Varizoom Flowpod

Thomas McKay · March 28th, 2004, 10:47 PM

Rob,

Thanks for sending over the clips, you did a great job.. I will link them from the same FlowPod page as the others. Should be online in a day or two.

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Easler : I can offer some. Tell me how. I don't have a server to post it on. By the way what's up with the longer aluminum shaft I see that extends to the first leg extension. Must be an upgrade. Mine is about half that length. I do like "the pod". I use it all the time. -->>>

Michael Best · July 26th, 2004, 06:07 AM

Anyone know where I might find an attachment I can use
on the bottom of a flowpod (actually a monopod) with a plate
so I can mount the camera?

Rob Easler · July 27th, 2004, 07:27 AM

Well...uh yeah at flowpod.com

Billy Dalrymple · July 27th, 2004, 02:26 PM

Does the flowpod work well? Dont your hands/arms get tired if shooting for any length of time? Will it stabilize running shots?

Rob Easler · July 27th, 2004, 03:06 PM

It works well and works for running shots although the Steadicam Jr probably performs just a bit better in general for flying shots. The flowpod is kind of heavy, however, since it's also a monopod I find it much EASIER on the arms because I only use the flowing shots once in a while and the rest of the time I can support the weight of the cam on the monopod instead of having to use the stabilizer all the time with something like a Glidecam or Steadicam Jr. I also get a nice steady shot using the monopod. It will get tricky though if you use it or any mini steady type device lights attached.

Billy Dalrymple · July 29th, 2004, 10:41 AM

How difficult is the flowpod to learn? I've never used a mechanical stabilizer so I'm a newbie to it. Are we talking a day, week, or year?

:^)

Rob Easler · July 30th, 2004, 12:35 AM

Probably a day or less to learn but it will depend on you and the camera setup you are trying to use. As you use the flowpod or any mini stabilizer more you will develop methodology that makes you better with time and use. The flowpod fits my uses because I do weddings and am on the go a lot during the shooting day so the monopod get heavy use and the flow usage is light. I don't know what your use is or if the monopod concept is
advantageous to you.

Jos Svendsen · July 17th, 2005, 11:35 AM

Good description of the Flowpod. However there is one bit of information I miss.

What is the hight of the Flowpod when used as a fully extended monopod?

I have not been able to find it in the Varizoom documentation. It would be most appriciated if you could find the time to measure the Flowpod.

Thanks in advance

Chris Davis · July 18th, 2005, 06:57 AM

I don't have my Flowpod with me right now, but I can tell you that with the monopod fully extended, the eyecup of my Canon GL2 is somewhat close to my eye level, and I'm 6'0". I believe Varizoom revised the Flowpod to be a bit taller since this original review was written. If memory serves, it is 62" tall when fully extended.

Jos Svendsen · July 19th, 2005, 03:25 AM

Thanks for your answer. Could you tell me something about the set-up. Is it very difficult to set up?

I've had a Hollywood Lite and you had to sit at a table fiddling with some quite small screws in order to set it up.
After some practice I could do it in 15 min. I sold the thing because of this, as I wanted to be able to do the set up at location.

And how steady is it as a monopod?

Chris Davis · July 20th, 2005, 01:52 PM

If I had more time to use it, I could answer your questions... I just picked it up a couple weeks ago and have not had much time to play with it. It is a very solid piece of equipment - built like a tank. There are five thumb screws to control the position of the camera. There are (up to) three weights to slide up and down (which require the included hex key to adjust.)

Sean Seah · May 17th, 2006, 09:53 AM

Hooked up the FX1 with a Rode Videomic and the counterweights totalled 1.1Kg!! Holy smokes the entire setup is prob 4kg on my arm alone! The 3 weights that came didnt work for the FX1 which is stated as a 5Ibs and below cam. Anyway, its really expensive to get the additional weights here in Singapore so I used an ankle weight at 1/3 of the price to solve the prob..

Beth Dill · August 5th, 2006, 12:16 AM

Bump...

Anybody have any more info to share? Thanks

Sean Seah · August 6th, 2006, 07:31 AM

Wat else would u like to know?

Beth Dill · August 10th, 2006, 04:46 AM

Fogive the delay - I hadn't been following this post.

How difficult is it to set up, how long does it take to set up, does the footage really turn out as well as their demo footage? How long can you use it at one time?

Thank you -- I appreciate it. I'm very close to buying one :-)

Beth

March 28th, 2004, 10:47 PM	#46
Thomas McKay Sponsor: VariZoom Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 58	Rob's Footage Rob, Thanks for sending over the clips, you did a great job.. I will link them from the same FlowPod page as the others. Should be online in a day or two. <<<-- Originally posted by Rob Easler : I can offer some. Tell me how. I don't have a server to post it on. By the way what's up with the longer aluminum shaft I see that extends to the first leg extension. Must be an upgrade. Mine is about half that length. I do like "the pod". I use it all the time. -->>>

July 26th, 2004, 06:07 AM	#47
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Flowpod Anyone know where I might find an attachment I can use on the bottom of a flowpod (actually a monopod) with a plate so I can mount the camera?

July 27th, 2004, 03:06 PM	#50
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Using the flowpod is actually EASIER on the Arms It works well and works for running shots although the Steadicam Jr probably performs just a bit better in general for flying shots. The flowpod is kind of heavy, however, since it's also a monopod I find it much EASIER on the arms because I only use the flowing shots once in a while and the rest of the time I can support the weight of the cam on the monopod instead of having to use the stabilizer all the time with something like a Glidecam or Steadicam Jr. I also get a nice steady shot using the monopod. It will get tricky though if you use it or any mini steady type device lights attached.

July 29th, 2004, 10:41 AM	#51
Billy Dalrymple Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 50	How difficult is the flowpod to learn? I've never used a mechanical stabilizer so I'm a newbie to it. Are we talking a day, week, or year? :^) __________________ -Billy

July 27th, 2004, 07:27 AM	#48
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Well...uh yeah at flowpod.com

July 27th, 2004, 02:26 PM	#49
Billy Dalrymple Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 50	Does the flowpod work well? Dont your hands/arms get tired if shooting for any length of time? Will it stabilize running shots?

July 30th, 2004, 12:35 AM	#52
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Probably a day or less to learn but it will depend on you and the camera setup you are trying to use. As you use the flowpod or any mini stabilizer more you will develop methodology that makes you better with time and use. The flowpod fits my uses because I do weddings and am on the go a lot during the shooting day so the monopod get heavy use and the flow usage is light. I don't know what your use is or if the monopod concept is advantageous to you.

July 17th, 2005, 11:35 AM	#53
Jos Svendsen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 221	Good description of the Flowpod. However there is one bit of information I miss. What is the hight of the Flowpod when used as a fully extended monopod? I have not been able to find it in the Varizoom documentation. It would be most appriciated if you could find the time to measure the Flowpod. Thanks in advance

July 18th, 2005, 06:57 AM	#54
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	I don't have my Flowpod with me right now, but I can tell you that with the monopod fully extended, the eyecup of my Canon GL2 is somewhat close to my eye level, and I'm 6'0". I believe Varizoom revised the Flowpod to be a bit taller since this original review was written. If memory serves, it is 62" tall when fully extended.

July 19th, 2005, 03:25 AM	#55
Jos Svendsen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 221	Thanks for your answer. Could you tell me something about the set-up. Is it very difficult to set up? I've had a Hollywood Lite and you had to sit at a table fiddling with some quite small screws in order to set it up. After some practice I could do it in 15 min. I sold the thing because of this, as I wanted to be able to do the set up at location. And how steady is it as a monopod?

July 20th, 2005, 01:52 PM	#56
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	If I had more time to use it, I could answer your questions... I just picked it up a couple weeks ago and have not had much time to play with it. It is a very solid piece of equipment - built like a tank. There are five thumb screws to control the position of the camera. There are (up to) three weights to slide up and down (which require the included hex key to adjust.)

May 17th, 2006, 09:53 AM	#57
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Hooked up the FX1 with a Rode Videomic and the counterweights totalled 1.1Kg!! Holy smokes the entire setup is prob 4kg on my arm alone! The 3 weights that came didnt work for the FX1 which is stated as a 5Ibs and below cam. Anyway, its really expensive to get the additional weights here in Singapore so I used an ankle weight at 1/3 of the price to solve the prob..

August 5th, 2006, 12:16 AM	#58
Beth Dill Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 45	Bump... Anybody have any more info to share? Thanks

August 6th, 2006, 07:31 AM	#59
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Wat else would u like to know?

August 10th, 2006, 04:46 AM	#60
Beth Dill Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 45	Fogive the delay - I hadn't been following this post. How difficult is it to set up, how long does it take to set up, does the footage really turn out as well as their demo footage? How long can you use it at one time? Thank you -- I appreciate it. I'm very close to buying one :-) Beth