Steadicam Question/Input

NOMADIC

NOMADIC

Major Contributor
So I'm still in college but from running around with a glidecam on from different projects, I really want to pursue being a steadicam op.

No, I'm not going to throw down to buy a steadicam setup, but would still like to get some good experience/practice, I've seen these before, but until now they seemed to have lacked quality. Anyone's thoughts on this one?

http://www.thecinecity.com/product.php?productid=16269&cat=243&page=1

ignore the videos, haha.
 
yeah, probably off the lcd, which stupid. I have a monitor I can use down on the sled.

anyway, back to the question. :)
 
Hi Nomad,

I was in your position, I wanted to be a steadicam operator, and I looked at all the available systems, from the cheap ones up to the Steadicam Archer.

I found that the cheap ones are quite badly made, and I was strongly advised against buying these by everyone I spoke to. I upped my budget a little bit and looked at the Steadicam Flyer. i also looked at the Floatcam one, but I didn't really like it that much, the Flyer was much nicer.
I settled with the flyer, and with the batteries it was about £6000.

Of course theres nothing to stop you buying a cheaper rig just to practice with, but I wouldn't want to do any paid work with a cheap ebay steadicam rig.

If you are really serious about becoming an operator, go and talk to the bank and borrow some money to buy your first rig. Just practice hard and go on the steadicam workshop and you should pay it off after a while...
 
yeah, I was looking at the flyer... maybe something used.

If comes down to how good of a reel you have, do people really care if you have a knock off on set? I work in the low budget/music video realm.

another one i have been looking at is at www.bassonsteady.com.ar
 
I think that there may be some issues if someone is getting paid to do professional Steadicam operating, and shows up with a really cheap kit. I know I certainly would feel weird about putting a rental camera (or my camera!) on something someone bought off of eBay because they didn't want to spend the money on something better!

I personally have flown Flyers, Pilots, a Merlin, one of the handheld Glidecams, and a few homebuilt rigs. In my experience, the difference between the truly high-quality rigs and the knockoffs is quite big. That newest model you linked to appears to be trying something similar to how a real Steadicam arm works, but looking closely, they didn't get it quite right, so it won't perform like the Steadicam counterpart will. The Bassons seem to lack a lot of finesse, and some of the design is almost silly. (a big base like that for you to knock your knees into without a real purpose, no way to DB the rig, silly choice of jacks on the rig).

If you're seriously looking to get into this, go take a workshop before you buy a rig. Learn if it's right for you, learn what to look for, learn why things are important. You may learn that you're absolutely willing to live with the compromises a lot of the lower-end rigs have (even Steadicam rigs aren't perfect!), or you may learn that for what you want to do, you should spend the money up front so you can make it back professionally.

That's just my advice though, take it or leave it. Good luck with your pursuit.
 
I own the older version of this kit. I wouldn't buy it if you want to hire yourself out as a steadicam op but if you do your own projects and want to have the option available to you it works great. This one looks better than the old one. The vest we have is not the best. I have used it with broadcast cameras with no problems. You will have to do some modifications yourself to make it right for you.
 
thanks everyone for your input.

I agree, showing up to a gig in a "non-steadicam" system isn't the best, and yes I'll agree I wouldn't want my gear or a rental camera flown on some of these models, but I also believe that some of these "knock-off" companies still take a considerable amount of time engineering these rigs.

Here's a new one I saw in American Cinematographer, not sure on price yet, but very interesting....

http://www.movcam.com/

If I had a reel with good steadi op work and I showed up with one of those, do you think people would get upset, these systems seem just as/if not more legit than steadicam rigs from 15 years ago, and op's could still fly those and make incredible images.

They are made in China, and while I try to support American made products as much as I can, a stedicam is not in my budget, and I know I'll be flying more than just an hvx, so I'm not in the market for a lighter load steadicam . SOMEDAY, yes I'd buy steadicam for sure.
 
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I tried the movecam at NAB. STAY AWAY!!!! They look exactly like the old 3A's but the functionality is horrible. I could list everything that was bad but it would take way too long.

You can use the flyer LE and fly a hpx500 with that! I flew a HDX900 on a steadicam flyer (at it's limit).

Do a demo with, thats the best way.
 
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