Does anyone have experience with handheld stablisers? My main intended use
is to do walk-throughs of ancient monuments, like stone circles and ruined
castles. Flights would be fairly slow, mostly at a wide angle setting, and
probably with a fair amount of 'looking around' - walk a bit, pan and tilt
to look at a feature, walk a bit more. I'd also like to do 'walk-rounds' - a
360 degree flight around, say, a standing stone. Ground surface is likely to
be uneven.

The two main contenders that I've found so far are the Steadicam JR and
Glidecam 2000. Of these two, which makes it easier to produce steady
'flights'? Is either suitable for my camcorder, which weighs 0.6kg, or is
this so light that the counterbalance thingy will be hard to set up? Are
there any others that are worth looking at?

Am I right in thinking that the Steadicam JR is mainly made of plastic?
While that might reduce weight in the framework, could it be a reliablity
issue?

The Glidecam blurb says that their handle can move up and down, but I'm not
clear on how it does this - I don't thnk it's a sliding affair. Would I be
rght in thinking that the handle pivots on a ballrace which is fitted around
the central shaft? IOW, the up/down movement is more of a pivot, such that
the handle isn't directly under the centre of the gimbal.

Is it feasible to make one? I have a modicum of engineering nous (and a mini
lathe and milling machine), and I feel pretty confident that I can fabricate
the bits - provided I can come up with a design that will work with my
camera. The camcorder has a flip-out screen, so I don't think I need
something with a monitor, just the counterweight bit. What are good ways to
implement the gimbal (my machining skills fall short of making a ball
joint)? Would a decent quality camera ball joint fit the bill? How much
swing does the handle need to ensure that it won't 'hit the stop' and cause
jerkiness n the shot? (RS do a small right-angled ball joint which gives +/-
18 degrees of swing.)


--
Wally
www.artbywally.com/FiatPandaRally/index.htm
www.wally.myby.co.uk

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:21:44 GMT, "Wally" wrote:

Does anyone have experience with handheld stablisers? My main intended use
is to do walk-throughs of ancient monuments, like stone circles and ruined
castles. Flights would be fairly slow, mostly at a wide angle setting, and
probably with a fair amount of 'looking around' - walk a bit, pan and tilt
to look at a feature, walk a bit more. I'd also like to do 'walk-rounds' - a
360 degree flight around, say, a standing stone. Ground surface is likely to
be uneven.

The two main contenders that I've found so far are the Steadicam JR and
Glidecam 2000. Of these two, which makes it easier to produce steady
'flights'? Is either suitable for my camcorder, which weighs 0.6kg, or is
this so light that the counterbalance thingy will be hard to set up? Are
there any others that are worth looking at?

Am I right in thinking that the Steadicam JR is mainly made of plastic?
While that might reduce weight in the framework, could it be a reliablity
issue?

The Glidecam blurb says that their handle can move up and down, but I'm not
clear on how it does this - I don't thnk it's a sliding affair. Would I be
rght in thinking that the handle pivots on a ballrace which is fitted around
the central shaft? IOW, the up/down movement is more of a pivot, such that
the handle isn't directly under the centre of the gimbal.

Is it feasible to make one? I have a modicum of engineering nous (and a mini
lathe and milling machine), and I feel pretty confident that I can fabricate
the bits - provided I can come up with a design that will work with my
camera. The camcorder has a flip-out screen, so I don't think I need
something with a monitor, just the counterweight bit. What are good ways to
implement the gimbal (my machining skills fall short of making a ball
joint)? Would a decent quality camera ball joint fit the bill? How much
swing does the handle need to ensure that it won't 'hit the stop' and cause
jerkiness n the shot? (RS do a small right-angled ball joint which gives +/-
18 degrees of swing.)
pop over to www.dvdoctor.net where you may see a few peoples answers
to similar questions.

look for postings by tom hardwick

"Gary MacKenzie" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:21:44 GMT, "Wally" wrote:

Does anyone have experience with handheld stablisers? My main intended use
is to do walk-throughs of ancient monuments, like stone circles and ruined
castles. Flights would be fairly slow, mostly at a wide angle setting, and
probably with a fair amount of 'looking around' - walk a bit, pan and tilt
to look at a feature, walk a bit more. I'd also like to do 'walk-rounds' -
a
360 degree flight around, say, a standing stone. Ground surface is likely
to


have a look at the steadytracker. www.steadytracker.com

I've mad one similar with little engineering experince! You don't need a
gimbal as you hold the pole - it works really well even in the wind!!! which
gimbal ones don't!

Gary MacKenzie wrote:

pop over to www.dvdoctor.net where you may see a few peoples answers
to similar questions.

look for postings by tom hardwick

Thanks for that - seems that there are a few others out there as well. Still
reckon making my own is worth pursuing...


--
Wally
www.artbywally.com/FiatPandaRally/index.htm
www.wally.myby.co.uk

Paul Harrison wrote:

have a look at the steadytracker. www.steadytracker.com

Looks interesting - similar to the "$14 Steadicam" home made design to be
found on the web.


I've mad one similar with little engineering experince! You don't
need a gimbal as you hold the pole - it works really well even in the
wind!!! which gimbal ones don't!

Is there any sample footage I could look at?


--
Wally
www.artbywally.com/FiatPandaRally/index.htm
www.wally.myby.co.uk