$7,000 stabilizers,steadicams >>> $1,000 or less HOW??? at DVinfo.net

Eniola Akintoye · November 1st, 2005, 12:24 PM

Ok, I think we are getting close to extreme professionalizm in regards to all these adapters, GG etc.

Is any one here into building full stabilizers/steadicams etc?

I mean, we have been able to get an adapter from $7,000 down to $150

What can we do in regards to getting this extremely expensive body armour steadicams too to a reasonable price for indie film makers like us.

Please if you have any you are currently working on and you are planning on going commercial, please let us know here since I am sure there are a lot of us that needs to stop that camera shake in our videos and films.

I have posted a link of an example of what I am talking about.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Here is one for $1,600 bucks on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/MagiqCam-Video-C...QQcmdZViewItem

Jay Rodriguez · November 1st, 2005, 12:34 PM

Go here:

http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/

Bill Porter · November 1st, 2005, 01:24 PM

Building an inexpensive stabilizer with articulated arm is different than building an inexpensive 35mm (or other format) lens adapter. Stabilizer has many more moving, interworking parts. Also those parts must be made very carefully to have correct geometry and spring tension to counteract and minimize body motion, to isolate the camera. And building such a contraption is a lot more work than building an adapter.

People have made their own articulated-arm stabilizers but so far the only person willing to teach how to build your own camera rigs (and what a great teacher, at that) is Dan Selakovich. Check out his book, dvcamerarigs.com
Worth every penny.

Eniola Akintoye · November 1st, 2005, 02:15 PM

Bill, I totally agree with you but there are some people on this site that just have passion for building these kinds equipments.

I went to the HBS forum to see what they gat, but if anyone in here is working on a similar project, please share.

Bill Porter · November 2nd, 2005, 10:28 PM

That too is very true. Some of these people have built some pretty amazing looking stuff!

Douglas Joseph · November 2nd, 2005, 10:29 PM

Has anyone had any luck trying to build a steai cam for the Canon XL2? I can't imagine building one, for the camera ways close to 8 lbs... If anyone has had success building one, let me know, please.

Thanks,
D.C. Joseph

Eniola Akintoye · November 2nd, 2005, 10:54 PM

I feel you Douglas.
I have a canon XL2 and I need stable shots to just make my work perfect.
I hope some one gets to provide more answers.

Keith Kline · November 2nd, 2005, 11:59 PM

This book is way worth it if you're wanting to build a stabilizer. The plans show everything and you don't really need any special equipment to make it. The only things that might, could prob be done by a machine shop in 10-15 minutes. I have these plans and they're great. I still haven't got to build mine yet, but there is a whole area on the homebuilt stabilzers site with versions that people have built from Cody's book.

BTW: Cody was using an XL1 or XL1s when the book was made so all the pics feature an XL on there so it should work fine with an XL2 as well.

http://www.codydeegan.com/

Leigh Wanstead · November 30th, 2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eniola Akintoye

I went to the HBS forum to see what they gat, but if anyone in here is working on a similar project, please share.

I am a stabilizer manufacturer.

Here are the videos I shot with my stabilizer. The camera was using is a JVC GY-DV5000 with Fujinon s20x6.4brm-sd lense which weighs about 13.23lbs (6kg).

http://www.salenz.com/movie/

FYI, the stabilizer I plan to sell will be far cheaper than any model of Steadicam full rig made by Tiffen, but I won't sell it for less than $1,000.

Regards
Leigh

Eniola Akintoye · December 13th, 2005, 02:21 PM

So we absolutely don't have anyone that uses a Camera Stabilizer up in here or anyone that has built any????

Steev Dinkins · December 13th, 2005, 03:13 PM

I have found a solution for $250....

Rent it.

Charles Papert · December 13th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Many people who have done both--starting with the message immediately preceding yours.

Eniola Akintoye · December 13th, 2005, 05:07 PM

Why rent when you can buy, use, and re-sell if you don't need it any more?

Steev Dinkins · December 13th, 2005, 05:12 PM

Let us know when you find one for under $1000.

Charles Papert · December 13th, 2005, 07:15 PM

In the case of stabilizers, there's an excellent argument to be made against renting unless you have already had plenty of experience with the particular model you plan to rent or very similar--the learning curve with any stabilizer is significant, and the pecularities of balancing and configuring (especially the low-cost ones) may cut into one's efficiency on shoot day if you don't have the skill in the pocket.

I tend to think that for many people who plan to buy, use then re-sell their gear, things might not turn out as planned and they end up keeping the gear longer than expected, so it's probably a good idea to keep that as an ideal and plan your finances accordingly so you are not relying on turning that gear over to pay your rent/mortgage, for instance.

November 1st, 2005, 12:24 PM	#1
Eniola Akintoye Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Duluth GA Posts: 238	$7,000 stabilizers,steadicams >>> $1,000 or less HOW??? Ok, I think we are getting close to extreme professionalizm in regards to all these adapters, GG etc. Is any one here into building full stabilizers/steadicams etc? I mean, we have been able to get an adapter from $7,000 down to $150 What can we do in regards to getting this extremely expensive body armour steadicams too to a reasonable price for indie film makers like us. Please if you have any you are currently working on and you are planning on going commercial, please let us know here since I am sure there are a lot of us that needs to stop that camera shake in our videos and films. I have posted a link of an example of what I am talking about. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation Here is one for $1,600 bucks on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/MagiqCam-Video-C...QQcmdZViewItem

November 2nd, 2005, 11:59 PM	#8
Keith Kline Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 153	XL Stedi This book is way worth it if you're wanting to build a stabilizer. The plans show everything and you don't really need any special equipment to make it. The only things that might, could prob be done by a machine shop in 10-15 minutes. I have these plans and they're great. I still haven't got to build mine yet, but there is a whole area on the homebuilt stabilzers site with versions that people have built from Cody's book. BTW: Cody was using an XL1 or XL1s when the book was made so all the pics feature an XL on there so it should work fine with an XL2 as well. http://www.codydeegan.com/

December 13th, 2005, 03:13 PM	#11
Steev Dinkins Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 613	I have found a solution for $250.... Rent it. __________________ www.holyzoo.com

December 13th, 2005, 03:13 PM	#12
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Many people who have done both--starting with the message immediately preceding yours. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 13th, 2005, 05:12 PM	#14
Steev Dinkins Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 613	Let us know when you find one for under $1000. __________________ www.holyzoo.com

November 1st, 2005, 12:34 PM	#2
Jay Rodriguez Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 80	Go here: http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/

November 1st, 2005, 01:24 PM	#3
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	Building an inexpensive stabilizer with articulated arm is different than building an inexpensive 35mm (or other format) lens adapter. Stabilizer has many more moving, interworking parts. Also those parts must be made very carefully to have correct geometry and spring tension to counteract and minimize body motion, to isolate the camera. And building such a contraption is a lot more work than building an adapter. People have made their own articulated-arm stabilizers but so far the only person willing to teach how to build your own camera rigs (and what a great teacher, at that) is Dan Selakovich. Check out his book, dvcamerarigs.com Worth every penny.

November 1st, 2005, 02:15 PM	#4
Eniola Akintoye Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Duluth GA Posts: 238	Bill, I totally agree with you but there are some people on this site that just have passion for building these kinds equipments. I went to the HBS forum to see what they gat, but if anyone in here is working on a similar project, please share.

November 2nd, 2005, 10:28 PM	#5
Bill Porter Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ventura, California, USA Posts: 751	That too is very true. Some of these people have built some pretty amazing looking stuff!

November 2nd, 2005, 10:29 PM	#6
Douglas Joseph Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Zanesville OH Posts: 205	Has anyone had any luck trying to build a steai cam for the Canon XL2? I can't imagine building one, for the camera ways close to 8 lbs... If anyone has had success building one, let me know, please. Thanks, D.C. Joseph

November 2nd, 2005, 10:54 PM	#7
Eniola Akintoye Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Duluth GA Posts: 238	I feel you Douglas. I have a canon XL2 and I need stable shots to just make my work perfect. I hope some one gets to provide more answers.

December 13th, 2005, 02:21 PM	#10
Eniola Akintoye Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Duluth GA Posts: 238	So we absolutely don't have anyone that uses a Camera Stabilizer up in here or anyone that has built any????

December 13th, 2005, 05:07 PM	#13
Eniola Akintoye Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Duluth GA Posts: 238	Why rent when you can buy, use, and re-sell if you don't need it any more?

December 13th, 2005, 07:15 PM	#15
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	In the case of stabilizers, there's an excellent argument to be made against renting unless you have already had plenty of experience with the particular model you plan to rent or very similar--the learning curve with any stabilizer is significant, and the pecularities of balancing and configuring (especially the low-cost ones) may cut into one's efficiency on shoot day if you don't have the skill in the pocket. I tend to think that for many people who plan to buy, use then re-sell their gear, things might not turn out as planned and they end up keeping the gear longer than expected, so it's probably a good idea to keep that as an ideal and plan your finances accordingly so you are not relying on turning that gear over to pay your rent/mortgage, for instance. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com