Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Looks like B&H is selling the upcoming Steadicam Solo for $499.

That is pretty darn interesting.

Yes, one can get the many assorted wannabe alternatives for less, but you don't get that proper, in my mind, gimbaled handle like the full size rigs.

That distinctive curved handle looks so much more comfortable to hold.

Steadicam Solo Stabilizer & Monopod SOLO B&H Photo Video

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Hows this going to compare to the Merlin2?

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I guess it comes down to preference. I would assume the Solo will support heavier cams.
I glanced at B&H and noticed the Merlin 2 is on sale for $399. [Big price cut.]

The Merlin folds up and takes very little space under your camera.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

When shooting tradeshows and the like, I use a monopod. I extend it to the floor for interviews, tuck it in my belt for the human tripod thing, or hold it like a faux steady rig for camera moves.

The Solo looks like the ideal upgrade. Extend it to the floor to take the load off. I'd imagine that I could rig a belt sling for longer, non-arm-burning, human tripod shots, and when it's time to fly, having a real gimbal should really improve the shot quality. Not having a proper vest is easy on the wallet and convenient for travel, but you can only hold such a thing for so long. The monopod function should really make it practical for lightweight event use.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Can you use it with a vest and arm? If so which one would you use?

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

According to Tiffen's Derek Hester, the Pilot...

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Think its a good time to sell my Merlin2...

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

FWIW, at CES the Tiffen rep told me that the Solo will ship in March or April. Sounds like the goal is to be shipping before NAB.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I like that the retail price is lower than the original target, but it is taking so long to release. I mean, it was announced one year ago at NAB2013.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

At NAB, they claimed that it will be released in May.

The vest & arm price will be $995. It's almost identical to the Pilot vest & arm (the rep at NAB couldn't think of one difference), so I expect that it will ship as soon as the stabilizer/pod is available.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Do you guys know anything similar from another company?

I've been in touch with the guys at Tiffen and they seems completely clueless. I've just received a reply from someone there and it was : "Last I heard is possibly August".

I love Steadicam products but I can't wait any longer thus this post

Cheers

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

What timing-- I just saw that it is in stock online. Of course, I hope they aren't just taking preorders. I don't see it on B&H yet.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

FWIW, B&H says that it will arrive on June 30th.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I jumped on the B&H pre-order back in December 2013. Back then they said January delivery. Then February. Then WPPI in March, then NAB, then May, June and recently released today July 18. I go to the site today and once again, the release date is gone! They say they have no ETA.

To add insult to injury, when reading this thread last fall I listed and sold my Merlin back in February....why wouldn't I if they say it will be out by March. Now I'm without a stabilzer. I told Tiffen the story and the dilema I was in and they shipped me a demo Merlin to use for the summer. Great customer service. They did add that they thought it would be the end of quarter three before we see it though.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Bummer. At that price, they must be working with Asian contract manufacturers. I would guess that they're having unexpected quality control issues.

If that's the case, then here is the good news: Tiffen isn't shipping poor quality stabilizers under the Steadicam name. It would be much worse if they hit their schedule only to deliver poor quality products.

What do they say? "Price, quality, and schedule: pick two." The price is announced. The brand demands top quality. The schedule takes up the slack.

Hopefully, we'll see high quality, $499 Solos shipping soon. I'd really like to get one before the year is out...

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Totally agree. I took a closer look at the stage on the Steadicam Solo in photographs online and I can see how superior it is to "competitors."

The ability to easily trim and make adjustments is everything for dialing in a camera stabilizer. I tried a competitor's product years ago and thought the design was horrible for adjusting fore, aft, and side to side,--loosen two thumb screws and then "slide" the steel stage back and forth then retighten---you either do it too much or too little.

The Steadicam JR and Merlin had precise adjustments that one can easily dial-in, so I have high expectations for the Solo.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I've played with the Solo prototype a bit at NAB and it felt really good. It's hard to fully judge it as it had a very light payload, so it's a bit harder to work with than their bigger, more loaded models. Still, the concept is sound and the implementation looks very nice.

Having been an engineer with a late delivery schedule and 3rd party supplier issues (those dang fans!), I know that nobody wants this to ship more than those at Tiffen.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

would this work with a fluid head on top?
i use a monopod with a 701 manfrotto head in a hibjib (human tripod). the fluid head is essential to shoot at the right angle. the steady cam solo looks very interesting but it would need a fluid head to be truly useful.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Its not typical to put any kind of pan-tilt head on top of a stabilizer.

I'm curious why you would say that would be required to make it truly useful. Can you describe the scenario where at pan-tilt head would be useful on a stabilizer?

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I think the head is helpful on a monopod - and this is a key use case for the Solo. I would recommend a ball head. Rest the monopod on the ground with a natural balance, adjust the angle, and shoot static stuff like fixed interviews. You can do this while traveling light without a vest/arm. You can also shorten the monopod, rest it on your belt or in a sling, and do the "human tripod" thing without tiring. Having a ball head to start with a natural posture helps lower fatigue.

Where the stabilizer part comes in is when you need to walk or fly the camera through the scene. Without a vest/arm, this can be very effective, but only for short takes. Once your arm starts burning and then shaking, it's nice to be able to go back to monopod mode.

Even with a vest/arm, a stabilizer isn't always the right answer. I find it easy to plant a monopod and frame an interview. Framing with a stabilizer, keeping it level, and avoiding too much "wander and float" can be challenging for occasional flyers (like me) with lightweight systems (like the Solo).

The one bummer about adding any head is that it adds more weight. Yes, it helps slow down the stabilizer, but without a vest/arm will add to the fatigue factor.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

It's kind of like what Jon has said.
If I use a monopod I need a fluid head otherwise it's just for static shots which is limited.
I have been using the Hipjib.
home | hipjib
Check out the features section. I use it as a flexible jib or solid rig. In both cases a fluid head is needed to get my shooting angles right and for the rig to be comfortable.
I use this for run and gun events like weddings, corporate events, trade shows etc.
The idea of being able to add a Steadicam to this set up without adding any more gear is exciting. I have a Glidecam 2000 but I never use it as it's too much for a one man band. I would only need it for a few short shots and would use it as a monopod 90% of the time.
So this is why I would need to add a fluid head to the Steadicam Solo, otherwise it would be very limited as a monopod and it's selling point is that it's a Steadicam and a monopod.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Hi Andrew, I also use the monopod for tradeshows. The hipjib looks like it takes my "belt" approach to the next level. Very nice.

And yes, the Solo stabilizer would be great for flying the camera across a row of static products - but not if you have to add/remove a fluid head.

Here's an idea: Connect the hipjib to the handle on the Solo. As I envision it, one would affix a tube to the Solo handle that would go in/out of the hip unit. This would enable:

1) Extend the Solo to the ground as a monopod. (The hibjib isn't used.)
2) Use the hipjib, adjust the camera tilt and hold both the "tube" and stabilizer so it doesn't float. You could do any fixed angle that way without floating.
3) Use the hipjib and let it float. Now you can pan/tilt as needed. It's essentially a Steadicam with a locked arm. It should work well, except when walking.
4) Lift the tube from the hibjib and fly freely. You can walk, using your arm as a shock absorber - just don't expect to do long shots.

Could that work? The gimbal would essentially replace the head.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Hi Jon,
I think it might work but it's not ideal. A fluid head offers much more control. I'm a bit tired of have kit which is almost ok, I'm now looking for set up that is strong in all areas! I'll need to see more real life reviews of the solo to see if it would work for me. Can the weights be removed and attached again rapidly? It's another thing to consider.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I agree with you Andrew. A good fluid head stays where you put it. A gimbal floats and is more challenging to frame and control. This can be a really big deal for solo shooting. You might also be thinking about the next off-camera interview question, audio levels, focus, exposure, background noise...

If it's practical to hold the gimbal with one hand in a way that locks it down and can control framing, that could be a solution. I've played with a Solo at tradeshows, but I've never considered or tested this use case. If it works, this could be a nice way to go.

I'm not sure how quickly the weights can be added/removed. From what I've seen, the monopod can be quickly extended/retracted, and the weights can be quickly folded up/down. Weight removal/replacement is likely a sit-down-for-a-minute-or-two task, which should be avoided for the solo tradeshow shooter. Even replacing a battery or card feels like a burden to me in that environment.

Question: When do you live pan/tilt the head with the hipjib? For panning, one can turn the body. I understand the need to tilt the head to frame static shots and maintain balance, but this could be done with a ball head (or by grabbing the gimbal to lock it.) There's the jib up/down motion where you tilt down as you jib up to change perspective but maintain, but this could be done with the gimbal - maybe smoother. On most jibs, there is a second arm that keeps the platform level as you jib up/down. I don't see this on the hibjib. Having to do this with a head could be difficult - the tilt always seems to lead or lag the jib motion. With a gimbal, it will naturally stay level as you move the jib around.

The main problem would be going from a stable shot, like an interview, and smoothly transitioning to a strong tilt up/down. (Panning is easy, I can spin the monopod on the floor or spin my body with the rig on my belt.) If one is solidly holding the gimbal, there will always be an impact when you let go and transition to float mode. But this seems like a rare use case to me. I've always done that sort of thing by tilting my body or the monopod as I don't use a fluid head.

So it seems that there are these solutions with the Solo:
1) Put a ball head on the Solo. When needed, put the base of the solo on the belt/hibjib.
2) Use a tube from the hibjib to the Solo. When needed, hold the gimbal solid (if possible/comfortable).
3) Put a small fluid head on the Solo - but can you find one small enough to be practical that still has enough quality to be usable?

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Hi Jon,
I have found that I use the fluid head quite a bit in my set up as it helps keep everything fluid! Little tilt ups or downs, smoother pans, small adjustments, it has become almost automatic and I'm sure if I didn't have one I'd find the shooting experience a lot less natural and comfortable.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

That's interesting. I just use a fixed monopod without any head. I don't even think about the small movements. They come naturally. But I often wish I could get the stability of a tripod.

Sometimes, I use After Effects to clean up the motion. Ironically, it then looks more like Steadicam (floating) motion than a tripod. If I use AE too aggressively, it locks things down, but for some scenes you then notice the perspective wobble.

I see that a Manfrotto 701 weighs about 2 lbs. A DSLR can weigh another 1.5 to 2 lbs. A 16-35/2.8L lens weighs another 1.5 lbs. So figure a 5 lb payload. The Solo handles 10 lbs. The head will raise the COG of the camera, but that should be no problem as you can extend the weights quite far to compensate.

The remaining problem could be that the Solo monopod with 701 head might be too tall for comfortable use with the hipjib.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

The remaining problem could be that the Solo monopod with 701 head might be too tall for comfortable use with the hip jib.

That's possibly true. I'd have to measure the Solo and compare it to my set up.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

If I may add a voice to this discussion (although I've not seen the Solo in person):

If one were to add a fluid head to this system, each time you operated the tilt aspect of the head it would require re-balancing the system the next time you flew it. Even a degree or two of tilt on the head would alter the geometry of the system. I would imagine this to be a dealbreaker for the type of shooting that I imagine this system will be used for, which is run and gun.

The only way to avoid this would be to employ a nodal head where tilting is done around the center of gravity of the camera (impractical for that system), or the head having a spring-loaded plunger that would lock the camera in a fully horizontal position for flying mode (employ the plunger, tilt the camera through it's range and when it arrives at the centered position it auto-locks in place). The larger O'Connor heads have this feature, for instance.

If re-balancing were not an issue, a tilt head would actually be a desirable addition to the functionality of the rig as it allows you to pre-set an attitude for shots that require a significant deviation from horizontal, i.e. shooting down from a balcony or up at a stage from the orchestra pit. The idea is that you don't have to operate the post at a notable tilt, which can hinder the operating comfort and accuracy. Some of the larger Steadicam rigs have this as a feature.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Excellent input, as always Charles.

Re-balancing can really be a pain. It can be fiddly, time consuming, and frustrating even in controlled conditions. On a trade show floor, it could be much worse, lead to uncomfortable operation, and make for an unpleasant experience.

I think I'm coming back to my Solo + belt-tube as an interesting starting point. No head required.

* Belt Mode 1 - Support the Solo from the belt/hibjib. Pan/tilt/yaw with the gimbal. Yes, it floats and requires skill. No, you can't walk with it as you'll see hip impacts. That said, tilts, pans, yaws will be very smooth with no head required.

* Belt Mode 2 - For easier framing and less float, hold the gimbal solid. I believe that this will be easy right out of the box. It might be improved by adding a soft pad to the fork or by adding some other custom mechanism to the fork side that can be hinged to contact the sled. (It's nearly as easy to cut and drill aluminum as it is to cut/drill hardwoods. A bit of grinding/sanding/finishing can make a professional result. But I doubt that this is even needed.) Note that this mode allows single person focus pulls.

* Floor Mode - extend the Solo. The camera will be level by default, but one can adjust the length of the monopod to get the right height for most any interview. Lean forward or back to adjust tilt slightly.

* Floor Mode (optional) - If the belt tube is extendable, one could make a "bipod". This would allow a more radical, fixed tilt.

* Flying Mode - Pull the tube from the belt and fly the solo. Short flights only, due to weight. You won't do Russian Ark but can easily do b-roll.

I realize that one mode that I use is missing: Lock down mode. At the top of my monopod, I use a handheld rig (Redrock, The Event). The rig has two handles and a chest brace. I can remove the monopod with a quick-release and adjust the handles/brace to form a low, fixed tripod at a variety of tilts. This allows timelapses and fixed views. Maybe I'd want the belt tube to actually be two tubes that can be separated to form a half meter tall tripod.

If I were to use a rig atop the Solo, it might restrict movement, add weight, and would cause the re-balance problem. By having an additional tube, I could leave the balance intact (aside from the monopod extension/retraction) and could still adjust the tilt as needed. The one downside is the need to use friction on the ground to hold it in place. I don't envision this solution having a spreader.

Now, if only I can figure out how to turn this into a slider. :)

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

For those who looking for an alternative for the solo, take a look at this
This has been long out in the market and a lot of video reviews in youtube. Just ordered one, and I'll post reviews when I get my hand on it.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Rickey, what's the mono cam like? Any good?

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Do my eyes deceive me? It looks like this elusive Steadicam Solo is finally in stock, (but for shipping only) at B&H.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/980426-REG/steadicam_stedicam_solo_stabilizer.html
I liked this guys review:


And the footage here:

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

HI John,

How did you achieve the low-mode shots?...because I wasn't aware that the Solo had a Low-mode

Thanks for your videos

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

That test footage looks very decent though it looks quite heavy to hold for longer periods, in my country it's available for 500 euro

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I didn't shoot these. However, I believe the unit can be used upside down. The gimbal looks really nice. Just flip the image in post.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Same question here.. What's the monocam like for a third of the price?

I don't really want to pay £500 for the steadicam solo as I'm convinced the lack of fluid tilt will cause problems for me

For those interested in the monocam
 

It's a nice affordable system to try out a steadicam like rig. But for any serious work (meaning holding up for professional use), it simply won't hold up. The components along with the gimbal is not of any higher quality.

For example the counter weight which you thread on at the bottom of the post, will make the post shift a 1-2cm so the weights is no longer parallel to the plattform. So i constantly had to check that.

Having owned the monocam (CP pro version) for over a year and then compare to the Solo... well it's really no contest. The build quality of the Solo is superior in every way. Sure it's heavier and by quite a bit, but it's so much easier to balance, as the gimbal is much more precise and consistent.

For the monocam i always had to bring a tripod or a clamp with a spigot so i could balance it once on location.

The Steadicam solo i simply note the markings for a given setup and it's rarely off balance once i mount it. For the small adjustments i need to make it's very easy to hold it with one hand while adjusting.

Monocam is a bit fiddly to assemble, while with the Solo you simply unfold it and you'r up and running.

So if you need a steadicam frequently for paid gigs can highly recommend the Steadicam Solo, can't say the same about the Monocam.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I noticed B&H is selling the Steadicam Solo for $299 (down from original price of $499.). That's a pretty awesome deal.

Tempted.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

I just got a used (like new) Solo from B&H for $260 shipped. As with all Tiffen-Steadicam products, it is nicely packaged with a detailed instruction manual. The build quality is excellent.

The biggest issue for me– and something I wanted to overlook compared to using a Merlin– is that one can realistically fly this for short periods of time before ones wrists give out. I think to really get the most out of this thing, investing in the arm and vest is required.

Re: Steadicam Solo - $499
 

Just watched Rick Young's new 30-minute video review of the Steadicam Solo (on his well known and respected moviemachine.tv site - I won't post a direct link here out of respect to Chris).

Shows him filming all around central London with a JVC LS-300. Well worth watching if anyone is considering this device. Not sure what my wrist would feel like after extended use - especially with a camera on it near its top end weight limit.

However, for the price it looks great!... Much less than I paid for my, now little used, Steadicam Merlin - and a LOT less than I recently paid for my Letus Helix Jr. Mind you, the Letus is a fantastic bit of kit!

The Solo sure looks like a very well designed/engineered Steadicam for anyone on a tight budget and has the added flexibility of that built in monopod too. Nice!