Steady Cam

[Anonymous]

I need some suggestions on equipment that steadies a video camera while taping e.g., walking around at a wedding reception, panning around the bride as she is posing.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

I often find it convient to pull out the center colum in my tripod, and add ballast weight with a manfrotto superclamp.

[ralck]

There’s all sorts of things to look into.

Do a quick google search on "$14 stabilizer" or "DIY Figrig". Those are two of the cheapest stabilizers you can build yourself. If you go to codydeegan.com, you can buy plans for a full rig like a steadicam flyrig system, which he says costs around 500 dollars for the budget rig. or if you wanted, you could buy a professional glidecam or steadicam system (either just the gimbal/sled, or a full rig), but that will put you back a pretty penny.

[Anonymous]

I saw a nice item, DVMultiRig at DV Expo yesterday. It’s a nice little system from DVTEC ( http://www.dvtec.tv/ ) and people testing it seemed to like its feel. It can be modified to different modes just by folding parts of the handles different ways (and locking them).

[tombarrera]

Think versatility, mobility and stability

What good is a device that is limited in its overall uses? If you’re doing Hollywood that’s one thing, but videography these days requires a lot more than a one trick pony. I wanted a video camera stabilizer that could do a lot of tricks. I own a Quad Pod All in One. Its got amazing versatility so you can use it on a tripod when needed, quick release off to go steady handheld, switch to swivel pod mode for lenthy shoots, all fast on the fly. I can mount 2 video cameras to it or 1 video and 1 still camera. It’s very mobile and goes just about anywhere unlike steady cams. I make more money with it too. Not only is it versatile and mobile its easy a lot of fun to use, and its very steady via 4 point stabilization.

Tom Barrera

[SteadycamPro]

If you still looking for Steadycam design ideas, you’ve got to check this one out, http://www.Steadycam-Pro.com

[klopex]

I made a $14 DIY poor man’s steady cam. It works alright. It actually cost about $14. It wasn’t very hard to find the parts or to build it. I warn you that you will need a drill bit that can penetrate cast iron. That might cost more than $14. Drilling through the caps was difficult, but not unreasonably…

In any case, the steady cam works, but it isn’t very professional looking. I don’t know if you would mind walking around a wedding with it. Even if you painted it, it might still look like some iron pipes.

Klopex

[Anonymous]

I was just at CES and they have a low end steadicam coming out. I was astounded. It’s so smooth. We shot video of the little chick modeling it.

http://www.youtube.com/Rynnakat – click on Steadycam video

[Author]

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