The rig I have has one spring per arm. I have only had a chance to practice with it for a few hours but am planning on doing extensive test next week and will post my results. So far I am very happy with my purchase. I didn't expect a 60k steadicam so I wasn't let down. I have a friend who has a glidecam v16 who is thinking about dumping his rig for this one now. You are correct about the DV500, it is the GYDV500U with single NP1 Battery Pack (but running from rig power) and Fuji 20x lens. I removed the viewfinder to reduce weight on myself but it performs very well. Again, I will be doing more extensive test with that and the HD10 this week (hopefully) so I'll report back with the good and bad.

Ok, here is a video clip on my first day of practice. Nothing special, but I am impressed with the Magiqcam.

http://www.imaginationx.com/magiqcam.wmv

I've ordered one as well, all the way in Singapore.

wonder how long it takes to get to me... :)

Level Horizon
 

Scott. At first I thought you hopped on a motorized cart or something to track that train! That's pretty good for the first day. Once you get that horizon leveled you'll be on your way.

Scott, looks like you got some good running practice in! Hope you didn't scare the kids in the train too badly--"Mommy, why is that man wearing the leafblower chasing us?"

I would recommend getting in some more sedate practice also in a confined space like a hallway where you can really examine your horizontals and verticals. Also, I think it's safe to say that you are gripping the post too hard, which we call "overcontrolling". Experiment with lighter and lighter touches until you are barely touching the post at all, and you'll find the horizon settling down on straightaways before you know it.

Nice going Scott. Better than my first day ;) Make sure you take all the advice from Charles P. wspecially when he finally comes out with his video.

Charles P.... You are absolutely correct. I kept grabbing hard, after each shot, I remind myself not to do it, and each time, I do it again... I assume it is a "trust" issue with the camera, that I don't want to trust that the camera will be ok with a light touch.

As far as scaring the kids, if you listen carefully, you will hear them laughing wildly when they see me struggling to catch the train........ sweat dripping from my face...

The "swaying" motion is definately hard to control. After changing directions on that train, getting the mass to do what I want is hard..

Very impressive!

First day? Hmmm...I can see your day rate already going up.

I had to set my Coffee down from all the sssswaaayinggg but the running shot was great!!

I AM concerned about the swaying though.

(Charles...I would like to know if the Steadicam Flyer has any advantage when it comes to this problem. Does the Flyer have any damping or other control features to avoid or lessen this?)

With the Magiqcam (now) since it has a type of "fore and aft" adjustment kinda changes my way of thinking.

Scott, how are the adjustments working for you? How well does the vest fit?

About the adjustment, I adjusted it far to the right which is also a little back. It is balanced now. So it appears to work great.

The vest fits, somewhat. It is a little tight in the middle. I am 6' 5" and 245 lbs. John offered to lengthen the straps but I said I didn't want to do that until I had a few hours in the drivers seat. The middle straps can be loosened and the velcro does hold well so it is proving to not be an issue so far.

Swwwwwaaaaaaayyyyyyyy.... I will certainly work on that... :)

This may sound silly but...say I was working a live concert or tv show and was using Triax or some other video out. I'm wondering how the cables "route" to not upset your balance and not get in the way?

I'm only 6' and 200 lbs so that part sounds good to me. What camera are you using?

If you have cable usually someone is behind the operater to
"manage" these cables. You will usually see them having the
cables on a loop in their hands so they can have a line to the
camera avoid of tension.

Yeah, I know about the grips but, where (or how) do you get the cables "to" the camera and control them? Do you run them down the arm or what?

You would have to run them down the arm. It could "mute" some of the free-flowing but it should work.

I shoot with an XL1s on my Magiqcam.

steven,
follow the link http://www.bbc-safety.co.uk/guidance/steadicam.html it has a pic of steadicam vest with a triax cable build into it.

ed

I suppose that vest with the triax adaptors is a option...uh huh.

Nice rig...

Busy little thread, here!

OK. Avoiding the swaying thing--that's why we make the big bucks, gents. Controlling the rig so that the horizon stays level even when changing directions is part of the acquired skill of operating. Any kind of dampening effect would undermine the effects of the stabilizer. That three-axis gimbal must be as frictionless as possible to isolate the camera assembly from the operator, but that also means that the system is prone to the effects of acceleration as well as operator input and wind. Practice is the only way to get around all of this, I'm afraid.

As far as cabling, the idea is to minimize the twisting action of the cable. My preferred method is to have the cable exit the camera as close to the gimbal as possible (tape it back along the camera), then make a good sized loop so that it hangs down about a foot to a foot and a half; then attach the other end to the shoulder of the vest (opposite the side that the camera is mounted). From there you can tuck it in in the back of the vest as a strain relief. Alternately to the shoulder mount, you can run it down the arm if you prefer. The important thing is having the loop so that the "pull" of the cable is minimized.

Triax is the stiffest, thickest cable imaginable and a real pain. Use a coax to triax adaptor if at all possible, this allows you to use BNC cable. In general, select the most flexible, thinnest cables you can find for cabling off the rig.

It's a great thread and very informative.

I always try and research a major purchase as best I can. Too much is on the line and this is about as close as I'll get to other operators giving first hand views...and I'm much more informed and educated about a product.

It really helps to make an informed decision.

borrowing this thread/bumping it
 

... do I really need lanc / remote when I'm operating a magiqcam rig ? esp when the DVX-100 isn't a full lanc control and I can remote focus with one ?

Anyone please explain this to me ? I have a celebrity wedding coming up and hopefully I can do this right as a favour to the friend

(p.s. I haven't had both the cam nor the rig in my hands just yet - I hope the magiqcam arrives before this coming shoot)

Wesley:

Just as a warning--based on the experiences of the folks here (as well as my repetitious burblings of "practice! practice!"), it might be good not to expect to get great at operating your Magiqcam for quite a while (like months, not weeks). It all depends on your expectations. I just hate to see folks get disappointed with stabilizers. This forum alone has had plenty of "I just got my rig, and I don't think it's working right--it's hard to keep level". Mostly that's with the handheld stabilizers, I have sort of seen a trend with those who buy the strap-on rigs have a more realistic sense that it will take time to get good.

So if this shoot is as important as it sounds...and weddings are a big one, there's not much room for error!...

I have to agree with Charles P. I didn't expect to get good results when I got mine just from all the reading. I does take a lot of practice. I am getting better and better but I can see where the level of improvement, only goes up a little each time.

If it were that easy, wouldn't everyone have one?

<<If it were that easy, wouldn't everyone have one?>>

Maybe...if it cost the same as a tripod!

Incidentally, there's a new game in the bigtime Steadicam world called the Revolution. An NDA prevents me from explaining how it does it, but I can say what it does: you can flip the rig from high mode to low mode and the camera stays level the whole time. Fly it sideways (horizontal post) and the camera can glide over objects. It AUTOMATICALLY controls the roll horizon. That's right, no matter what you do, the camera itself stays level. It's a big deal, the first major advancement in the nature of Steadicam since its invention thirty years ago. And it costs about $40K and is optomized for a new rig which costs $30K, so for many operators it means a whopping $70K investment in addition to the gear they already own...

Don't expect this technology to trickle down to the prosumer level any time soon, however!

I was thinking, I could just strap a couple of 15k rpm hard drives on 3 axis of my Magiqcam and it would be stablized nicely...


I used to joke to people that I had so many hard drives in my computer that I could kick it on it's side and it wouldstand right back up... . :)

Seriously, it sounds like a gyroscopic stabilized steadicam. I knew it was just a matter of time before Wescam or someone got into the steadicam market.

Am I close? :)

Auto Stabilizer
 

Charles. Can you talk about the size of the Revolution? Does it make wearing the Steadicam rig look even more profound than it already does? That's all we need is more staring. When will it be available to view?

thanks for all the tips. as important as the shoot sounds, its a free labour/ my practice kinda gig. so I don't think my friend would be too bothered if it gets wobbly. hehe.

I know I have to clock the miles to get good results. I will put in hard work !!! (and not forsake the tripod at this gig , just yet)

Charles P : would this amazing advancement make dolies obsolete then ? hehe.

I still can't figure out how they did the Alien POV floating sequence in Alien 3... spydercam ?

... and was the steadicam operator on a helicopter all the way and seamlessly got down to the groundlevel and walked into the house, in the opening sequence of the US 'The Birdcage' ?

Oh so many questions!!! Here we go:

James: the Revolution does add a bit of heft to the rig, but not radically. So far it has been shown to a select few operators but will be "exposed" to the industry at large within a month or so.

Wesley: the racing around in the hallways of Alien 3 was Steadicam--I never got a good answer on how , when inverted, it got CLOSER to the ceiling rather than lower to the ground. I'll bring that up with the gang on the Steadicam forum, see what shakes out.

The Birdcage was an early example of digital compositing; the initial shot was a standard helicopter shot that "morphed" into a Steadicam riding down a crane and into the front door of the nightclub; the image of the inside of the nightclub was yet another Steadicam shot (this time shot on stage) by a different operator! So it was three shots combined in one. If you look at it critically, it's pretty easy to see the first transition as the people on the street essentially dissolve in a rather clunky fashion. The second transition is a bit more subtle, but you can still see some weird registration as the camera approaches the doors. Not bad for its time, but hardly impressive in this day and age (gee, all of, what, eight years later??)

Wow thanks for the insight.

Thomas Crown Affair
 

I'm assuming the opening shot for the Thomas Crowne Affair was done very similarly but really looked like one seemless shot. It started as a shot of the entire eastern coast, if not the continent, and came all the way down to street level.

Can't remember that one.

For me, the opening of "Boogie Nights" is the shot to beat.

oh yeah. steadicam on a crane and down to and inside the disco? or was it compositing again ?

That and De Palma's Carlito's way sequence, captured me the most.

I had to watch it 3 times. If it was 1 shot, it must have been a back breaker.......

The opening Boogie Nights really was one shot, no tricks. Great stuff.

I remain in awe of the Carlito's way sequence in Grand Central. Brilliant shot design on that one.

Maybe I will put up my own personal "back breaker"--a fast moving three minute one'r from the movie "Big Fat Liar".

4 weeks til shipping !!!

*faint*

Will master my DVX til then, I guess.



so when can we see the 'Big Fat Seqeunce' ? Does it invole Paul Giamatti ?

Sure does...here's that shot..

Paul Giamatti was a lot of fun to work with; great guy. It turned out that we had several mutual friends from his college days.

We did the shot on a really hot day and it was the first time I've had to ask for a ten-minute "cool down" time in between takes. The length of the backing-up portion coupled with the walking speed plus a few obstacles (backing off curbs etc). conspired to leave me a bit breathless after the 4th take or so (what you are seeing was the 8th and final take). The shot was continuous until the end; there was a reverse of the studio head that was cut in but the master continued all the way through.

This shot was apparently transferred off the workprint, so it wasn't color timed and thus somewhat dark in places.

I referred to this as a 3 minute shot in my previous post--it turns out to be closer to 3.5 minutes. Sure seemed like about 11 at the time!

Damn! Charles. I really envy you but not really, if you get my drift?!. You guys have the best of both world. You get to meet all the stars and work your magic with the steadicam, all that at the same time. But that weight baby! My back would have crashed out on me ;)

Sure wish I had the back-mounted vest back then!

For the record: that was with a Panavision LWII, Primo lens (don't remember the focal length, but it looks like a 29mm to me) and Preston FI&Z with focus and iris motors working, on the PRO 1 sled with PRO arm and vest. Approximate weight of rig, 65-70 lbs.

wow, what a great read from all of you. I just spend about 45 mintues reading through this thread.

I too was looking into purchasing something of this nature. I liked all the positive and honest reviews given by you guys! Charles, I do have to say nice work in those films!! Bravo!

Also are there any books out there that will help master the art of the steadycam shot? I'd love to read.


Just to comment on the lower back positioning and stress this product gives; I'm a bodybuilder on the side so I don't believe this will create much of a problem for me, never know tho. However, for those of you that are having some pain in your lower back make sure that you are properly stretching out your lower region prior to yoru shooting. Also you may want to look into doing several exercises that will help with your strength and mobility on set.

I suggest doing some "good mornings" which is an exercise performed by slightly bendign you knees and bending over at the waist keeping your back straight. Stopping at a 90 degree angle and coming back up to a standing position. You obviously want to do this with weight on your shoulders, similiar to that of a squat.

Also another exercise that is a little easier and less stressful on the lower back is broom twists. You simply sit down on a bench or chair, which ever you're comfortable with and place a broom stick or of the like (not too heavy) and turn at the waist to each side really stretching and working your obliques.

Also you may want to note that nothing says a strong lower back like a strong ab region. Work your abs as well to develop over all strength in your midsection for the best endurance and performance on your shoots.

oh, and is this a good link to purchase this product? : www.magiqcam.com

I'm assuming it is :)

Thanks again guys for the positive feed back and good insight on the shots as well. :)

What is the price of the rig? I can't seem find any info on their website.

Also, where are they located?

The footage is incredble!

thanks in advance.

The series one is 1450 and the series two is 1650. If you surf around the Magiqcam site you'll find the info. You can always call them too. I ordered one a few days ago and can't wait to get it.

its cheaper to order through ebay and the package offered usually come with a case.
mark, how is your testing coming along? do you have to adjust the sled lenght to the maximum to get get the balance with dv500 and how many np1 battery do you use at one time?

ed

I've never seen one on Ebay