best stabilizer?

[George Scatos]

I'm going to be in the USA for a few days, and will be looking at buying a small stabilizer. What's the best one...and cheap? I know the Merlin has a version two, but is it any good?????

Cam is tiny....smaller than HV20.


(It's MAL at Beijing airport...)

[Steve_Karl]

I can't recommend the Hague after owning one.
I had better results holding a small tripod with legs collapsed, near it's balance point, than with the Hague.

[eiker_ir]

i think the simplest and most cost effective stabilizer you could get would be a Monopod. I have a couple of Manfrotto ones that cost me about $45 each and i use them on pretty much every shoot i do now.

Very versatile, light and can be taken anywhere easily.

[Lunchbox]

I have Merlin. Its expensive but I like it so small and foldable for to my gear bag.

[Almohada]

George, maybe check out SturdyCam? Looks like it's still the best bang for the buck

[1]

Thanks for all of yous' suggestions!

SturdyCam?

Only in the USA for a few days. So I need something B&H can send right away.


Now looking at the OPTEKA "P.O.S.":
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...tabilizer.html

$70!

[eiker_ir]

btw you can fin Monopods in most photo/electronic stores, so you can check them out in person easily

[Almohada]

oops, George is MAL...

[Seattle Dave]

Check out this company, SteadiRigs , they make a couple small cheap camera stabilizers.

[Krane]

Yep, best is a hard one to pin down. Best stabilizer for a small camera? Best stabilizer for the money? Best stabilizer for a small camera period? they all very and each has it's quirks. some are good but bulky and require lots of work to load/unload.

Some are convenient but don't do that good a job stabilizing. So it's up to you to decide which one does the best job to fit your purposes. I like portability and convenience so Steadicam Merlin is the one that caught my eye. Though all of these handheld will have a very short operating life.

Still, some of these puppies can get expensive and will have to wait until I have many disposable dollars and a lot more necessary equipment before I invest in one of them. Heck, I'm not even sure if I want a DSLR or a video camera yet. Or even whether I will get the editing suit first then the camera? Or the camera first then the editor? So for me a stabilizer will have to wait it's turn. At the moment, I'm most into software based stabilizer, even though, of course, the have limits.

[MrMicah]

Yep, best is a hard one to pin down. Best stabilizer for a small camera? Best stabilizer for the money? Best stabilizer for a small camera period? they all very and each has it's quirks. some are good but bulky and require lots of work to load/unload.

Some are convenient but don't do that good a job stabilizing. So it's up to you to decide which one does the best job to fit your purposes. I like portability and convenience so Steadicam Merlin is the one that caught my eye. Though all of these handheld will have a very short operating life.

Still, some of these puppies can get expensive and will have to wait until I have many disposable dollars and a lot more necessary equipment before I invest in one of them. Heck, I'm not even sure if I want a DSLR or a video camera yet. Or even whether I will get the editing suit first then the camera? Or the camera first then the editor? So for me a stabilizer will have to wait it's turn. At the moment, I'm most into software based stabilizer, even though, of course, the have limits.

This is pretty comprehensive advice Mal ... err George. It should help you make a quick decision on the stabiliser just as soon as you work out the desired operating life and your preference in editing software.

Are you still stuck at Beijing airport???????