A Gyroscope for about 100 bucks ???
 

Max-X Product Information
It is a gyroscope made for bows (the stuff used for Archery).
Anyone ever tried it out ??

Interesting...

Too bad they don't tell you the voltage.

Actually they do specify voltage...

If you go to the ordering page here Max-X Ordering Page you see that they are all 12V batteries and chargers.

really looks like a motor with a simple iron disc , not even a case around it.
must be very noisy (from video point of view).
but for those needing a cheap, quick and dirty help for stabilizing , that could be ok.

How would you attach this to a camera?

I wonder if you couldn't make up a hand bracket to support the camera with the gyro on the bottom, not unlike the weights on the bottom of the Merlin

could be an interesting exercise but what about the noise? - it can't be quiet

Ah, If only it was that easy!
 

It's doubtful that the Max-X gyro would be very useful to videographers. Its intended use is to improve bow target shooting (it's too noisy for hunters). Because it has no real gimbal action it is not a real gyro, but I suspect the "vibration dampening" cantelever mount allows for some pseudo precession to provide some degree of gyro action.

If one were to try to use this with a camera, I would suggest mounting it vertically to stabilize tilt and roll. You would have to make an adaptor for the camera 1/4-20 mount because the bolt on the Max-X is a 5/6 -24. But for sure it will behave strangely, unless you just want to stabilize a locked off shot. Besides the noise (described about like an electric toothbrush) it draws about 5 amps at 12 volts, thus the lithium packs that weigh 2.3 to 3.6 lbs depending on capacity. And there is vibration.

Rich Greb
Handheld stabilizer for video cameras - Blackbird, GS2 - Camera Motion Research

2-axes
 

I was actually thinking of buying 4 of them..
2 each for 2-axes and using them as balance for a Merlin type rig..

Anmol, I'll assume you are serious otherwise the joke's on me. The 4 so called gyros would weigh almost 4 lbs not including mounting hardware (can't possibly get a reasonable balance). The batteries would weigh almost 9 lbs. The cost would be perhaps $800. It will make a lot of noise and vibrate badly, and probably give you vertigo. But if you are right about the 4th axis you just might experience a time warp. I would try it on a test stand at a safe distance first.

Rich Greb
Handheld stabilizer for video cameras - Blackbird, GS2 - Camera Motion Research

Not 8 of them - but 4 of them. 2 on each balance side. Total of 400 bucks. But still, not sure if they would work.
The batteries will not go on the rig - they can be worn on the belt.
What other gyro-stabilizer option is there for 4-500 bucks ??

Lipo batteries
 

Also, Lipo batteries would weight far less. Maybe 1-2 kilos (2-4 pounds) for 12V 10Ah.

Anmol, the real question is--would this actually work and provide a beneficial result. Even the gold standard, Kenyan gyros, are finicky to deal with and have serious restrictions in use. I'm about to use a set for a shoot on an aircraft carrier deck next week and it is my first time in over 10 years as I have never been much of a fan.

OK, you're serious.

I didn't mean to imply you would use 8. The $800 cost I mentioned included the four 5000 mah lithium batteries you would also have to buy (the very thought of a system drawing 20 amps at 12 volts makes me cringe). One gimbaled gyro can stabilize one main axis of rotation. The minimum number of gimbaled gyros required to effectively stabilize the three axes of rotation, tilt, roll and pan is three. You don't need 4. In fact if you only want to control tilt and roll you only need 2. The gyro locations or spin axes cannot be anywhere, or you get unwanted gyro torques.

You are right, there are no commercial solutions I'm aware of in the $500 range for gyro stabilization. Efficient motors with precisely balanced flywheels are expensive. Kenyon Labs has been selling gyros for nearly 40 years I think. These are proven gyros, well engineered and reliable, but they do have long start up and shut down times, and are not very efficient because they are based on very old technology. They are normally used in non-ambulatory situations where they reduce shake. They are sometimes configured on vest and arm stabilizer sleds. And they are very expensive and pretty heavy if you include the batteries. A minimal configuration of a one KS6 gyro (each Kenyon unit actually has two gyros) typically used on a sled would cost perhaps $2800 for the gyro, batteries and charger kit.

Rich Greb

OK, you're serious.

I didn't mean to imply you would use 8. The $800 cost I mentioned included the four 5000 mah lithium batteries you would also have to buy (the very thought of a system drawing 20 amps at 12 volts makes me cringe). One gimbaled gyro can stabilize one main axis of rotation. The minimum number of gimbaled gyros required to effectively stabilize the three axes of rotation, tilt, roll and pan is three. You don't need 4. In fact if you only want to control tilt and roll you only need 2. The gyro locations or spin axes cannot be anywhere, or you get unwanted gyro torques.

You are right, there are no commercial solutions I'm aware of in the $500 range for gyro stabilization. Efficient motors with precisely balanced flywheels are expensive. Kenyon Labs has been selling gyros for nearly 40 years I think. These are proven gyros, well engineered and reliable, but they do have long start up and shut down times, and are not very efficient because they are based on very old technology. They are normally used in non-ambulatory situations where they reduce shake. They are sometimes configured on vest and arm stabilizer sleds. And they are very expensive and pretty heavy if you include the batteries. A minimal configuration of a one KS6 gyro (each Kenyon unit actually has two gyros) typically used on a sled would cost perhaps $2800 for the gyro, batteries and charger kit.

Rich Greb

I think you misunderstood me. Take a 3-axis stabilizer like the Steadicam Merlin. On the bottom you put counterweights on 2 sides to reduce movement.
On these sides, I was thinking of using these motors in 2-axes for reducing movement as well.
Hence 4 of them, 2 per side in 2 axes.
They will definitely resist movement, and their weight would be an advantage here too - lowering the center of gravity.