Thanks Ed and Wesley for the response.
I'm still deciding on which brand to buy.

Well at the mean time, might as well get more input from you guys :)

To Ed:
What's the size of the LCD? From the pics you posted, it looks like a 5" or 6". How's the framing like? Guessing it must be overscan, right?

To Wesley:
So, how do you find the Marshall LCD? Is it good in terms of brightness? Also, how do you find the viewing area? 4" seems small.

Well, that's all for now.
Thank you once again.

Ed :

yeah. still trying to folow up with john regarding missing components to make my low mode (low dog) work.

Wei :

It works for me, especially when that's the only PAL model from John at magiqcam that he sourced into my rig.

might wanna check out others for comparison in person in your country.

I love to post pictures to get some feedback, how can I post them?

wei mun,
its a 5" mon, overscan and work very well in color mode. not so good in b/w mode outdoor.

wesley,
should post your problem here so that other with low mode can give you a helping hand. other wise, post a message for john like what i did. from my correspondance with him, he said he check into this forum but only thing is he do not post or answer here.

michael,
post the pics on your website or else get a free website and post it there.

ed

I'm using the Nebtek Neb50 5" monitor on my magiqcam. I also got the 7.2v Li to 12v adaptor which allows me to power it with the same batteries as I use for my camera. Flying a DVX100 on it.

Nebtek Neb50:
http://www.nebtek.com/proddetail.php?prod=100NEB50

Initially I used a Marshall 4" monitor I bought through John but the backlight in it stopped working so I sent it back. My new nebtek works very well so far and is quite affordable.

By the way I'm trying to find out how the best way to setup and use the low mode, haven't really got there yet.
The only way I have found so far is to put the monitor on the camera plate, but then where are you supposed to put the battery?

Hi there Johan. I tried calling you several times but no answer. Do you still have the same number? BTW, do you have any pics of you magiqcam fully loaded with your setup?

For those looking at monitors for their rigs, here's an amazing new option:

DVX-Pod (http://www.amatechnologies.com/product.php)

For $600, you get a 6.5" super- high res screen and recording and playback capabilities--excellent for checking your shot inbetween takes. At 21 oz, still considered light but would only be appropriate for cameras over 10 lbs, say.

about these cracks on my vest , where the arm goes ?

http://home.pacific.net.sg/~jeng_hsiung/PICT0210.JPG

Yep! you should be worrying. when that finally breaks off all those bearings will definately find its way to the floor and then you will have friction. That has to rectified soon.

Yikes! Scary!

Geez. now I have to send it back to the States...

'Doh !'

Shoulda bought like something with a dealer in Singapore instead...

wesley,
look at the bright side. maybe john have come out with a new and improve component and he will send you one as a replacement. just make sure you check it out properly when you receive the new part.

good luck.

ed

Thanks, I sure hope so, Ed.

I didn't get the new gimbal...

well the path of a freelance camera person is really tough, I guess. Live and learn.

only hope for better luck this time round.

ed

Hey Wesley,
That photo looks very similar to the damage I incurred.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?threadid=35288
However, mine was totaly operator error.
I'm not assuming any error on your part but,
I have been triple checking to see that the arm is fully seated before I pick up the sled.
Since then I have had no problems.
I still love my Magiqcam rig!

douglas,
only wish i can say the same on magiqcam after sales service. once the money is send, no mail no nothing but just to pray that the rig will come one day. and also got to pray harder and hope that the item send is fully operational. sometime its just luck i guess.

ed

Ed
John hasn't done anything for you? If I am not mistaken in previous replies on this board, he has sent you a couple of gimbals to try to fix your problem.

What's John's / Magiqcam's address again ?

I need to send it back to him, but he hasn't replied my email with his address.

I wonder if I can ship it, international air's gonna cost a bomb.

wesley,
the address on the invoice should work. i return one of the gimbal with this address. it cost me rm370+ to send via fedex. try mailing him through the ebay listing. this was the only way i got him to reply me. good luck.

sarah,
he did send me two new gimbal. only problem was, both of them are faulty. mail him but same like wesley, no reply. i've been stuck with one problem rig for more than a year now. i've given up hope on this rig.

ed

Ed,

I was pretty well sold on buying one of these until I read the way your gimbal problem was taken care of.

So you wouldn't recommend buying a Magiqcam I take it?

Steve.

From what I have read on this board there are a lot of owners and they have had good experiences.
I would do a search and see what you come up with.

steve,
for the price, its a good buy as long as they send you a full working unit. and be prepare for a long wait. if i may quote cp words from a different thread, "... A lot of it comes down to how serious one wants to get about achieving beautiful shots, and how many compromises one is willing to make to get them".

enough said. don't need any mail from their customer service saying i'm bad mouth their product.

good luck.

ed

I don't think that by "compromises" I was referring to customer service/support issues in that quote...was I?

Ed, that makes sense, thanks.

Regarding "compromises," I expect to have to practice/work out a lot and only script those shots that can be done pefectly with the equipment I have. I've found with other equipment that working within the limitations of what you have is essential. That is, don't try to do something that looks sub-par with what you have. I suspect this is why the demo on the magiqcam site looks so bad. It didn't appear to have been blocked for shots that this particular equipment can do well.

Steve.

no charles, i was actually refering to we pay what we get in term of the hardware - easier learning curve, setup time, missing small gadget such as leveling spirit, cable... sorry for quoting the statement. i think it statement is very truth, at least for me. i opt for magiqcam rather than to wait and save enough for a more reputable one because of price.

ed

Well, after figuring the pros and cons, I ordered a magiqcam. Hopefully the new sliding gimbal will solve the previously mentioned problems.

Now to wait 5 weeks and then start practicing for shoot in August.

Thanks for all the advice.

Steve.