The top 8 cheap shoulder stabilizers. Which one is best?

I have that Video Innovators shoulder brace, which I use with by DVX100A.

The pictures on their website are now showing it with DSLRs, but I do not recommend it for DSLRs:

s-800-super-pro-shoulder-rest-1.jpg


Unless they have changed the design since I bought it 4 years ago, and it doesn't look like they have, the camera sits too far back from the front of the brace for use with a DSLR.

The brace effectively blocks your hand from holding the lens from underneath (as you can actually kind of see see in their website picture above).

It works perfectly fine with my DVX and our HVX200 at work (where the cameras are big enough that the lenses stick way out front of the brace) , but I tried to use it with my T2i, and it just didn't work.

Do not buy this for your DSLR.
 
great thread, thanks a lot to everybody :)

(I just bought one of those $35 shoulder rigs from ebay)
 
I ordered one of those CowboyStudio Shoulder supports from Amazon over the weekend.

The build quality doesn't sound fantastic, but it's hard to complain about a piece of camera equipment that costs like $30 total with shipping.

I look forward to trying it out with my T2i.
 
Sort of reminds me of all the merchants in Seattle who made fortunes off the Alaskan gold miners in 1899. More people are making money off DSLR 'filmmakers" than DSLR "filmmakers" are making off their films!

Let me tell you, there is a lot of crappy build quality out there. I've thrown out two products I'll decline to name. I've decided against a shoulder support. I went with a CB Folding -S for about $80. I use it way more than the shoulder mounts with my T2i. It folds up to nothing, fits in my small shoulder camera case, is fine for most run and gun situations and can mount an off camera mic on the top. It is really well built. I have a DVTech I use on my HMC150, so I could have used that, but it seems like overkill. The CB is fine. Take a look.

www.custombrackets.com

A short video I shot with it. Not perfect, but I think it's as solid as any I've shot with my dvtech on my 150. Yes, there is some movement, but there is with the Dvtech too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKB8H5sLSKQ
 
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iConquer said:
Anyone here used the IndiRailsPro before? I really like the way it look and the fact that it could be used as a slider. For only $40 more than the express35 shoulder rig.. I might just get this one. Hoping to get some feedback from people that actually used it before.
Click to expand...


Also curious, looks pretty good to me.
 
Has anyone ever tried contacting Indie System?
I've emailed and called, never get a response from them. Makes me really think twice about ordering anything from them.
Are they a legit business?
 
iConquer said:
Has anyone ever tried contacting Indie System?
I've emailed and called, never get a response from them. Makes me really think twice about ordering anything from them.
Are they a legit business?
Click to expand...

I ordered the indierails pro xv sm and called to check the status of my order yesterday. I talked to a very nice lady who told me my order is shipping today. I thought it was odd that no email confirmation was sent, but so far their phone support has been good.
 
iConquer said:
Has anyone ever tried contacting Indie System?
I've emailed and called, never get a response from them. Makes me really think twice about ordering anything from them.
Are they a legit business?
Click to expand...

I called a little over a week ago and Traci answered. Ordered the ultraCOMPACT. It shipped the next day. Called yesterday to order a follow focus, again Traci answered.

Email is not their strong suit unless it follows a phone conversation, but I've had little difficulty reaching them by phone. Make sure you account for time zones.
 
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