The right steadicam for the budget

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David Evans

Well-known member
Hi!

I currently own a merlin steadicam which seemed pretty good when i bought it (and probably is), but its neverending options to fine balace it, made it impossible for me to get it to balance any of my cameras. So anyway, i'm getting an ursa mini4.6k which is a great excuse to change the steadicam to a more potent and easier to setup rig.

I don't have a big budget (around 1200€) and i wanted some opinions from the experts :)

After some research and advices received from other people, i got interested in two systems: the ronin mx and the steadicam solo with vest. Of course, to make the budget, the ronin would have to come without extra support (if there is any...).

The things that i treasure most in a steadicam:

1- easy and practical setups!
2- ability to pan and tilt with fast movements.
3- must handle the ursa and lens weigth.

Please, let me know about your opinions and experience :)

thanks for helping
 
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What camera will you be using with it and how much stuff will you be packing around it (wireless, battery, microphone, light and any other jazz)? The camera "package" or payload weight on the top of the steadicam is crucial in determining the kind of stabilizer you need. Without this basic info, no one can properly answer your question.

Without that information, I would hazard a guess you should be looking at used Steadicam Pilots or Flyers. The latter, if weighted properly can behave like a much bigger Steadicam with a training course and practice.
 
Andrew Stone said:
What camera will you be using with it and how much stuff will you be packing around it (wireless, battery, microphone, light and any other jazz)? The camera "package" or payload weight on the top of the steadicam is crucial in determining the kind of stabilizer you need. Without this basic info, no one can properly answer your question.

Without that information, I would hazard a guess you should be looking at used Steadicam Pilots or Flyers. The latter, if weighted properly can behave like a much bigger Steadicam with a training course and practice.
Click to expand...

hi,

thanks for your response! Like I said, i'll be using the stabilizer with the ursa mini 4.6k. Probably, most of the time, i will be using a sigma 18-35mm in front. I also have a manhattan lcd that i can use, especially if using the ronin mx (since there is no space in the ronin to open the lcd screen on that camera).
 
I have the Mini 4K and fly it on the Devin Graham Signature Series Glidecam using a Cowboy Studio double arm and vest to support it. Works great. My camera package is usually the body, 24-105 mm lens, Audio Technica shotgun mic, and a Maxoak 177wH battery.
 
David Evans said:
hi,

thanks for your response! Like I said, i'll be using the stabilizer with the ursa mini 4.6k. Probably, most of the time, i will be using a sigma 18-35mm in front. I also have a manhattan lcd that i can use, especially if using the ronin mx (since there is no space in the ronin to open the lcd screen on that camera).
Click to expand...

Missed that you were using an URSA Mini. Then a used Flyer. With your budget that tells me that you almost certainly do not have a wireless follow focus. With an URSA Mini you are going to have significant depth of field issues. If you operate the camera at 18mm with an f-stop of 5.6 to 8 you should be OK doing walk and talk kind of shots, as long as you practice staying in a relatively fixed distance from your talent or the object you are shooting. If you can, try to find a Flyer that has been modfied to carry an HD-SDI signal down the post. You can easily run a thin HD-SDI cable down the front of the stabilizer to the monitor below or use the LCD screen off the camera (can be done but I wouldn't recommend it). Just fasten the cable from moving around.

There's a good book available, The Steadicam Operator's Handbook, that is essential reading and have a look on YouTube for older Steadicam Training videos done by Ted Churchill and Jerry Holway. The gimbal on the Flyer is best in class for the stabilizer's under 10 grand.

EDIT:

I see you mention a Ronin MX. If you are planning to mount your Ronin on the end of the Steadicam arm, there is a 3rd party add on but it is designed to be used with a full sized steadicam arm that has a larger pin. The guy who makes them might have one for a Flyer/Zephyr arm by now but you will have to look into it. Cinemilled is the company name. The Flyer payload maxs out around 17 pounds for the earlier model and 19 for the later model but it likes to live with a camera package between 11 and 15 pounds. Can be lighter but you want the weight to get good interia when panning with a standard steadicam sled with camera. Ronin, just make sure it isn't over 15ish pounds assuming you can get the attachment for the arm.
 
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Thanks for all your advices! Will a wireless follow focus dramatically increase cost? I was hoping that I could use the steadicam with a wide angle lens closed down. That way, pretty much everything should be in focus. But I will eventually use it with shallow DOF shots so I might as well save for a wireless follow focus. Any reliable system that could do the trick for a decent cost?

Thanks
 
Andrew Stone said:
Missed that you were using an URSA Mini. Then a used Flyer. With your budget that tells me that you almost certainly do not have a wireless follow focus. With an URSA Mini you are going to have significant depth of field issues. If you operate the camera at 18mm with an f-stop of 5.6 to 8 you should be OK doing walk and talk kind of shots, as long as you practice staying in a relatively fixed distance from your talent or the object you are shooting. If you can, try to find a Flyer that has been modfied to carry an HD-SDI signal down the post. You can easily run a thin HD-SDI cable down the front of the stabilizer to the monitor below or use the LCD screen off the camera (can be done but I wouldn't recommend it). Just fasten the cable from moving around.

There's a good book available, The Steadicam Operator's Handbook, that is essential reading and have a look on YouTube for older Steadicam Training videos done by Ted Churchill and Jerry Holway. The gimbal on the Flyer is best in class for the stabilizer's under 10 grand.

EDIT:

I see you mention a Ronin MX. If you are planning to mount your Ronin on the end of the Steadicam arm, there is a 3rd party add on but it is designed to be used with a full sized steadicam arm that has a larger pin. The guy who makes them might have one for a Flyer/Zephyr arm by now but you will have to look into it. Cinemilled is the company name. The Flyer payload maxs out around 17 pounds for the earlier model and 19 for the later model but it likes to live with a camera package between 11 and 15 pounds. Can be lighter but you want the weight to get good interia when panning with a standard steadicam sled with camera. Ronin, just make sure it isn't over 15ish pounds assuming you can get the attachment for the arm.
Click to expand...

Actually, my goal is to fly the Ursa Mini 4.6k on the Ronin-M/Mx solo. That would keep me under my budget (1500eur). Problem is, from what I've read, the Sigma 18-35 might make the top too heavy and dificult to balance, but maybe with extension arms? Any idea where I can get extension arms? Any idea if it would work, at all? I'm trying to do this with the Ronin-M/Mx since they are much lighter than the original Ronin.

The thing is, since I'm not a steadicam operator, I really wanted one of those 3 Axis Gimbals that are very easy to fly, even for someone without steadicam experience.

Thanks
 
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