flycam / steadycam

keefg

Hi,

I am thinking about getting one of these Flycam/Steadycams.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Flycam-Steadycam-Arm-Brace-for-Panasonic-AG-HVX200E-XL1_W0QQitemZ120212662592QQihZ002QQcategoryZ29982QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Any of you fine folk have any experience using them? Are they any good?

Is there anywhere to get this type of kit in Ireland or is Ebay my only man for the job?

cheers.

afatbollix

looks fairly crap... go to filmbase they have a featherlight steadycam for rent... its about 125 euro a day but it is so worth it....

BlitzKrieg

its currently in repairs as it broke a couple of weeks back

but yeah try and rent a steady cam before you buy, it supposable takes a nack to get the hang of them.

keefg

Sorry forgot to mention it is only for a lightweight Sony HDR-SR7E Handycam, not one of those big professional jobs.

Renting is out of the question as I will need it on a full time basis. I only need it for short clips and the one on Filmbase case 850 dollars to buy - which is a bit extravagant for my needs.

Any other suggestions if you think the Flycam is not the one?

cheers.

BlitzKrieg

if its only a small handycam a steady cam of any kind would probably be overkill I'd think?

keefg

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

if its only a small handycam a steady cam of any kind would probably be overkill I'd think?

Well, I have to do a lot of walking while filming and the test shots I have taken have been a bit shaky and I would like to improve on this - even though there is a "super steadyshot" sticker on my camera (I think Mr. Sony told me a lie :mad:).

I am not a film/camera expert by any stretch of the imagination so this Flycam seemed like a reasonably priced solution to me.....but if you guys have any other (cheapish) alternatives I would welcome any suggestions.

thanks

humanji

You can try making one. There's hundreds of sites on the net that will show you how.

DWCommuter

Put your camera on a lightweight tripod, open the lcd on the camera, close the legs on the tripod, grip the bottom of the closed legs (adjust head for your angle) and do your thing. The tripod will absorb much of the shake and you save yourself a fortune. The same technique can be applied to a tripod with its head extended upwards a few inches, legs closed and held in an upright position between the head and top of the tripod legs. Trust me it works.

keefg

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I decided to bite the bullet and have ordered myself a Steadicam Merlin, not cheap but hopefully worth it.

keefg

OK Folks,

I have had my Steadicam Merlin for a couple of weeks now and I am having touble getting the thing perfectly trimmed. I am soooooo close with it but I just can't get the camera to hold in one position.

I have it level and the 1 second drop time sorted out, I just can't get it to settle when I have stopped walking and the camera continues to bob as if I am on a boat.

Anyone out there have one of these that can help me master the set up?

cheers

spiderdan

sorry off the point- what website did you buy the stedicam? and what price I'm looking at the new Merlin myself, great piec of kit- good luck with operating it, takes a good bit of practice, I'm sure your prob isn't major! Thanks

keefg

spiderdan wrote: »

sorry off the point- what website did you buy the stedicam? and what price I'm looking at the new Merlin myself, great piec of kit- good luck with operating it, takes a good bit of practice, I'm sure your prob isn't major! Thanks

I got mine from Conns Cameras €745 + vat. Only took 3 days to get it with a load of other stuff I ordered.

Yeah, it's tricky enough to get used to but I shall persevere!!