5DMK2+Blackbird Video Motion Stabilizer at DVinfo.net

Ron Coker · June 29th, 2009, 02:01 AM

A match made in heaven. 5DMK2+Blackbird Stabilizer. Easy set up, about 30 minutes, done. An included second, camera quick release plate allows rapid change from stabilizer to tripod.

Like any other professional level stabilizer, practice makes for a better result.

Gadgets for 5D Mark2 on Vimeo

Glen Elliott · June 29th, 2009, 11:32 AM

Thanks for posting this. I never heard of the Blackbird stabilizer before. The footage appeared rather wobbly. While this may not be the best example footage for this device- I still feel the Glidecam 4000/4000HD is the best bang for the buck.

Ron Coker · June 29th, 2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen Elliott

Thanks for posting this. I never heard of the Blackbird stabilizer before. The footage appeared rather wobbly. While this may not be the best example footage for this device- I still feel the Glidecam 4000/4000HD is the best bang for the buck.

At $650 less $50 discount to most, I know where to shop.

Included link, a music vid is more convincing than my first time out offering. Enjoy

HF S10 Behind the scenes on Vimeo

Glen Elliott · July 1st, 2009, 06:29 PM

Yeah- that looked great. Practice makes perfect. I presume all handheld stabilizers carry a hefty learning curve.

Charles Papert · July 1st, 2009, 06:44 PM

They do indeed. The Blackbird does have a feature that may "soften" the curve for some, essentially a friction control that makes the system a bit less touchy.

I'll reserve judgement on whether it beats out the Merlin, but I would say that I prefer the Blackbird to the Glidecams. Certainly it is MUCH easier to make fine adjustments in balance than those units.

Tom Daigon · July 1st, 2009, 06:56 PM

Im new to the technology but I have found balancing my Canon 5D on my Glidecam 2000HD
(X-10 setup) quite controlled and exacting.

Glen Elliott · July 1st, 2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

They do indeed. The Blackbird does have a feature that may "soften" the curve for some, essentially a friction control that makes the system a bit less touchy.

I'll reserve judgement on whether it beats out the Merlin, but I would say that I prefer the Blackbird to the Glidecams. Certainly it is MUCH easier to make fine adjustments in balance than those units.

Charles have you flown one of the newer Glidecam "HD" rigs. They made some improvements for the minor changes. They have two long threaded screws through the top plate you can turn in either direction to make subtle adjustments to the lateral balance.

Charles Papert · July 1st, 2009, 07:08 PM

I have indeed tried them; see my article here at DVinfo.net.

The threaded screw helps considerably over the previous generation, but you have to loosen and tighten a series of screws before you can make the adjustment. All four is probably overkill, most can do it with one on each side, but that's still 8 knobs to wrangle if you want to adjust fore-aft and side-side (four to loosen, four to tighten). Certainly if this is one's first stabilizer this isn't perhaps that big a deal as you have nothing to compare this to, but both the Merlin and Blackbird have smooth vernier adjustments that do not require ANY tiedowns. A few quick twiddles and you are ready to go.

Don Miller · August 29th, 2009, 07:05 PM

Who's flying the blackbird? Is the LCD always visible? Thanks for the review, Charles.

Charles Papert · August 29th, 2009, 11:42 PM

Like the Merlin and the GC handheld series, there's no built-in LCD on the rig so you are only able to view the LCD on the camera when you are oriented relatively square to it. There is a slight advantage with the 5D in that it is at the rear rather than one side of the body (unlike most swing-out LCD's on camcorders), so panning the camera to the right does not automatically block the viewfinder. However the 5D has a rather small screen making critical viewing difficult at oblique angles and typical operating distance.

Not impossible--just not optimal.

Jim Newberry · October 30th, 2009, 07:17 PM

Anyone tried a monitor with the 5DMII and Blackbird?

June 29th, 2009, 02:01 AM	#1
Ron Coker Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Randwick Australia Posts: 59	5DMK2+Blackbird Video Motion Stabilizer A match made in heaven. 5DMK2+Blackbird Stabilizer. Easy set up, about 30 minutes, done. An included second, camera quick release plate allows rapid change from stabilizer to tripod. Like any other professional level stabilizer, practice makes for a better result. Gadgets for 5D Mark2 on Vimeo

June 29th, 2009, 11:32 AM	#2
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	Thanks for posting this. I never heard of the Blackbird stabilizer before. The footage appeared rather wobbly. While this may not be the best example footage for this device- I still feel the Glidecam 4000/4000HD is the best bang for the buck. __________________ Glen Elliott Cord 3 Films

July 1st, 2009, 06:29 PM	#4
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	Yeah- that looked great. Practice makes perfect. I presume all handheld stabilizers carry a hefty learning curve. __________________ Glen Elliott Cord 3 Films

July 1st, 2009, 06:44 PM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	They do indeed. The Blackbird does have a feature that may "soften" the curve for some, essentially a friction control that makes the system a bit less touchy. I'll reserve judgement on whether it beats out the Merlin, but I would say that I prefer the Blackbird to the Glidecams. Certainly it is MUCH easier to make fine adjustments in balance than those units. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

July 1st, 2009, 07:08 PM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I have indeed tried them; see my article here at DVinfo.net. The threaded screw helps considerably over the previous generation, but you have to loosen and tighten a series of screws before you can make the adjustment. All four is probably overkill, most can do it with one on each side, but that's still 8 knobs to wrangle if you want to adjust fore-aft and side-side (four to loosen, four to tighten). Certainly if this is one's first stabilizer this isn't perhaps that big a deal as you have nothing to compare this to, but both the Merlin and Blackbird have smooth vernier adjustments that do not require ANY tiedowns. A few quick twiddles and you are ready to go. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

July 1st, 2009, 06:56 PM	#6
Tom Daigon Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 170	Im new to the technology but I have found balancing my Canon 5D on my Glidecam 2000HD (X-10 setup) quite controlled and exacting.

August 29th, 2009, 07:05 PM	#9
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	Who's flying the blackbird? Is the LCD always visible? Thanks for the review, Charles.

August 29th, 2009, 11:42 PM	#10
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Like the Merlin and the GC handheld series, there's no built-in LCD on the rig so you are only able to view the LCD on the camera when you are oriented relatively square to it. There is a slight advantage with the 5D in that it is at the rear rather than one side of the body (unlike most swing-out LCD's on camcorders), so panning the camera to the right does not automatically block the viewfinder. However the 5D has a rather small screen making critical viewing difficult at oblique angles and typical operating distance. Not impossible--just not optimal. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 30th, 2009, 07:17 PM	#11
Jim Newberry Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 170	Anyone tried a monitor with the 5DMII and Blackbird?