Stedicam JR and DVX 100B

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patricdeimon

New member
Does anyone use a Steadicam JR with a DVX 100B? I have one and have it set up but it is a pain to handle and control. In the first place the DVX is right at the edge of the upper weight limit. Also the mechanism in side (that makes the thunk) throws the DVX balance off in a big way. Is anyone having any success with the Steadicam?

Thanks...Patric D'Eimon, Anchorage, Alaska
 
Steadicam/100b

Steadicam/100b

Pain....it seems to favor instability rather than stability. The gyro mechanism inside the 100b throws the balance off in a significant way abd that shift is right near the balance point of the whole system. Dealing with that is it's own delicate circumstance.

I don't have the front monitor so I need to use the LCD. That seems to add problems in that it is not only a wight shift on that side it is also it's own effect on the fulcrum piont. I've weighted the carrying handle with the 2 thin weights and added a strip of velcro to the handle side to add another small weight with velcro to gain some stability.

The top/bottom heavy equal point is very elusive in that I havn't found a point where the whole system won't sway from side to side (pendulum) in response to most lateral motion.

I mainly wonder if it is usually this difficult to gain stability or if the weight of the 100b is exacerbating the difficulty of the set up.

I have a PV-gs300 that I I probably will try on the Stedicam to see what a smaller DVC will be like but I am reticent to take apart the set up for the 100b before I get a sense of whether the 100b will acually work with the Stedicam JR or always be of limited use.

Thanks for the reply. Your handle of "Stedicam guru" makes me think I'm talking to the right person.

Patric D'Eimon, current master of imbalance, Anchorage
 
Unfortunatly I don't have very much experience with the JR, however it handles in a similar fasion to the Merlin which I have.

When you have the rig balanced, and you just hold it, does it hang level?
You say it pendulums when you move? Have you tried testing the drop time? (turn (roll) the rig sideways so it's at 90*, then let go. How long does it take to swing to vertical?)

- Mikko
 
The drop time is pretty slow. The drop time test throws the gyro of th100b out so the dvc doesn't come back to balanced. In practice it collapes the first knee of the JR so the whole thing is wonky by the time the test is over. I do keep working with the adjustment under the stage.

The biger systems look like a gas! Be nice to have one. The nice to have more monet also. Ha!
 
Hmm, the JR is folding on ther the weight? That indicates that the camera is probably too heavy and you'd probably need a Merlin.

However, are you trying to ballance with the camera on or off? (when it's on, the OIS should be fixed in place and not move.

- Mikko
 
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