Stabilizer for Canon A1?

V

VR_Productions

Active member
I need to get a camera stabilizer for my A1 for a documentary. I previously had a Glidecam Smooth Shooter with vest and Glidecam 4000 but I sold it because it took too long to balance and I do a lot of run and gun.

What stabilizer is best for the A1? I am thinking about the $800 Merlin but know that it can hold only 5 pounds and the A1 with no accessories is 4.5 pounds. I guess I could go without accessories although I love using a wide angle lens with stabilizers.

Are there any other choices or solutions out there that you recommend? I would like to keep this under $1,000 if possible but if there is something way cheaper, that is fine too!
 
How is that magnifier? Can you focus with it or does it just shows more of the flaws of the LCD?
 
smithy said:
How is that magnifier? Can you focus with it or does it just shows more of the flaws of the LCD?
Click to expand...

Two things...

1) When working without a monitor, I can focus on the fly more accurately faster without squinting so hard and getting a headache.

2) In exterior daylight, I can actually see what's on the screen because of the hood.

At $30, I believe it to be a must-have for any A1 user. I have a hood for my DVX that was gotten specifically for a shoot where we were on the road w/Merle Haggard a while back, constantly jumping from buses and clubs and venues that were pitch dark into stark, blinding white daylight. Got so many headaches from squinting that the hood became essential. Only needed a hood there, not a magnifier -- though wouldn't have minded it.

With the A1, just the fact the LCD is so small, it was the first thing I got and it rocks.

One nifty thing about it is that one end of the two straps that secure it to the LCD un-Velcro from the hood so that it can be used on variously sized LCDs. We have some Z1s in our package and two of the new EX 1s arriving next week. Even though the Sonys have big LCDs, I'm going to buy a couple more of these magnifier hoods for no other reason than un-assisted monitor daylight shoots and the added bonus of the magnifier.

Get one. It's doubtful you'll be disappointed.

--msg
 
That Merlin is supposed to be really nice but unless you are a body builder, I am not sure it will be comfortable to carry for more than a few minutes. A couple of months ago, I used a Glidecam with vest for over 2 hours at an event. It was punishment but not as bad as without the vest.
 
I was wondering how many of you use the built in image stabilizer on the A-1? In the manual it says to turn it off when on a tripod. That puts me in the group where it is shut off about 90% of the time but I was wondering how effective it is when hand holding the camera?
 
I received my Merlin a couple days ago. I think I was able to balance it "okay", but was so tired by the end that I did not even test it out!

I sold my Glidecam 4000 and vest a couple of months ago and liked the weight distribution much better but did not find it easy enough to set up in event type situations.

I am sure the merlin will give me a workout or carpel tunnel.....either one.
 
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