EOS: Rate my camera rig

[Zachadoodle]

Bottom is what it'll fully look like once I get a proper bolt for the back.

Total weight of rig is 6.5lbs +2lbs in the back.

 

[Zachadoodle]

Here is another variation of it.

 

[Imamacuser]

I never used that one of those Spyder shoulder rigs, but they always looked gimmicky to me, kind of a jack of all trades, master of none. It looks uncomfortable, and with no contoured shoulder pad, it will be difficult to maintain a level horizon.

Talking about DSLRs and shoulder rigs reminded me of Johnnie Behiri's The evolution of a VDSLR “ENG style” rig.

A true ENG rig should balance on your shoulder, so that you can let go of the handles without the rig falling from your shoulder. That's difficult to accomplish with front heavy DLSRs, which also have terrible ergonomics for video.

I think there are better designed custom rig parts these days, but I would start by asking, does the stuff you're shooting require a shoulder rig?

I determined that the stuff I shoot requires a tripod and video monopod, and I have a knockoff Steadicam for when I'm feeling adventurous. Steadicam Merlins sell for next to nothing these days, and would support a T2i, but you only need one if the project requires it, e.g. wedding and real estate videos.

 

[Zachadoodle]

Oh it's very well balanced. The rig I have is able to take on all the weight of the T2i and battery pack. Not front heavy at all. Good news is that I did the math of weight distribution of the rig and it looks all fine and dandy.

Added, I only have this and a tripod. I do freelance work.

 

[CharlesPapert]

I determined that the stuff I shoot requires a tripod and video monopod, and I have a knockoff Steadicam for when I'm feeling adventurous. Steadicam Merlins sell for next to nothing these days, and would support a T2i, but you only need one if the project requires it, e.g. wedding and real estate videos.

I'd be astonished to see anyone weilding a Merlin in this day and age. I had one years ago (and a JR years before that) to play around with, but I never could manage the lack of inertia in such a lightweight package, the insanely delicate fingertip control and the tendency to need constant tweaking to balance. If it was going to be a small stabilizer from that era, I'd expect to see a handheld Glidecam (or imitation) as those were much more popular, and you could bang in loose nails with them if you happened upon some. But in 2024, I can't imagine why someone wouldn't just use a handheld gimbal for the types of gigs you mentioned above, easier to use and generally cleaner results.

 

[Eric Coughlin]

I used the Steadicam Merlin some. I never did like it, had the same issues as Charles. The Glidecam I've used a ton, and still do to this day. Whenever a client wants me to bring a gimbal (which I have RS2 and a Ronin 2), I tell them I prefer Steadicam (Glidecam or my Steadicam Zephyr). I've used the RS2 a couple times and was not thrilled with it; it's difficult to keep up with live moving subjects like you can with a Steadicam.

I haven't actually used the Ronin 2 yet. Bought it over a year ago to use as a remote jib head but just never put it to use.

 

[Imamacuser]

I mentioned the Merlin, because I've seen them dirt cheap on eBay.

The Glidecam DGSS looks like a good option for $380, I think it was $700 when first released.

The Flycam RedKing is a blatant knockoff, but it might work okay once you dissolve the bearing grease and replace it with mineral oil. The same things goes for the Laing P-04s.

Eric, did you ever try stacking the RS2 on your Steadicam for a faux Arri Trinity?

 

[CharlesPapert]

I haven't actually used the Ronin 2 yet. Bought it over a year ago to use as a remote jib head but just never put it to use.

I bought one along with the Nodo Inertia Wheels in 2020 when it became apparent that remote heads were about to become the new normal due to distancing. Got a solid six months of fulltime rental and then it became more occasional. It was always used as a remote head, I never once pressed it into service as a handheld stabilizer as we always had Steadicam for that.

Loved the wheels, never loved the Ronin much. Too prosumer-y for my tastes. Sold both at the end of last year and did quite well on the resale.

I wouldn't mind having an Aero 30 Steadicam on the shelf. Not quite sure when or where I'd use it, but I rented one for a day a while back on a little shoot with DSLR and enjoyed it very much. My body doesn't want me lugging around a big rig any more but that little sucker was fun, and satisfied my need for a decently performing rig (which a cheapie knockoff would probably not).

 

[Imamacuser]

Did you have to add weighted plates under the DSLR to get it to balance, or just lower the gimbal?

 

[CharlesPapert]

Did you have to add weighted plates under the DSLR to get it to balance, or just lower the gimbal?

The build I was using made it unnecessary to do so, it came in at around 10-12 lbs, and keeping the motor driver up high like that brought the gimbal up to the perfect spot.

This was my first time flying a rig on a job in well over 10 years, and I kind of had a blast.

 

[Imamacuser]

Charles, congrats on getting to play with a new toy, and reliving nostalgia.

Would you say flying a Steadicam is like riding a bike, and you never forget, or do you have to practice constantly to maintain decent results?

I wanted a Steadicam Pilot back in the day, but didn't have the cash, so I ended up getting a Laing P-04s for $100, and changed the gimbal bearing grease for mineral oil.

I just ordered a Merlin arm & vest for $64, which I believe is the same as the Pilot's, and it should support my 5 lb mirrorless rig with ease. The spring arm should cancel out vertical bobble, and save my skinny-weak arm .

It's obviously not as good as an Aero 30, but I know my rig will get infrequent use, so I don't want to invest much money into it.

 

[CharlesPapert]

Charles, congrats on getting to play with a new toy, and reliving nostalgia.

Would you say flying a Steadicam is like riding a bike, and you never forget, or do you have to practice constantly to maintain decent results?

I wanted a Steadicam Pilot back in the day, but didn't have the cash, so I ended up getting a Laing P-04s for $100, and changed the gimbal bearing grease for mineral oil.

I just ordered a Merlin arm & vest for $64, which I believe is the same as the Pilot's, and it should support my 5 lb mirrorless rig with ease. The spring arm should cancel out vertical bobble, and save my skinny-weak arm .

It's obviously not as good as an Aero 30, but I know my rig will get infrequent use, so I don't want to invest much money into it.

I was pretty surprised at how much of the operating touch I had retained. An hour or so of practice in my garage (when I took that pic above) and I felt ready to do this pretty low stakes job. I think at the time I estimated I still had 50-80% of the fingerwork. And my body fully remembered how to move with a Steadicam. I do think though I only had about 10% of the stamina due to those particular back and leg muscles not being worked that way in so long, but being as this was such a little rig it wasn't an issue. I've since put on a big rig for fun a couple of times, and can only manage about 5 minutes before having to hang it up. That was of course after 25 years of regular work on set with it.

Llast year with the strikes being what they were, I heard from a few of my friends who are still operating that they were a little rusty when they had their first gigs back after six months or more. I had my friend Dave Chameides operate a short film that I posted here a while back and he was pretty shocked at how much rust there was. He's since gone back to fulltime operating on a series and said it came back quickly. Most working operators practice with a weighted cage when not working to keep up the physical and mental side of it.

Nice on the Merlin arm and vest. Yes, they are the same as the Pilot ones. That vest is a bit flimsy and if the velcro is old, will have a tendency to loosen or make scrunchy velcro noises if you shift in it--I know a few people back then upgraded it with Fastex buckles. But I did find the arm quite good, and certainly better than the more typical arms made by the knockoff companies for small rigs like that. I tested the Pilot and wrote a review of it in 2008, with a now quite nostalgic video I shot in my house (https://www.dvinfo.net/article/production/camsupport/steadicam-pilot-review-1.html)

As far as your gimbal--I don't know the Laing one so not sure what kinds of bearings they are using. Most operators use a very light machine oil, the type that the film camera manufacturers spec'd for lubing the camera movement. I've also heard some users prefer ACF-50. But always a very, very small amount of it, like 1-2 drops max. Perhaps with a lesser designed gimbal you might need more to overcome the friction.

 

[Imamacuser]

Thank, I'll check out the Pilot review.

I experimented with a couple Chinese steadycams before getting the Laing, which I believe is also Chinese, but it has a better design and quality control than the others.

I made a video on replacing the bearing grease for oil when I was figuring this stuff out.

 

[CharlesPapert]

I experimented with a couple Chinese steadycams before getting the Laing, which I believe is also Chinese, but it has a better design and quality control than the others.

Laing is indeed Chinese, and will always be a dirty word to me. They announced their complete and utter ripoff of my ZeeGee design based on our initial promotional stills, even before we actually shipped. Their description of the Falcon is pretty hilarious as they don't seem to have any idea what it is actually intended to do, but apparently they just figured they would sell it anyway.

 

[Imamacuser]

I didn't realize that Laing blatantly copies other products. My P-04s stabilizer is quite different in design and materials from the Glidecam offerings, so I thought they did at least some of their own R&D. If it make you feel any better, I bought my Laing stabilizer secondhand, so I didn't directly fund Laing.

Proaim, which I think is based in India, makes exact copies (at least in appearance) of name-brand products.

Aside from quality control concerns, I think a lot of people would find it ethically acceptable to purchase knockoff versions once a patent has lapsed, but the ethical conundrum is that they're funding a company that built itself by violating patent laws.

 

[CharlesPapert]

I didn't realize that Laing blatantly copies other products. My P-04s stabilizer is quite different in design and materials from the Glidecam offerings, so I thought they did at least some of their own R&D. If it make you feel any better, I bought my Laing stabilizer secondhand, so I didn't directly fund Laing.

Proaim, which I think is based in India, makes exact copies (at least in appearance) of name-brand products.

Aside from quality control concerns, I think a lot of people would find it ethically acceptable to purchase knockoff versions once a patent has lapsed, but the ethical conundrum is that they're funding a company that built itself by violating patent laws.

It is I think a little more basic than violating a patent, it's the idea of directly stealing IP that I find abhorrent. But it is a successful business model in some cultures.

Proaim of course did the same thing after Laing, hilariously they seem to have knocked off the knockoff.

 

[Zachadoodle]

Finished the rig. I got the backweight done

 

[Imamacuser]

Sorry Zach, I kind of derailed the thread.

Glad the balance is working out well for you.

Are the handles long enough for comfortable operation on long takes?

You may consider adding some pipe insolation as extra padding for your shoulder, and maybe glue a line level onto the rig to help you maintain a level horizon.