What lens are you using with your Stabilizer?
 

Shooters with the canon xl1, xl1s, or xl2 using a steadicam such as Cody's. What lens are you using? The 16x or do I need to buy the 3x lens?

Lens choice is an artistic (and sometimes techincal) choice depending on the needs of the shot. The support used shouldn't have any effect on lens choice.
That beeing said, you don't *normally* want to zoom in too far on a stabilizer (or most moving shots for that matter) because of magnification of any shake that is present.

So no, unless your shot requires it (for example; you are in a very tight space and want to shoot very wide) there is no need to buy a special lens for use with a stabilizer.

- Mikko

Thank you Mikko. Much appreciated.

I agree with Mikko. The choice is artistic, but the 3X makes your shots a lot smoother and easier to do. A lot depends on your skill level too. I would hardly call myself pro at it, but I've had some amazing shots using the Magiqcam and the Canon 3X lens. I also found the money well spent on the lens as I use it in so many tight spots that I wonder how I did without it before.

I'll follow up and agree that the 3X from Canon, as most Wide angle lenses, is very usefull in a lot of shooting environments. So many spaces are so tight, it makes me wonder why camera makers always put huge zooms on withtou regard for that important wide angle shot.
But again, that has no relation to whether your camera is handheld, on sticks or on a stabilizer.

- Mikko

Thanks Mikko and Rob. I always knew I needed a 3x wide angle lens :o) Now I've a good excuse to go and buy one!!! Now all I have to do is convince my wife (grin)

Try not to get stuck in wide angle...it all looks so...boring.

I love using a longer lens. Try tracking around someone on MCU from about 6m away, if you pull it off, it looks beautiful. Focus can be an issue tho.

Rick.