GH4 Your favorite/go to stabilization gear for GH sized cameras?

B

bdjansen

Member
Hey guys! Since I'm new to video, I really don't have very much gear for stabilizing my camera other then a ball head tripod. There seem to be a lot of options out there though, lots more then I can afford to try.

What are some of your favorite ways to stabilize your GH sized cameras?
 
For stabilizing the image:

Lumix 12-35mm f2.8 Power OIS zoom
Lumix 35-100mm f2.8 Power OIS zoom
Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 OIS zoom

For stabilizing the camera:

Manfrotto 560B monopod
Giotto MM5580 monopod
 
Just looking at that photo of the unattended GH4 on the Monopod makes me nervous @joe1946. You like to live life on the edge, don't you!

I have the Manfrotto monopod and I think it's great, and even though it would stand on it's own I'd never leave it alone like that.

I have gini rig parts but I've never been able to get them to work that well for me with manual focus lenses, and most of the time the monopod would do the job better.
 
dan.carter said:
+1.

Benro A38TB and Manfrotto 560B are favorites. Tighten the 3 ball joint base screws slightly and they'll stand nicely with supervision.
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Hi Dan! I'm a fan of your videos on vimeo. I bought the 560B but the ball joint would kinda pop and then vibrate up the pole and cause a small shake in the video. So I sent it back.

I'm thinking that one of the beefier monopods might not have that issue though. I'm thinking of trying the 500A or one of the Benros.
 
bdjansen said:
Hi Dan! I'm a fan of your videos on vimeo. I bought the 560B but the ball joint would kinda pop and then vibrate up the pole and cause a small shake in the video.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the fluid joint at the base of the 560B is pretty much useless for smooth panning. (It's because the bottom extensible rod is so thin it torques against the friction in the fluid joint.) What I did was insert a tiny washer in each of the three mounting screws that attach the ball joint to the claw feet. That allows the ball joint to rotate freely and completely bypasses the fluid joint.
 
Someone in the forum mention a stabilizer called Leing p-04. I took a look at it and pulled the plug. I got Leing P-04S, which is the latest model for 250$ of Ebay. It was delivered in 5 days from, China. Let me tell you something. Definitely, in my top 10 best investments. The build quality and features are just amazing. As a Glidecam HD4000 ex-owner/user, I think Leing is by far way, way better than Glidecam, but that's just me.

Highly recommended.
 
bdjansen said:
Hi Dan! I'm a fan of your videos on vimeo. I bought the 560B but the ball joint would kinda pop and then vibrate up the pole and cause a small shake in the video. So I sent it back.

I'm thinking that one of the beefier monopods might not have that issue though. I'm thinking of trying the 500A or one of the Benros.
Click to expand...

Both A38TB & 560B will pop, but a very small amount of lightweight oil or furniture polish on the ball will help.

Best of luck.
 
Lpowell said:
Yeah, the fluid joint at the base of the 560B is pretty much useless for smooth panning.
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Pans with my 560B are better than some fluid (like) heads. However, experience has convinced me, even identical (fluid like) heads and monopods will have a different feel. "Fluid like" are grease filled joints rather than true fluid cartridges.
 
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In terms of handheld stabilizers, I just bought the Came H4 for my GH3. Haven't received it yet but looks to be the easiest to balance and the three pronged weights can act as a stand. I also like the fact that it has an angled handle which also acts to counteract up and down movement which the other don't seem to have. In terms of handheld stabilizers, I've only used the steadicam merlin which I wasn't all that impressed with. The H4 looks to be the most well thought out handheld stabilizer I have seen.

Edit: just found this on the H4. http://cheesycam.com/how-to-balance-came-h4-hand-held-stabilizer-or-any-stabilizer/ Thankfully, it has confirmed why I chose the H4 in the first place.
 
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To KMA_WWC,

Could you tell me which online store you used to purchase your Laing stabilizer?

They seem to have similar line of product as CAME H3 and I wonder they are identical functionality wise.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Laing...778?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e3f0cd9a

I have been eyeing myself for a good stabilizer to accompany my GH4 and BMPCC and I am so trying to purchase Frankie speed mini. It looks fun and easy to carry around.

http://www.frankie.com.cn/webpage_en/default.aspx

These chinese manufacturers seem to offer solid products at reasonable price point, yet I don't see major sellers like B&H or Amazon selling these products.

If anybody on this forum have experience purchasing film equipment such as Frankie stabilizer, with or without major sellers, please share your info with us!
 
Lpowell said:
For stabilizing the image:

Lumix 12-35mm f2.8 Power OIS zoom
Lumix 35-100mm f2.8 Power OIS zoom
Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 OIS zoom

For stabilizing the camera:

Manfrotto 560B monopod
Giotto MM5580 monopod
Click to expand...

Do you need image stabilization if you have the monopod? I have mostly non stabilized lenses. The only OIS lens I have is the 12-35mm and the image stabilization doesn't seem to do anything.
 
sugoroku said:
To KMA_WWC,

Could you tell me which online store you used to purchase your Laing stabilizer?

They seem to have similar line of product as CAME H3 and I wonder they are identical functionality wise.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Laing...778?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e3f0cd9a

I have been eyeing myself for a good stabilizer to accompany my GH4 and BMPCC and I am so trying to purchase Frankie speed mini. It looks fun and easy to carry around.

http://www.frankie.com.cn/webpage_en/default.aspx

These chinese manufacturers seem to offer solid products at reasonable price point, yet I don't see major sellers like B&H or Amazon selling these products.

If anybody on this forum have experience purchasing film equipment such as Frankie stabilizer, with or without major sellers, please share your info with us!
Click to expand...

I ordered from this guys and this exact model, which is latest. They offer the fastest shipping out of all I found and have the best ratings. NOTE: Don't do buy it now. Just offer 250$ and they will most likely take the offer, since they have automatic system set for offers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171126304936?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
 
bdjansen said:
Do you need image stabilization if you have the monopod? I have mostly non stabilized lenses. The only OIS lens I have is the 12-35mm and the image stabilization doesn't seem to do anything.
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OIS won't really help when you're shooting with a monopod on the ground, but if you "fly" your camera on the monopod or on a physical counterbalance stabilizer the OIS will help.
 
bdjansen said:
Do you need image stabilization if you have the monopod? I have mostly non stabilized lenses. The only OIS lens I have is the 12-35mm and the image stabilization doesn't seem to do anything.
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Yes, totally, I always use IS with the monopod. It's not the large moves that need smoothing, it's the micro-twitches you don't even notice. Try putting a laser pointer on your monopod and see how steady you can hold it on a target 20 or 30 feet away. It's also important to note that the IS on lenses was primarily engineered for still photos and some lenses work much better for video than others. The f2.8 Lumix zooms are good, but the Leica 14-50mm OIS is still in a class by itself.
 
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