Steadicam questions

[Lewiscpullan]

I bought a off brand 40cm steadicam which can hold up to 3kg for my G7 but when I test the speed it goes from horizontal to vertical a bit too fast but I can't workout how to make it slower and when I move it around it doesn't look like it does in the video below. Do I need a bigger stabiliser or just more adjustments?

 

Thanks, Lewis

 

 

[ALwin]

8 minutes ago, Lewiscpullan said:

snip

Do you mind posting a photo or video of what YOUR steadicam setup with the camera attached looks like.  This way we can see if it is a matter of the system needing more counter weights at the bottom or the camera needs to be better balanced or other issues.

 

EDIT: The first four minutes of the video you posted shows you how a steadicam system has to be adjusted to get proper balancing.  Have you balanced out your steadicam?

[Lewiscpullan]

12 minutes ago, ALwin said:

Do you mind posting a photo or video of what YOUR steadicam setup with the camera attached looks like.  This way we can see if it is a matter of the system needing more counter weights at the bottom or the camera needs to be better balanced or other issues.

I made it a little better by removing some weights and extending the sled but I will send a video now.

[GlassBomb]

Just now, Lewiscpullan said:

I made it a little better by removing some weights and extending the sled but I will send a video now.

My first question would be if you properly balanced your setup. Every setup will be slightly different from one another, so you will have to tweak it to your own gear.

 

You will want to have it as neutral as possible, pretty much.

[Lewiscpullan]

21 minutes ago, ALwin said:

Do you mind posting a photo or video of what YOUR steadicam setup with the camera attached looks like.  This way we can see if it is a matter of the system needing more counter weights at the bottom or the camera needs to be better balanced or other issues.

 

EDIT: The first four minutes of the video you posted shows you how a steadicam system has to be adjusted to get proper balancing.  Have you balanced out your steadicam?

Here you go

stabilizer.mp4

[ALwin]

6 minutes ago, Lewiscpullan said:

Here you go

stabilizer.mp4

Yep needs better balancing.  I doubt you need a new system.

 

Watch this video along with the other parts

 

[Lewiscpullan]

1 minute ago, ALwin said:

Yep needs better balancing.  I doubt you need a new system.

 

Watch this video along with the other parts

 

Will do! Thanks a lot.

 

 

BTW Thanks for everything you've done for me, you've answered so many questions and you have been a great help for me in my photography hobby. I really appreciate it!

[ALwin]

8 minutes ago, Lewiscpullan said:

Will do! Thanks a lot.

 

 

BTW Thanks for everything you've done for me, you've answered so many questions and you have been a great help for me in my photography hobby. I really appreciate it!

I watched your clip again, definitely seems to be a bit bottom heavy.  Try shortening it a bit more or reducing some more weights.  If you have made it as short as possible and removed all weights and the roll is still too fast, perhaps your camera is not heavy enough.  The roll axis balance is a matter of balancing the weight above (meaning camera side) the pivot point (handle) and below (weight side).  The bottom should be slightly heavier, but only enough so that when you put it in the horizontal position and let go, it slowly rotates back into the vertical position (in your video it is rotating too fast, as you said).  If the balance is too biased towards the bottom, when you move around it will swing like a pendulum which you don't want.