Best value for handheld support/stabilizer

**hizbiz** · 2007 June 11th, 13:58

Originally Posted by laprius

I've spent the last couple of days fine tuning one I made myself...does an awesome job for about $40AUD worth of gear....just practicing with it now....course about 1/4 of the cost was buying cool matt black paint to make the galv. pipes etc look a little more "pro" lol

Thanks Johnny

Laprius,
Have a look at my DIY steadyrig (a mimic of steadytracker) . It's cheap and can stand by itself!

**trigger** · 2007 June 13th, 19:33

Has anyone tried this DIY steady rig?

It looks pretty good and I'd be willing to fork out about $60 and a couple of weeks worth of work to put it together if anyone thinks it would be worth it.

**laprius** · 2007 June 14th, 05:52

Hiz...I can't see a link to a place I can see this rig of yours

Can you post it here so I can check it out...actually I might pop a pic up of mine in the next day or so...remind me someone lol

Lap

**BarnOwl** · 2007 June 14th, 07:32

Originally Posted by trigger

Has anyone tried this DIY steady rig?

It looks pretty good and I'd be willing to fork out about $60 and a couple of weeks worth of work to put it together if anyone thinks it would be worth it.

Actually, that's pretty cool and you can use all components for other tasks as well.
I find my Manfrotto monopod already improves the stability a lot on this little cam. A weight on the bottom will improve it even more so.......

**hizbiz** · 2007 June 14th, 12:22

Originally Posted by laprius

Hiz...I can't see a link to a place I can see this rig of yours

Can you post it here so I can check it out...actually I might pop a pic up of mine in the next day or so...remind me someone lol

Lap

Its in a separate thread that I started here. Anyway here is the link for the post with pics.

http://www.hv20.com/showpost.php?p=5029&postcount=10

**Ten Ounce** · 2007 June 14th, 14:30

I went out and made my steadicam rig as well yesterday. It looks pretty good, though getting use to this thing has been quite a challenge. For those who made one, did you stick with the 2.5lb weight or did you go with something heavier? It seems that a 5lb weight would be more appropriate, but maybe I just need more practice.

**laprius** · 2007 June 14th, 23:14

This pic is a little big, buuut anyway...here's my beast but would a truly articulated rig of some kind. I used a 1.25Kg weight, (2.75lb) don't move much...I'll post some footage taken recently soon. Mind you just had an incident where no tripod and had to hold the thing up for 30minutes was wishing it was lighter then lol

Lap

**wfeu** · 2007 June 28th, 13:59

here is a new one i found from Italy:\
http://cgi.ebay.de/STEADYCAM-STEADIC...QQcmdZViewItem

**wfeu** · 2007 June 28th, 20:04

also if you look at that guys store he is the manufacturer and has one other model for around 50 less. I think Im going to get one!

**Ian Lim** · 2007 June 29th, 02:15

Originally Posted by wfeu

here is a new one i found from Italy:\
http://cgi.ebay.de/STEADYCAM-STEADIC...QQcmdZViewItem

wfeu, that 'Steadicam Merlin look-a-like' stabilizer is very interesting.

Anyone tried this stuff before? I can't find any review about this thing. Just wondering how good it is compared to Merlin...

**wfeu** · 2007 June 29th, 13:18

I can not find any reviews either. From what I have gathered he is a Italian making them himself and selling on ebay. He does have some test footage links posted in his auction descriptions. The qaulity of 1 is very low but you can see the smooth motion. The other is better quality and you see him operating it in the reflection of the car window.

The cheaper/smaller one I like the handle look. It does not look dyi to me. The larger one the handle looks cool but it does look a bit a dyi to me compared to the other model.

Next week I will be ordering one and I am thinking of going with larger one because it will handle more weight should I deck out my hv20. Ill post pics when I get it.

In the past I have owned glidecams for my pd150's. I really like the steadicam merlin but dont have 800 euros to fork out for it. The steaditracker is to big for me which is one of the reason I liked this guys smaller model. But looking at him operating the bigger one in the reflection he cast in the car window the more expensive one does not look so big. I also like the monitor attachment for it.

My next thing will be to figure out a way to use the remote control with it for smooth zooming.

**wfeu** · 2007 June 29th, 13:25

Here is the link for his video:
http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.ph...=CALICOCAM.wmv

and ive also attached some jpgs of the 2 models. The only reviews I find are from his ebay feedback from others who have bought them. I did not see anything negative.

**Ian Lim** · 2007 June 29th, 22:52

Yes, I like that Calicocam's form factor for practical reason. Can't wait for your review about this thing

Good luck!

**Ian Lim** · 2007 July 6th, 10:17

wfeu, have you bought the italian stabilizer?

**Goose** · 2007 July 7th, 06:45

I have the glidecam 2000 pro and to be honest have found it very difficult to use. Even when it appears to be correctly balanced the gimbal appears to be too loose so I have to try and steady it with my left hand. I find that its hard to keep the system from pitching and rolling unwantedly.

**wfeu** · 2007 July 7th, 10:41

yes i bought one this. waiting for it to arrive still. we had the last two days holidays here so no mail. I used to have glidecams as well... I always had trouble with them as well.

**wfeu** · 2007 July 7th, 10:42

I bought the bigger model.

**Ian Lim** · 2007 July 8th, 12:38

Originally Posted by wfeu

yes i bought one this. waiting for it to arrive still. we had the last two days holidays here so no mail. I used to have glidecams as well... I always had trouble with them as well.

I have Glidecam as well, the 4000 series. Yes, it brings a lot of troubles using it.

**Tom** · 2007 July 8th, 15:21

Originally Posted by SpoilerWarning

I've just gone and ordered the "$14 Steadycam" from
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

for $92 (incl int delivery).

I just ordered this as well.

**thadius65** · 2007 July 10th, 19:19

Originally Posted by Erik Bien

For lots of good DIY inspiration, look here:

http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/

My current preference is this thing, cheap too:

http://www.spiderbrace.com/

Erik,

Was that the SpiderBrace Mini-Rig for the HV20?

Thanks,

Ted

**wfeu** · 2007 July 13th, 09:42

Just got mine today. Here are some pics. I was impressed by the quality of the pieces. His ebay photos i was not sure. Mine came with both handles. The short one and grip one. Hope to try it out this weekend.

**bluegrass** · 2007 July 13th, 09:51

Originally Posted by Tom

I just ordered this as well.

I'm going to take a stab at building a couple this weekend with my brother's help. You can't beat the price so I thought I might run into situations where I wanted to film from to cameras at the same time. Maybe even one filming the other one in action.

**Ian Lim** · 2007 July 13th, 16:07

Originally Posted by wfeu

Just got mine today. Here are some pics. I was impressed by the quality of the pieces. His ebay photos i was not sure. Mine came with both handles. The short one and grip one. Hope to try it out this weekend.

Wow that looks really nice, wfeu! Can't wait for your review... Btw, which model do you buy?

**wfeu** · 2007 July 13th, 17:44

It was this one:

http://cgi.ebay.de/STEADICAM-STEADYC...QQcmdZViewItem

The quality is very nice. But no manual so Im trying to figure it out. I emailed to see if he would make a video of setting one up like the test footage he did and Im waiting to hear back now. But Ive been looking at the photos in his ebay store to try and balance it. Ive gotten close but i think im missing something.

The base of it that the weights attach to extends like a monopod 110 cm fully out.

**wfeu** · 2007 July 13th, 19:07

I am getting a bit closer. I extended the telescope a bit added 3 weights to the bottom and one at the joint. Now I have been messing with the base plate head . It is still a bit off, but closer.

Im not not sure if I need so many weights, the base plate is in the best position, and if I need to telescope the bottom arm.

Here is a pic.

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