Hey Charles,

I believe you were helping out with my Rockport Steadicam Class back in '96. Long time...

Tom,
People have been talking about Paradigm shifts in this industry from the days of Hi8. But when it comes down to it, production value, script and direction makes a good finished product. The tools that were used to make the successful finished products (i.e. Blair Witch, Clerks etc) were secondary to the story.

Back to my original analogy, slightly changed: the instrument doesn't make a good musician. And those who think otherwise need to learn about the way Garret Brown had to shoot with his original rigs.

-dave

I myself will be playing around with a 5D and downsized stabilizer this week so I'm going to be making my own discoveries...![/QUOTE]

Im sure our frame of reference is different. With no point of comparison at all... I find through daily use that it is going to work very well for me.

Dave, that's nicely put and sums up what I've discovered with my new stabilizer - it doesn't make you great, it gives you the possibility to be great. But you have to put in the hours!

As the owner of a Merlin & novice Steadicam flyer with I find it is rather like the reason that people apparently find golf so addictive. Every so often through skill,practice or more likely blind luck you get it exactly right & the results are fantastic (perfect Steadicam shot or 250yd drive straight down the fairway). You then spend all your time trying to recreate that perfect moment.