Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

I've been testing and reviewing the Blackbird stabilizer the last couple of days and made a short video with it at the Botanic Gardens in Utrecht. You can see the 'Making Off' here:

And the resulting video here:

My review of the Blackbird can be found here, if you like: DerranNL: Review: Blackbird Camera Stabilizer from CMR

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Today I received the Z-post to connect the Blackbird stabilizer to the Steadicam arm and vest system. The Z-post provides more room between the arm and the Blackbird, which really helps when operating it.

Here you'll find some pictures and more information:
DerranNL: Blackbird Stabilizer on the Steadicam Merlin Arm and Vest

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Great stuff Derran.
I just ordered a Merlin Vest and Arm to fly heavier cameras on my Blackbird.
Have you got any videos using the vest with your set up.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Thanks Paul!
You'll love the setup. Unfortunately I don't have anything to show yet except for some walking / running footage around the house. I'm still planning on making an arm & vest with Blackbird demonstration, but I still have a lot of work that needs to be finished first.

Did you also order the Z-post from Camera Motion Research? It replaces the standard post on the arm to provide more clearance. You can read more about it here: DerranNL: Steadicam Merlin Arm & Vest with the Blackbird Stabilizer

BTW, you have some fantastic flying videos on your site flykam.com.au!

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Derran:

Looks good. You don't want to start holding the rig below the gimbal as you show at 1:04. If the bottom-heaviness is properly set, you shouldn't have to change your grip from the ring above the gimbal even for tilts like that.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Hi Charles!
Thanks for the advice. I just noticed it worked easier to keep this tilted angle for this particular shot. But you're absolutely right. I just didn't expect the king of all Steadicam operators to watch my video, otherwise I would have left it out. ;)

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Uh oh! No "king" here (certainly not any more--I'm out of the Steadicam business). But anyway: it's important not to develop bad habits early on. For an extreme tilt, it's better to either drive the front stage forward to pre-tilt the rig so it requires little force to hold it in place, or if the shot requires recovering from that tilt and continuing on with a more normal attitude, reduce some bottom-heaviness overall. Experienced Steadicam operators tune the fore-aft balance for most if not all shots--it's never a "set and forget" situation.

Glad you are enjoying flying!

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

I've actually never thought about changing balance for particular shots. But it does make a lot of sense. Thanks for the great advice on how to deal with these kind of shots!

Now that you've stopped working with the Steadicam, I'm glad to see you're still sharing your knowledge. It's much appreciated! :)

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Derran no I have not yet ordered the z post. Thought I would just make my own. Yes I read your review,well done.

All the videos I do go on the cairnsrealestatetours site. To many now to keep loading to both sites.

Looking forward to the vest anyhow, should allow me to add more weight to keep things smoother and open up more job opertunities.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

That's great if you can make your own. I'm just not handy enough with the metal working. :)
Did you shoot everything handheld and with the Blackbird?

I will keep an eye out for some new videos on the cairnsrealestatetours site!

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Looks like I don't have to make one now, been in contact with them and getting a z post sent over.:-)

Yes everything so far has been hand held with the Blackbird.
I shot a 3 hour Hip Hop street dance a while back and it nearly killed me hand held.
Vest is going to make life very easy for sure.

I will post a video here when I do one with the vest setup.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Best thing anyone who buys any kind of gimbaled stabilizer can do is buy the Steadicam Operator's Handbook. Has so many great tips and exercises and ways to approach things, regardless of whether you are using a handheld rig or the full-size shmageggie. Well worth it.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Where do you get that Charles?

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Haha Chris, since you are a DVI regular I won't be impertinent and refer you towards a search engine...!


Seriously though, the book is great and written by one of the chief architects of the Steadicam brand products (and longtime operator). It covers of the points made in the legendary 5-day workshops and since it came out, new operators have treated it as a bible, noting that they continue to refer to it as they progress. It's legit!

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Thanks Charles, sounds like a must have book and I will definitely buy one! :)

Great to hear you'll be able to use the Z-post Paul. Using the Blackbird handheld (or any other stabilizer for that matter) can become painful after using it for a long period of time (not to mention 3 hours!). Having an arm and vest to help carry the weight makes flying it a breeze!

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Yeh Dearran been thinking of getting one for a awhile now, should be fun.

Gee Charles just looking at some of your videos mate, pretty cool.
I liked this one Steadishots.org : Steadicam Shot by Charles Papert from Garrett Brown, Thank You
So you became too much of a Chick Magnet so you had to give it up hey :-)

Don't think I will get to that league but it seems to work nice with what I am doing.
The thing I like about using them is you don't have to cut cut cut, to keep the viewer interested as the camera is constantly moving so you can get away with simple long takes.

Thanks for the link to that book, might grab one for a look.

Vest is getting closer by the look, just left Brisbane lol
Takes twice as long to get from Sydney to Cairns then from NewYork to Sydney lol

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

I knew there were more reasons to have a steadycam than those obvious reasons....

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

One week from New York to Cairns and here it is.
20 minutes later I was flying the Canon 60D then changed over and put my old Sony Z1 on it.
Amazing and very simple to set up with the Blackbird, takes flying to a whole new level.
Will post a video later from both cameras.
Very happy :-)

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Very nice Paul. I'm sure you will create some great videos with this setup!

I really like the Steadicam arm and vest system and I love it in combination with the Blackbird. They work great together. I think you'll like it even better when the z-post arrives.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Flying with a vest certainly makes things easier...life is going to be very easy now.
Weighted up the DSLR now so it flies much better.
With the old HDV Z1 and the Sony wide angle on the front I have to use all the weights but it flies excellent too.

I know I need a new Video camera but the old Z1 is such a run and gun camera and I love instant back up to tapes. It drives me nuts having to back up tape less footage to delicate sensitive hard drives all the time.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

And so here is my very first outdoor fly test through the Rainforest with a Sony FX1 with a Wide Angle on.
How easy is it now hey :-)

Blackbird Stabilizer On Merlin Steadicam Vest and Arm First Fly Through Rainforest - YouTube

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Great video Paul!

Love the idea of mounting the GoPro to the front of the vest and using the remote for zooming. :)

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Yeh the remote works but not underneath the camera so might just Velcro it to the front of the vest or arm for easy access. I got a old lanc connector too so might pull that apart and modify it so control is right there on the post.

I shot a property yesterday with the DSLR on it but I think the setup needs to to weighted up more as I was wobbling around a bit but still came out OKAY. Have to be careful not to hit stuff too with the arm out there. House was a pretty dark one too so had the iso cranked right up.
27Gloucester Street Whitfield FNQ Hot Property Cairns Real Estate - YouTube

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Here is the Blackbird on the Steadicam Vest and Arm.
Good old Sony HDV FX1 with the Sony wide angle on.
This is the very first pre wedding shoot I have ever done and the first on the Blackbird.
As it was my first one I did not charge as I was not sure how it would go but it's pretty easy so plan to do more now.

Wedding Photography Shoot Blackbird Stabilizer On Steadicam Vest and Arm - YouTube

Got my first ever wedding coming up and will shoot it entirely on the Blackbird.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Very nice video Paul! The image quality of the FX1 looks good BTW.
Really like the shots and I'm sure the upcoming wedding video will turn out great. :)

Last week I've been filming with the Blackbird and Steadicam arm & vest as well. I have some work that needs to be finished first, but will post the resulting video here once it's done.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Even though the FX1 is like 7 years old now, its still perfect for run and gun shooting and leaves the DSLR's for dead in what it can nail on the run. Edit it in a 1920/1080 timeline, add in a bit of sharpens, chuck the tape in the cupboard for instant backup archive and know one knows any different.

I had an old tripod Lanc controller that I had on the post so I could control record and zoom without having to let go.

I have my eye on the new Sony PMW 200 though, liking that 3 half chips - 4.2.2 @ 50mbps codec.

Looking forward to watching some of your footage.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

This looks like a great mix between the Glidecam and Merlin. Shame there are no UK dealers selling the Blackbird. I like many others had no joy with the Merlin so im looking to try something else. I seriously have spent months on and off practicing with the Merlin, the damn thing makes no sense and has no consistency to its design - i would say only around 10% of the time when i pick up the Merlin can i actually stabilize it with my 5dMK2. I have balanced it, gone out, captured some amazing shots, then next week i won't even be able to balance the damn thing even with the exact same setup. Not to mention it is useless in the wind. How does the Blackbird operate outside / windy conditions? I know all steadicams suffer with wind, but i know people have reported the Merlin due to its light-frame as more susceptible to its efforts. The blackbird looks a lot sturdier than the Merlin, more solid design.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Hi Jordan, the Blackbird is indeed very solid and actually makes a lot of sense. ;)
It's very easy to balance. I also look at it as a crossing between a Merlin and a Glidecam and it inherited all the great features of both systems and then added some more. It's no surprise I'm very happy with the Blackbird. :)

In windy conditions it acts the same as the Merlin and Glidecam, but there's a way to try and avoid this problem and that's using the smooth touch option. You can increase the friction on the gimbal and by doing so making it less sensitive to wind. So when you're forced to work in windy conditions the Blackbird provides you with a helpful option.

Perhaps you can buy the Blackbird from this store (I believe they also sell overseas): Blackbird Stabilizer Camera Motion Research Full Kit + Bag - Stabilizers & Tracks at CameraNU.nl

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

That sounds like a great solution to help in windy conditions. The overall build just seems brilliant.

I would love to buy one, but i can't justify £650 + shipping fee for it.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

How about buying directly from them (Handheld Camera Stabilizer - Blackbird, GS2 - Camera Motion Research)
I don't know about shipping rates but it only costs $675 / £415

Perhaps this is more affordable.

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

It is but i will no doubt be charged import tax + VAT which would rack the price straight back up :)

Re: Review & videos: The Blackbird Camera Stabilizer
 

Ah right. Perhaps you can send them a quick message asking what shipping will cost you (including VAT and import duties) to the UK. Might still be worth it! :)