New stabilizer:SturdyShots:Need advice at DVinfo.net

Tracy Foust · March 2nd, 2010, 06:05 AM

I had a little disposable income and bought the SturdyCam stabilizer from Jaco ( Italy). I was sold by the shots he put up on Youtube and the price. Now the problem_ I am having the devil's own time trying to get this balanced and set with my HM100. Has anyone else taken the plunge with this stabilizer? I am not the most mechanically savvy person and I am probably doing something dumb in the initial set up. The problem is that the camera swings when ever I move it and takes forever to come to rest. Any advice would be geartly appreciated.

Noa Put · March 2nd, 2010, 07:31 AM

Did his stabilisation video not help? YouTube - The SturdyCam - Fast Balancing

Does he has a website? I could find his video back on youtube but no website with how much is cost.

Dan Thomson · March 2nd, 2010, 07:56 AM

This is not the best forum for this question, but here is a quick answer. You must install a bubble level on your camera. I usually install it into the hot shoe because it is level with the camera base. Find the center of gravity for the camera by rolling the base over a pencil and seeing where it sort of balances. Install the camera into the rig aligning the center of gravity position with the center point of the rig.

With the bubble level installed place the rig into a device to hold it. The video shows the device the tech is using, but usually a piece of pipe clamped to the table or into a vice will do. The rig must be free to swing in both axis. You cannot balance it in your hand, it's too unstable.

Adjust the weights to achieve side and forward center position - bubble in the middle. This is the preliminary adjustment. Add weight to the bottom to achieve the swing speed shown from level to vertical, usually 2-3 seconds. For more stability (but less damping) add more weight - this takes some adjustment. Make your final adjustment for level with the weights added.

That's it.

Tracy Foust · March 3rd, 2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noa Put

Did his stabilisation video not help? YouTube - The SturdyCam - Fast Balancing

Does he has a website? I could find his video back on youtube but no website with how much is cost.

Sturdy Shots: Home
It works with the small camera but as of yet, not the larger one.

March 2nd, 2010, 06:05 AM	#1
Tracy Foust Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 58	New stabilizer:SturdyShots:Need advice I had a little disposable income and bought the SturdyCam stabilizer from Jaco ( Italy). I was sold by the shots he put up on Youtube and the price. Now the problem_ I am having the devil's own time trying to get this balanced and set with my HM100. Has anyone else taken the plunge with this stabilizer? I am not the most mechanically savvy person and I am probably doing something dumb in the initial set up. The problem is that the camera swings when ever I move it and takes forever to come to rest. Any advice would be geartly appreciated.

March 2nd, 2010, 07:56 AM	#3
Dan Thomson Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: sudbury, canada Posts: 25	Adjustment procedure This is not the best forum for this question, but here is a quick answer. You must install a bubble level on your camera. I usually install it into the hot shoe because it is level with the camera base. Find the center of gravity for the camera by rolling the base over a pencil and seeing where it sort of balances. Install the camera into the rig aligning the center of gravity position with the center point of the rig. With the bubble level installed place the rig into a device to hold it. The video shows the device the tech is using, but usually a piece of pipe clamped to the table or into a vice will do. The rig must be free to swing in both axis. You cannot balance it in your hand, it's too unstable. Adjust the weights to achieve side and forward center position - bubble in the middle. This is the preliminary adjustment. Add weight to the bottom to achieve the swing speed shown from level to vertical, usually 2-3 seconds. For more stability (but less damping) add more weight - this takes some adjustment. Make your final adjustment for level with the weights added. That's it.

March 2nd, 2010, 07:31 AM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Did his stabilisation video not help? YouTube - The SturdyCam - Fast Balancing Does he has a website? I could find his video back on youtube but no website with how much is cost.