All right, I have saved 2000 bucks.
I want to buy a stablizer rig.
But, which model offers the most bang for my buck?

CHARLES P I AM ASKING YOU!

please advise.

-G

OK AUGUSTINE I'M ANSWERING!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm afraid I can't really recommend a single unit. Perhaps if you list which camera you intend to use, I can offer a short list of suggestions. I don't have enough familiarity with all of the brands out there (and there are a lot) to make a flat-out recommendation like that.

I'll bite, Charles. Is there one in that price range for an Xl1S?

Two that I know of are the Handyman by ABC products and the Magiqcam. I think that the Hollywood Lite, Steadicam Mini and the Glidecam V8 are all more expensive than that price point. These are all bodymount systems, which I believe are necessary with the weight of an XL1. You may see XL1's sitting on handheld units on various manufacturer's sites, but just because you can plonk it on there and take a picture doesn't mean that it is truly useable in real life, unless you have Popeye forearms.

That's what I thought. But from what I've read in these discussions so far I thought the Glidecam v16 was the suitable one for the XL1S.

EDIT: I misread their website. It is the v8. Not bad. I thought they would be more. But they have a low end package for 2199.00 USD. Though I imagine without the LCD it would be pretty worthless.

Take a good look at this rig and check out some of the critical pieces done on it. If I were going to go for a low cost unit, this would be it.

Very interesting.. who here on DVInfo has used it?

Ah, I found your review Charles. Thank you.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13390&highlight=magiqcam

And this fellow seems to have used it and liked it:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2885&highlight=magiqcam