T2i Which stabilizer has prevailed for the tiny t2i?

grimepoch said:
Yep, which is why I use primes more than zooms that shift weight, although most of my zooms that I use aren't bad.

The other thing to remember is with a hand held design, you are using BOTH hands to control the stabilizer. One hand holds the handle, the other hand controls the ring above the handle. Both the blackbird and the merlin work this way. For the other style, like the glidecam 4000, your hand controls the shaft. This second hand is used lightly.

I would not expect to be pulling ANY focus on a stabilizer. :) Assistant or not.
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Actually, remote FF is a common job for a puller. You use a Preston wireless follow focus unit, and the puller watches the tap very closely. It takes a good understanding between the two, but no big deal.

I must say that I'm confused about the discussion of auto focus with the T2i for video. Auto focus doesn't work on the T2i when shooting video, I would have thought someone would have pointed that out.
 
Pookie said:
Actually, remote FF is a common job for a puller. You use a Preston wireless follow focus unit, and the puller watches the tap very closely. It takes a good understanding between the two, but no big deal.

I must say that I'm confused about the discussion of auto focus with the T2i for video. Auto focus doesn't work on the T2i when shooting video, I would have thought someone would have pointed that out.
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I think if you are buying a cheaper stabilizer, you probably aren't going to be buying a wireless follow focus! :)

Although to follow this point, the Scarlet from RED has wireless FF built in from the getgo (although you have to buy the redmote pro if you want a better wheel) and we plan on doing just this as you speak with that setup. Of course, that camera is not available yet.

You can use autofocus before you start the video, but you are right, not during. Of course, I would NEVER want to be letting a camera try to autofocus during narrative work. For event capture, like sports and weddings and such, I can understand the need.
 
grimepoch said:
I think if you are buying a cheaper stabilizer, you probably aren't going to be buying a wireless follow focus! :)

Although to follow this point, the Scarlet from RED has wireless FF built in from the getgo (although you have to buy the redmote pro if you want a better wheel) and we plan on doing just this as you speak with that setup. Of course, that camera is not available yet.

You can use autofocus before you start the video, but you are right, not during. Of course, I would NEVER want to be letting a camera try to autofocus during narrative work. For event capture, like sports and weddings and such, I can understand the need.
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What rig are you planning to fly the RED with?
 
Pookie said:
What rig are you planning to fly the RED with?
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Given the weights for the Epic (and assuming the S35 will only be slightly lighter) and that we will be using Canon glass which is WAY lighter than cine glass, we are going to stick with the blackbird. I happen to live in the same city as the company that produces it, and I know if I have any issues, they'll help me out in a heartbeat.

I like the vest/arm systems, but for the size of these new cameras, it's a bit bulky for some of the crazy shooting we do. I can get in pretty tight places with the blackbird and have quite a bit of range of motion. Of course, I can't flip it like the vest/arm style systems.

Ultimately, CMR (who makes the blackbird) is designing an electronicly controlled gyro system that I've actually seen pictures of. That is my ultimate goal. as it is even smaller and if it works ANYTHING like the gyros for helicopter use, it's going to be AWESOME when I am running with the camera.
 
Pookie said:
I must say that I'm confused about the discussion of auto focus with the T2i for video. Auto focus doesn't work on the T2i when shooting video, I would have thought someone would have pointed that out.
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Duly noted, but camera stabilization systems are not camera specific, so my question was more general. I shoot with an XH-A1, a T2i, and lots of smaller cameras that are rigged on vehicles. When I'm considering purchasing new gear, I have a lot to think about. :)
 
Neat! That design does add more weight it looks like than typically needed for the balance of the grip, and it might be limiting in your movement with that arm sticking out! But, it definitely solves the problem with that style where if you aren't using a vest or an arm support, it can torque your wrist very much!
 
How heavy is the Blackbird with a T2i since there is no vest? I'm considering getting one of these things but don't want to kill myself and I'm not a kid anymore.
Any tricks for reducing the strain? I have played with an old steadicam Jr and T2i and thought maybe a sling for a broken arm might help.
Is this an idiotic idea?
 
that's a pretty relative question. IMO, the 550d is too light, so I prefer to load up the camera with an external monitor, heavy battery, heavy/real glass lens, etc. to add mass which, in my experience, helps me achieve better shots. Of course, this forces you to add a lot more weight at the bottom - again resulting in better stabilization at the expense of your arm.

by itself, though, it's not really heavy at all. I've steadicam'd for four hours straight before and truthfully, your back and legs take a MUCH bigger beating than your arm.

@Jacob Nielsen - those low shots are really sweet and something you can't get with the BB, at least I don't know how to do it.
 
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grimepoch said:
Given the weights for the Epic (and assuming the S35 will only be slightly lighter) and that we will be using Canon glass which is WAY lighter than cine glass, we are going to stick with the blackbird. I happen to live in the same city as the company that produces it, and I know if I have any issues, they'll help me out in a heartbeat.

I like the vest/arm systems, but for the size of these new cameras, it's a bit bulky for some of the crazy shooting we do. I can get in pretty tight places with the blackbird and have quite a bit of range of motion. Of course, I can't flip it like the vest/arm style systems.

Ultimately, CMR (who makes the blackbird) is designing an electronicly controlled gyro system that I've actually seen pictures of. That is my ultimate goal. as it is even smaller and if it works ANYTHING like the gyros for helicopter use, it's going to be AWESOME when I am running with the camera.
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You do understand that gyros need battery kits to function, and add substantial weight, and render sound recording impossible due to the noise level.

I see problems using a gyro on any steadicam, as gyro helicopter mounts don't employ any type of steadicam, but are designed entirely differently.
 
The Sanda100 works really well if you put a little extra weight on top. This clip shows the 550D with an EF 10-22 shot at 10mm. I applied very little smoothcam just to smooth out unwanted roll movement on certain places. It certainly takes some practice, but results can be stunning I think. It even works well with a Sony EX1 - however your arm gets exhausted very quickly!

http://www.vimeo.com/13771326
 
Jacob Nielsen said:
The Sanda100 works really well if you put a little extra weight on top. This clip shows the 550D with an EF 10-22 shot at 10mm. I applied very little smoothcam just to smooth out unwanted roll movement on certain places. It certainly takes some practice, but results can be stunning I think. It even works well with a Sony EX1 - however your arm gets exhausted very quickly!

http://www.vimeo.com/13771326
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I don't see the point of using this clip to show how a stabilizer works "really well" when you steadied the footage in post.

A handheld clip will look good after it's "fixed".
 
Pookie said:
I don't see the point of using this clip to show how a stabilizer works "really well" when you steadied the footage in post.

A handheld clip will look good after it's "fixed".
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Of course I get your point. But who said we can't apply smoothcam to steadicam shots and isn't it sometimes a matter of different techniques leading to a very good end result?

No - a normal handheld DSLR shot will not look good after it's fixed. We all now what happens when trying tho smooth out those handheld DSLR shots! Strange image artifacts, skewing, CMOS wobbling and huge crop factors! A handheld stabilizer isn't a perfect alternative to a real steadicam rig with big cameras (and I'm not a perfect operator :-), but the basic mecanical stabilized results are so much better than just handheld, so we need just a fraction of digtital smoothing in post which will show almost no artifacting.

Yes - the Canon 10-22 is a perfect lens for a stabilizer rig - almost no barrel distortion compared to what I've seen with super expensive broadcast wide lenses.

Here comes the "unsmoothcamed" version:

http://www.vimeo.com/13778258
 
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