what I mean.

I know I'll never be running down the street chasing skateboarders, not that the Helix is incapable of that...... I don't know. I know the reasons I bought the Helix, for my needs its perfect it feels good in the hands even though I haven't put the C100 on it yet cause it's at the Canon factory getting the DPAF, as soon as I get it back I'm ready to roll as the Zucuto grip extender arrived as well as the 10-18 lens. I be just like Slavik. Love his write up Btw, quite inspirational in deciding on the Helix. Letus should name a model after him, like Gligecam did.
 
Motorized gimbal based stabilization will never replace a professional steadicam op on a feature film set. It will probably replace handheld Glidecams and Steadicams. It would be like expecting motorized heads replacing a good fluid head.
 
I guess it just needs repeating and repeating- right tool for the right job. I will wind-up with both but first start with the simplest tool, the Steadicam. Gimbal market is out of control right now. What was once $10k is now $5k and probably will be $1k by next year. BaseCam AlexMos is in everything, brushless is in everything. So why would one gimbal be better than any other? I'll tell you this, any maker that refuses to include encoders in their top-of-the line product is not going to do so for long.
 
Michael Thames said:
...it feels good in the hands even though I haven't put the C100 on it yet...
Click to expand...

Sure it does. Get your camera and lens on there and go out on a all-day job. I rented a gimbal for 3 days along with the Steadicam. Neither felt good after any length of time. I'm old, I don't workout and my knees are shot. I'm not a good judge. But, I will wear a vest and I will show-up with it, gimbal or Steadicam. IMO, it's like safety shoes, no matter how stylish they try to make them, you still look like you are wearing steel toes. You need to be safe and you need to stay on the job.
 
Got the C100 back from Canon with the DPAF upgrade, now have her perched and ready to go for next weeks shoot. I used Slavik's blog to pretty much match up my set up with his. At first I had the Zacuto hand grip positioned wrong and couldn't balance the C100 at all. Very important to put the hand grip exactly as shown in Slavik's blog otherwise even the counter weights won't do the trick. I will do some final adjustments in the software but seems to be working quite well.

http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/MichaelThames/media/_Y2B9819_zpsxqdz38yl.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/MichaelThames/media/_Y2B9819_zpsxqdz38yl.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
 
Last edited:
Looks good Michael. What's the purpose of having the handgrip up there? Is it just because there is no other place to put it?
 
puredrifting said:
Looks good Michael. What's the purpose of having the handgrip up there? Is it just because there is no other place to put it?
Click to expand...

Hi Puredrifting, the hand grip won't fit in the Helix, you have to take it off along with the top handle. So basically you have a striped down camera that works. Letus recommends in their instructional video on balancing the C100 if you want to use the top handle and grip get a larger model. The truth is if you want to use a C100 in the Helix you need to budget in $300 for the Zacuto grip extension, or use the button controls.

Puting the the hand grip up there balances the camera almost perfectly, it you have it positioned on the side of the rails it won't balance no matter how many weights you apply to counter it. It took me a while to figure this out looking at Slavik's blog because I just looked at the pictures instead of actually reading his suggestions. You have to refigure the Zacuto grip so the grip is centered which means taking it apart and repositioning it. Once you work out the mystery it goes together well.
 
Hi Michael - glad to see you've got it balanced and working! I'm looking forward to seeing the results in your next video.

If you decide to play with PID settings, send me what you end up with. I didn't spend much time tuning and probably should adjust again, as I'm certain the power settings don't need to go all the way to 200, but it worked for me initially and I haven't messed with them since.

Cheers,
Slavik
 
slavikb said:
Hi Michael - glad to see you've got it balanced and working! I'm looking forward to seeing the results in your next video.

If you decide to play with PID settings, send me what you end up with. I didn't spend much time tuning and probably should adjust again, as I'm certain the power settings don't need to go all the way to 200, but it worked for me initially and I haven't messed with them since.

Cheers,
Slavik
Click to expand...

Hi Slavik, I'm shooting inside a restaurant of a flamenco show. I cant disturb the scene too much, so no lighting, or professional sound other than my Zoom h5. I just need about 20 minutes of footage, for my grand flamenco documentary, so will post a little something. I was just going to dial in your PID settings..... ha! If it works for you then it will work for me until I get some more experience with it.... if it aint broke don't fix it. Im not running around with it just slow moves I imagine. Thanks again.
 
Tonight I shot some footage of a flamenco performance, for my Flamenco documentary, probably got 5 minutes of material. A lady sitting at the next table asked me what network I was filming for....... I laughed and said, it was for myself and perhaps if it came out well I could get it aired on PBS or Netflix.
She told me she knew the president of PBS and in fact had organized funding for a special of the New Mexico symphony to be aired on PBS. I joked with her that it would be cool to get PBS to fund my documentary. She said PBS doesn't fund documentaries, they are funded by other institutions, but PBS will throw in funds if there is funding. She mentioned the Symphony special they were doing she raised $300,000 and PBS added another $200,000.
She gave me her card and asked if I wanted her to look into some funding for my documentary. I said no I was doing this as an etude or a study so I could get better and do what I really wanted to do which is a documentary on the classical guitar, and guitar makers and players from around the world. She said, that PBS was only interested in promoting things here in New Mexico. I thought this was a very interesting connection, she gave me her card and told me she would help me get my documentary aired on PBS. All in all a successful evening. It was the first time I used the Helix with the C100. Believe me in a tight setting like this restaurant having a glide cam would not have worked. I think having professional looking gear makes people think Im a professional when in reality I'm not.

I did have some problems with the Zacuto extension, it seemed to not be communicating with the C100, of course I never thought to test it at home before setting out, so I was in a bit of a panic dealing with this issue. It was a very tense situation filming there as some rude lady told me I was being obnoxious filming there regardless that the musicians had made arrangements with the owner and asked permission for me to film. Its rough filming live events I found out..... ha! The Helix held up well, but went into convulsions if I stretched her too far, no big deal just set her down on a table and she recovered. In the end very happy with the performance of the Helix it did exactly as I had wanted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top