STabilizers

spencer

spencer

Well-known member
Hey there.

I'm looking to get a handheld stabilizer for Christmas, for my first attempt at making a short film used a lot of movement, and the movement looked like crap cuz i was crouched down crab walking when it should have been a smooth shot. Besides the point though.

I've looked into glide cam stabilizers, and they look good, but you guys have better experience. What should I go for?

My camera isn't super big, it's an early miniDV camera by Sony, but I'm hoping to upgrade to an HVX. Is there a stabilizer that would support both? Or should I just hold out til the HVX?

Thanks everyone.
 
ugh i cant stand my glidecam, Im borrowing it from school its a pain in the ass . Yes very stable, but it never goes the direction I want.
 
I was going to buy steadytracker dose any one have one that would rate it? or sould I get a glidecam?

Thanks
 
Steadytracker has no gimbal, and therefore no real isolation of movement.
Look into a gimbled unit.

The generally accepted best handheld stabilizer is the Steadicam Merlin, but there are still questions as to whether it will fly the HVX, it should be out shortly so i'd sugest holding out on that purchase untill it's been tested with a HVX.

Hey Jan! Call up Tiffen and tell them you have a camera you'd like them to test balance with the Merlin. (seriously)

- Mikko
 
If a gimbal is not important to you then just build the $14 steadicam. There is 0 difference between that and the steadytracker. They are easy to build, I have two of them (cost me about $20 to build).

Here is a link for the $14 steadycam. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

If you want something that will last and can deliver solid results though, I would recommend getting something with a gimbal.
 
It sounds like your curent camera is well uncer 5lbs.
It is not yet certain whether the Merlin will fly the HVX or not.. it very well may.

A gimbel is what isolates the camera's angle from yours (so you dont' transmit shake to the camera). A device without a gimble will alow you to hold it at the CG and this will prevent the camera from wanting to twist whenyou move it, but it will still transmit all your shakes.

Yankee (before I bash it to a pulp) does the $14 help at all?

(and here I go..) ...Don't bother with the $14 thing. That bar that sticks out ot the side puts the system out of balance (the whole idea is to be in balance).. it'd make more sence to just use a monopod with a wieght on the bottom, find the balance point and hold it there. (like a flowpod, without a gimble) - or just use a stick. :-)
- A trpod with the legs closed and the center coulum extended slightly works great in a pinch too. - I've shot stuff for broadcast like that before, both on foot and from the back of a jeep.

- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
Yankee (before I bash it to a pulp) does the $14 help at all?
Click to expand...

LOL @ Mikko.

Do you think if it worked worth a damn I would have been PMing you for the last week regarding stabilizer systems? :grin: It is a tool, not better than a tripod with a weight attached. It is kind of a joke of a tool, it looks stupid, but it does go ahead and delivers some decent results. Do I recommend it? Yeah, for $14-$30 it is not bad. Would I take it over any of the other professional ones with a gimbal? Nope. I would take it in lieu of the steadytracker though. There is a $200 price difference and you will get the same results.

That's my opinion, for whatever it is worth.
 
I'd juse the short pipe ot build a nice compact "Shakycam" (put a weight on the bottom) and the logner one as a monopod.
..Oh look that's the Flowpod right there! :P

(note: I am of course kidding, i've never flown the flowpod, and it has a gimble so I'd take it over anything without.)

- Mikko
 
Just to bring it back to topic I will chime in with this. I have been looking at stabilizer devices for a while now (going on 6 mos). In that time period thanks to Pookie & Mikko I have learned a ton about them, but the most important thing I have learned is the difference between the cheap models and the more expensive units (I am not talking about vest systems here).

Honestly there are several models available that will give you the results you are looking for: Steadytracker, Steadicam Merlin, Glidecam 2000, Glidecam 4000, and Flowpod. There is also the Magiccam and something else.

From the opinions I have gotten from professional and amatuer users alike if you are looking at handheld units the most important factors are the balancing, quick release ability, and gimbal. Weight is also a huge factor, never to be under estimated (grab a 20lb dumbell and see how long you can hold it).

At the end of the day there is a huge difference in cost when it comes to the stabilizer systems available. You have them starting at $14 (for the homemade balance system) going all the way up to $900 for the Merlin (like I said, not talking about vest systems).

There is a solid opinion that the Merlin is really the ideal unit, it weighs almost nothing, has an awesome gimbal system, and is the easiest to balance. It can also be upgraded to a vest system using either the product from Varizoom or Glidecam. The next step down appears to be the Glidecam 2000/4000 (difference being the weight capacity). The negatives of the Glidecam are the delicate balancing issues as well as the weight issue. They make several products to overcome these, plus they are also compatible with the Varizoom vest system (read the above link for information on that).

Ultimately you are moving from a small camera and talking about the HVX. That is quite a jump in hardware. I would think about what you are putting your investment on and go for some of the better options.

Now my disclaimer, I am not a pro, nor have I used any of these models. Here in Charlotte, NC I don't have access or ability to go out and try these out and see which one will best fit my needs. Of all things I was actually thinking of taking a trip out to Cali to relax and check out EVS in person. I base my purchases off the advice of professionals and enthusiasts who help me learn from their mistakes so that I can get the best product possible.

I would look seriously at Mikko's advice as he is a steadicam operator, but also look at Pookie's comments as he is a very accomplished steadicam professional.

A last option, call Rush @ EVS. I spoke with Rush about two months ago about the Glidecam and he was honest with me rather than telling me what I wanted to hear in order to lock down the sale. He told me that it will take a lot of time and practice to get good results with the Glidecam, but if I invest the time I can get good handheld results with it. He told me if I don't invest the time it will end up on my floor never used. This is an important detail, whatever you get you will have a learning curve.

OK, I've written enough.
 
Thanks Yankee :) ..all very good advice.
- Especially about the needing practice. - Any rig is only as good as it's operator, and they will all require practice to become proficient.

- Mikko
 
TheYankee said:
Ultimately you are moving from a small camera and talking about the HVX. That is quite a jump in hardware. I would think about what you are putting your investment on and go for some of the better options.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, i keep reading this, but my head is hurint like crazy and I don't understand what you're saying here. What do you mean by investment and going for the better options?

And yeah, it's quite a jump in hardware, but the only camera worth getting in my opinion is the HVX, and it shouldn't take long to get accustomed to the basics of it; it's going to become my right hand as soon as I get it. :)

But yeah, sorry I couldn't really understand that sentence. My mind just totally blanks on me some times, but i really appreciate your commentary on the subject, and I wanna understand what you're saying.

Thanks again.
 
He is saying that if you're truly prepared to shell out either $6000 or $10000 on a camera, you should be able to shell out a couple of thousand if you really want stabilized shots that look good.

Think about it this way, you wouldn't put "economy" oil in your Lambourghini.

Yeah, stabilizers are quite nice, I love 'em, but they do take a lot of time to really make look good. Take your time, buy a decent rig, and practice, practice, practice.
 
mike dawson said:
any clips of steadytracker or glidecam 4000. hand held NO ARMS/VEST rigs??
Click to expand...

Ok I'll ask.

Why?

Any clips of a Steadicam, Glidecam, Steadypod, Steadiwhatever, hand held, one arm, two arm, vest mounted or held in your teeth are going to look identical given an experienced user is shooting with them.

A demo clip is a worthless tool in deciding on a Stabilizer.

An experienced operator is going to give you a smooth shot with a camera screwed onto the end of a baseball bat.
 
pookie said:
An experienced operator is going to give you a smooth shot with a camera screwed onto the end of a baseball bat.
Click to expand...

Sorry Pookie, but I'm going to challenge you on that one... let see it then! :evil:

- Mikko
 
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