I`m really accustomed to shooting weddings and corporate stuff with my XH A1 with wireless and wideangle attached but I want to accomplish more dynamic shots as well as quicker or more mobile setup than a traditional ENG tirpod.
Would I somehow accomplish those 300mm zoomed-in shots also with Pilot assuming I`m standing still, little wobble would be OK of course.
I`m totally new to stabilizers.

Thanks in advance,
T

Nope, get a tripod first.

A Steadicam is not a subtitute for a tripod.

- Mikko

Yeah tripod for sure. I`m kind of bored of my own kind of traditional still shots locked on subject(s) I`ve always used a tripod.
I meant that if I want to take my production quality to another level maybe I can benefit from a stabilizer as it seems more productive than a tripod and/or dolly setup.

Cheers,
T

A Steadicam is an addition to the tripod, not a substitute. It's not good for shooting longer lens material, so unless the wedding party feels happy with having a Steadicam floating 5 feet away from the action it's not good for catching those intimate moments at a wedding.

The best way is to use both and switch between them. There's also a limit to how long you can hold a shot on a Steadicam and you have to be pretty skilled to use one on the fly.

Although I'll sound like a scratched record for saying this:

http://www.dvmultirig.com/

A great solution for rock steady long shots, creative closeups, interesting angles and movement. And best of all, you will be able to film all day without fatigue.

I shoot long weddings with DVTEC kit. I now have two of them!
http://www.ytvweddingvideos.co.uk/NewFiles/MJ%26Abdul_Ending.mov

Duncan.

This two-handed rig thing (and the manfrotto Fig-Rig) are great if you don't need your left hand on the camera. Thing is - in the real world out there - you do.

I've stopped using my big L bracket on my Z1. I admit it steadied the odd tracking shot or two, but for most of the time it made small incremental adjustments of the iris control far more difficult to achieve. Same with the fine tuning of the white balance under assign buttons and also the focus assist (as against expanded focus, note).

OK the spring-tube in the kangaroo pouch means your left hand can let go and camera adjustments made, but all the other two-handed devices just mean you can't make camera running changes - it's too much for your right hand to bear.

tom.

OK the spring-tube in the kangaroo pouch means your left hand can let go and camera adjustments made, but all the other two-handed devices just mean you can't make camera running changes - it's too much for your right hand to bear.

tom.

Exactly,

The DVTEC stuff allows you to operate perfectly with one hand (right usually) on the stabiliser operating a Lanc and the left hand on the focus and iris. You still get steady footage all the way.

As far as I know Stedicam Pilot isn`t compatible with Manfrotto`s 503HDV head QR for example. Imagine unscrewing the cam for all different shots in live event environment.
That QR problem is the main reason for my post actually.
Going from tripod to Steadicam takes just too much time.
I see two cameras as the only option here.
So I should double the investment when going Steadi, 4K for Pilot plus another 4K for another XH A1 cam. The only other option I see here could be some sort of double QR adapters and such but that`s just plain messy.

T

You can get QR kits from most tripod manufacturers (including Manfrotto) that allow you switch quickly between your tripod head and the QR reciver on the Steadicam stage without removing the plate from the camera.

- Mikko

Shooting Digibeta or HDCAM, I sometimes get a second Sony tripod plate so that we can quickly switch from the tripod head to the Steadicam.

You can also buy quick releases from other tripod manufacturers like Ronford, although those particular ones are quite expensive, but a lot less than buying a second camera.

Yup. Manfrotto/Bogen makes outboard receivers for a number of their quick release plates, so with a very minimal investment you can be up and running with a swappable setup between tripod and Steadicam. Nothing messy about it, and much cheaper than buying another camera.

Shooting uber-long lens stuff with Steadicam is one of those acquired skills--it can be done, but it takes a while to get the technique down. Making subtle pans and tilts in telephoto can be especially difficult compared to tripod.

If you are used to working with manual focus, remember that this will be a less-likely option with your stabilizer (you can do a "set and forget" but that's about it) which makes long-lens work more complicated--having someone suddenly cross the frame that you might want to follow which would normally require a zoomout and a rack focus will be tougher on the rig, you'll have to rely on auto focus and while it's possible to set yourself up with a LANC controller for zoom, it's one more thing to have to connect and disconnect when going between Steadicam and sticks, and more likely a cable that will get forgotten and ripped out when changing over in a panic.

I believe that Charles Papert has mentioned before that about 45% of his Steadicam shots are lockoffs (stable, static shots). Of course, this takes much practice and, like he says, is an acquired skill.

If you're on a Manfrotto head and want to switch between tripod and Steadicam, you can get a Quick Release adaptor that you can put on the Steadicam sled. You can then easily slide your camera off the tripod and snap it into the QR adaptor on the sled and vice versa.

I actually have my stabilizer arm and vest strapped on for the majority of the reception during my weddings and don't use the tripod at all except during the actual ceremony itself. Too many things happen in various locations throughout the reception and a tripod makes things harder to get around and adjust position on the fly. The vest is a godsend as it distributes the weight onto my torso so it's not a chore to keep the rig on ;)

Duncan, did I miss out on any special prices for the Pro HD at the IOV show?

If so, whats the price now? and who do I order from in the UK? You!?

I believe that Charles Papert has mentioned before that about 45% of his Steadicam shots are lockoffs

Last time I measured, it was 47.93%...

Last time I measured, it was 47.93%...

Sorry for the misquote, Sir Charles ;)

Anyways, from the horse's mouth (so to speak), almost HALF of the Steadicam master's shots are lock-off, or tripod-like static shots. So it is possible, with the disclaimer that it takes LOTS of practice and skill to actually pull it off.

Not to beat a dead horse('s mouth), but I should clarify--it's not so much that half of the shots I do consist entirely of lockoffs, but that half of the time within shots I am doing lockoffs and the rest moving.

The A1 and the pilot just don't have enough mass to do a 300mm lock off for much more time than you can hold your breath, and that's provided you have your trim set so you don't have to put any pressure on the post. Lock-offs are one of the times you wish you had a 50lb rig and a back mounted vest.

The other option that isn't as good as a tripod, but better than trying a three minute lock off is to use the balance peg of the Steadi-Stand. This will eliminate the vertical motion of the arm and make long lock offs easier. You also won't have to dis-connect/re-connect the monitor/battery. This is pretty important since having to do something 'quickly' at a wedding can mean you have ten seconds. Pop it off the stand and on to your arm and you're mobile again.

It was a reduced price at the show, as you would have saved the VAT. But Danny does free worldwide shipping from his site I believe.

I'm not a dealer, I just went along to help out.

Duncan.