Turning the rig 90 degrees is my preferred way to shoot a circling shot also. In general, I always prefer to have the rig oriented the same way as my body except when it's not logical to do so. I'm not big on side-stepping but I've seen it done (sometimes spectacularly).

The heads-up gag is another interesting issue. The very first Steadicam prototype, exactly 30 years ago, used a fiber-optic viewfinder attached to one eye. Because of the disorientation it created the concept was shelved in favor of a monitor that allows for the operator to see the ground with his peripheral vision, making operating safer. Current technology glasses give a better view than they used to, but the resolution issues havent' been completely figured out. I have seen them in use over the years, but not extensively.

As far as focus and zoom, yup, your legs are your zoom! It is possible to attach a Varizoom type control on the gimbal handle, but it's clumsy. Focus with this class of camera and rig is either a wide angle set-or-forget situation or autofocus. Both have their limitations. THe professional solution is a wireless lens control system, but there are none that are reasonable enough to make sense for most DV users. Certainly this becomes an issue if one intends to use a Mini35 type setup, where focus becomes much more critical.

Thank you for your comments. They were helpful in confirming what I had discovered while using this stabilizer. I can understand about the disorientation, but I'm not having that problem. Perhaps that may be due to having grown up with strabismus which means my brain isn't entirely binocular - can't see 3D very well. So walking around with one eye on a monitor and the other on where I'm going doesn't mess me up too much. I'm good at shooting guns as well - don't have to close one eye.

To Dave Stewart

Hi,

Are you getting motion sickness when moving around subject or for long time shots?

I'm considering glasses over LCD 7 inch tv -
advantage of tv
-flip 16x9 to 4:3
-flip image up side down

What brand is coming with HD?

Thanks
Mike

Can you point mr to a link of the maker of the glasses?
Also how do you attach the glasses to the camera without wires interfering with the shot?
Could they be wireless?

No, I'm not getting motion sickness probably because only one eye has a monitor. The monitor is about the same resolution as my color viewfinder on my XL1 which is kind of a drawback - wish it was higher. The glasses use a belt attachment with 4 AA batteries and so there is only a video wire attached to the back of the camera and doesn't really get in the way at all. I saw them on ebay for about $310 and they made sense to me, so I bought them to try them out. Hey they work OK. Not the total solution, but it solved a couple of problems for me. The sight is:
http://www.eyetop.net/home/default.asp
Just my two cents, for what it's worth.

For those interested, here are those pictures (http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196&hl=) of the original Steadicam prototypes featuring a custom fiber optic viewfinder.

Charles,
Those are some crazy picture...I like the idea of a single lens approach that Eyetop has....

I got everything close to balanced, and have been playing around. I will be building a new plate for under the camera to weigh it down more. Hopefully that will add a little more stability, by increasing the inertia.

I've got a question on setting up the angle for the arm mount. You can screw in and out set screws to adjust the right to left angle of the arm. In other words, if I stuck a dowel in the arm mount bearing, the adjustment would move the top of the dowel right and left. Should this just be adjusted so the angle of the sled mount bearing is vertical, or is there some other reason to adjust this?

I recorded some video doing all out runs down a sidewalk. Almost perfectly smooth. This is going to be fun!

My Magiqcam got really squeaky. I think it's the springs, but I wouldn't know because they're covered with that cloth. Any ideas about fixing that or cleaning it? The Mgaiqcam guy emailed me when I first posted about getting a used one and offered me a free upgrade to a newer version of it with a bogen plate mount. I lost his email when I switched computers though. Maybe if he reads this he'll email me again with the address to send it.

Till then, any ideas?

Wouldn't want to say, Kevin, there are many reasons for squeaking, could be coming from multiple points on the arm, vest etc.

Joe, as far as the angle adjustment, the idea is that the rig should float in front of you when you are standing comfortably. Place the rig in the operating position, and walk in place for ten steps, then stop. If the rig is trying to fly away left or right, adjust the mount accordingly. There really should be a fore/aft adjustment as well, most small rigs have a tendency to fly away from the operator due to the outward torque, but at this point no rig under $5K that I know of have both adjustments. I suggested to John at Magiqcam that he include both directions, and at the current time to keep the price where it is he was only able to offer that axis, which still puts this rig above various others that have no adjustability.

Thanks Charles, that was what I figured, but I wanted to know if there was anything else too it. I do notice the sled wanting to fly away from me, but I guess you can't have everything for under $2k.

I just finished an indoor shoot using the Magiqcam for about 1.5 hours of the 7 hour shoot. I found I still need to take frequent breaks or the shots suffer. My tendency is to bring the rig in closer, to reduce the leverage, but then I occationally bump the battery and make the entire shot worthless. Still got more back muscles to build, I guess. :)

Joe, keeping the rig close is absolutely the right idea. Over time you will "learn" where the rig is in relation to your body and avoid bumping it (like how one knows where the parameters of one's car is while driving to avoid clipping other cars). If you find the rig flying away from you, try adding some padding (t-shirt, whatever) under the waist pad and making sure your chest straps are as tight as comfortable.

"If you find the rig flying away from you, try adding some padding (t-shirt, whatever) under the waist pad and making sure your chest straps are as tight as comfortable."

Something Larry McConkley likes doing but with form, right Charles?

Do any one you guys have any pictures of your magiqcam rig? The pics on their website don't show very much really, and some nice closeups showing details, and the rig overall would be great!

Thanks in advance!

If somebody has pictures for Johan but doesn't have a site to host them on, feel free to email 'em to me and I'll upload 'em to DV Info. Thanks all,

Response to C. King (sorry, missed that post);

Thankfully, Larry, myself and the rest of the gang have those two axis of adjustment available to trim the rig into a comfortable pitch from the body. I would personally be VERY unhappy if I could not do so and had to correct with a body lean, which is fatiguing and potentially harmful over a period of time when carrying heavy loads (be not afraid, DV-wielding friends, I'm talking about 75 lbs+ rigs here!).

Larry and I are both using the latest version of the Klaussen back-mounted harness, the Walter Light (http://walterklassen.com/steadilight.htm), which continues to be the most supportive design for that weight range.

No problem Charles P. I totally understand. But thankfully I won't be flying any fim cameras. BTW, I just sold my new dual action arm. The price was too good to resist and it was cash down, too. :) Well, I guess it's back to the drawing board. I still have parts for a one section arm. The other parts would have to be machine again. many more months to wait again. No problem though. I'll just use my single arm until it's done.
The single arm is just like the dual arm in design. The one that Lars posted. I just have to make an extendable bracket.

Hello,
Does anyone here know how much it would cost me to get a Magicam rig sent to uk. i.e. would I have to pay import tax v.a.t. etc, etc. is there anyone here from uk that has tried this? I know how much rig and shipping to uk is just not sue if I would have to pay any additional?

Many Thanks
Greg

You will have to pay import taxes/customs duties. I am not sure how much in the UK. Some countries are about 17%.

When I had my refurb EFP arm imported, I had to pay around 20% of the total, and when you’re looking at £3000 as I was, it’s quite a bit of extra money.

17.5% VAT + around 3% duty so think carefully before you buy, or UK customs won’t release it to you!

Many thanks to you both for the advice on importing a rig. I guess I better get in touch with customs.

Greg

What are your experiences with LCDs for Magiqcam systems? What type of monitor/batteries do you use?

I am supposed to recieve the new MagiqCam 2P soon, but I am still confused which way to go with the monitor.

Hi Martin,
I don't have my Magiqcam anymore, but when I did, I used the Panasonic 7" WS with the Nebtek battery adapter that let it run off the Canon camera batteries. It worked really well and I really like the Pana monitor. It's bright and has a pretty wide viewing angle. It takes 12V so you could easily use another battery system. I actually still use the monitor for jib and other setups. There are cheaper monitors, but I have'ny had any great experience with them, but I suppose all will work, since their main purpose is really only for framing anyway. I wouldn't rely on any of them for color or picture evaluation.

Matt

Martin,

I bought a 5" Nebtek monitor and Nebtek Panasonic adaptor to use with a 100a on my Indicam system. I found it at NAB and was able to try it out in the sun before buying. I did buy it because it looked real good!

Much of the time I use the monitor that comes with the 100a. It's large enough for viewing but not nearly as good under full light conditions as the Nebtek monitor.

Tery