The ModoSteady for the HV20

hello guys
I still dont have a clear answer to my question (which I never posted till now cose Im new to this) :-)
I have a canon hf100, it's a light cam, 500 grams (donno what that in imperial). And a Modosteady.
I added and subtracted weights (added on top of the 5 plates, a stone...). I dont so much complain about balancig on the x-y axis, I can hold it pretty stable. But when walking, every time I set the foot down, the results show that. And I really tiptoe. Can anyone suggest a way of reducing that shaking?
Thanks
 
Everyone here is daccord that flying a steadycam perfect takes months, if not years of constant training.

How many years have you trained with your Modo?

Don´t want to bee snappy, but it takes some time.
As long as you are using your arm as a shock absorber it takes even more time as with a propper spring arm on a vest.

I bought the Modo cause I love the size, weight and versitality.
When I go on vacation I seldom take the HVX with me so I have a little Canon HandyCam.
It balances wonderfull on the Mono. I also use it often as a 3pod or shouler support.

Because it is so flimpsy you can not use it as a $6000 OConner.
You have to learn totaly new technics. Not everybody has an appetite for that.
Once you got that, it´s fine.

When I´m back from my winter vacation in England I post some footage.

Frank

P.S. Using some Universal-Magic-Wonder oil on the ball makes a big difference.
 
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hi Frank,
thanks f0or your answer. I oiled the ball already and your suggestion of using my arm as shock absorber is a good one. At least I know on what I should focus my training. Happy holidays and looking forward to watching your footage.
R2
 
I just got the Modo for my Canon HV30. I mount the Sennhieser 400 on the camera and I want to use the Canon wide angle adapter with the rig. Is this possible, or too much front heavy weight? I use the large size battery as well, so there is some counter balance there.

I would like to know what solutions other HV users have found.

Thanks for your help!
 
its been about a year since this thread began, and still I see no sampled footage -- I wish someone would post something since I'm real curious--- (should I wonder if there's any reason why it hasn't ? ...)
 
Anyone try this with a DSLR?

I am going to be working with the D90 + Nikkor 28mm 2.8 lens (widest lens i have)

im guessing total weight is around 2 -2.25 lbs
 
Musing on technology group think.

I see a repeating pattern of thought and behavior on most forums. Yes, MOST forums- and it seems to be most vociferous when it comes to discussions of gear versus process, technique or philosophy. This pattern ranges from mindless group-think to fanaticism and right up to wreck-less propagandization and totalitarianism. At its roots is personal and professional insecurity. The root cause is invariably Moore's Law in action.
In 2005, a camera like the HV20 was considered a pipedream and when it first came out it was snickered at by 'The Pros' as a consumer toy- suitable for merchandising by Matte®. The latest (2009-2010) iterations of Full HD 'consumer' video cameras have put 'The Pros' on notice.
People with the 'Big Guns' gear, disdain the idea that their hard fought-for and hard earned 'toy chest' of pricey equipment can so quickly become marginalized by PROGRESS in engineering. This 'problem' in performance diffrentiation didn't exist back in the days when Beta was so far ahead of S-VHS that a decade or more would pass before a viable competitor had to be feared. HD nearly killed Beta and eventually it will finish it off.
I see that pattern everywhere in our society stretching back to when the Japanese dropped sub-compact cars onto American soil in the mid 70's. That lesson hasn't been easy to cope with has it. But it's a fact. Progress in Japanese and other foreign automotive design, killed the US car industry. Progress will mean that a 'Merlin' like device can be introduced for the suitable weight camera and user expectations that match the pricepoint. I emphasis 'user expectations'.
I have a stabilizer in the works (very back burner ) that if it succeeds will be a new approach, a cheaper approach and it will only work with camera below a certain weight. And it willbe effective within its intended context of use.
Should I abandon my research because a Cabal of devoted Steadicam users feel that you can't beat a Merlin or full Gyro-based stabilizer?
Hardly.
Look what Igus-based (Zaza, PortaDolly, Glidecam etc) sliders and Indislider have done to the notion that you need to lay down tracks to get an effective dolly move.

I'll get one of the Manfrottos and try it out.
Truth is, you could attach a camera to a sack of flour (beanbag) and holding that from below end up with MUCH more stable shots that holding the camera itself.

Some fundamental principles are at work that have nothing to do with Merlin per se.
Xcuse me, but I'm off to redesign the handgun - an arcane design that is 400 years overdue for a makeover.
 
just bought it last night, trying it with the GH1 and 20mm 1.7

So far all I can say is I need the OIS for this thing.

I don't even have a kit lens :(
 
Cabal of devoted Steadicam users feel that you can't beat a Merlin or full Gyro-based stabilizer?

Just to prevent the continuing spread of this myth: There are no Gyros in a "full size" Steadicam type stabilizer. Sometimes (very rarely, and in only very specific circumstances) gyro's ares mounted to a Steadicam to provide added inertial resistance. But in no way are Steadicams "based" on Gyros.

- Mikko
 
just bought it last night, trying it with the GH1 and 20mm 1.7

So far all I can say is I need the OIS for this thing.

I don't even have a kit lens :(

A OIS is for non moving shots only, especially on a photo camera.

Frank
 
Will the modosteady work with the canon 550d dslr? Anyone tried it? I need it basically for usage with the KIT and PRIME lenses.
 
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