PAG Orbitor vs DvRigPro

[Piotr Wozniacki]

There are many flavours of this type of a rig in the market; most are similar to the DVRigPro, but one is outstanding in that it has all possible degrees of freedom for camera movements: the PAG Orbitor.

Now, my question is this: has anyone tried both types, and is the PAG Orbitor any better?

[Andrew Dean]

I own a pag orbiter and have never touched a dv rig.
With that in mind, here is my opinion:

The divrig can tilt up and down quite a bit, where the pag, due to the support bar causing resistance, has limited up/down tilting.

The pag is able to pan side to side, where the dv rig is not designed to. however, Panning side to side seems easier/smoother to do by turning your waist rather than the pag, so that really isnt much of an advantage.

The pag can support your camera hands free. (not sure if the dvrig can or cannot.

This is far from scientific, but the people who own the dv rig are always raving about it on the forums. I own the pag and I just havent found it all that exciting. Not too useful, i know... but if i could get my money back, i'd jump at the chance. It always sounds like the dvrig users would require some cold dead finger prying.

my random 2c.
-a

[Danny Natovich]

Originally Posted by Andrew Dean

I own a pag orbiter and have never touched a dv rig.
With that in mind, here is my opinion:

The divrig can tilt up and down quite a bit, where the pag, due to the support bar causing resistance, has limited up/down tilting.

The pag is able to pan side to side, where the dv rig is not designed to. however, Panning side to side seems easier/smoother to do by turning your waist rather than the pag, so that really isnt much of an advantage.

The pag can support your camera hands free. (not sure if the dvrig can or cannot.

This is far from scientific, but the people who own the dv rig are always raving about it on the forums. I own the pag and I just havent found it all that exciting. Not too useful, i know... but if i could get my money back, i'd jump at the chance. It always sounds like the dvrig users would require some cold dead finger prying.

my random 2c.
-a

Not sure if I am getting you right... Mail me if you want to swop your rig for a DvRigPro.

Danny.
natovich@inter.net.il

[Stephen Eastwood]

Originally Posted by Danny Natovich

Not sure if I am getting you right... Mail me if you want to swop your rig for a DvRigPro.

Danny.
natovich@inter.net.il

How much is the pan? I was looking at it but can't find a price in the US, I like the suspension arm and rotation. I have a spider brace and steadistick which when together work well, but the steadstick arm is not a shock its just a slide and lock type I would love it if it were a shock absorbing arm with a lock for complete lockout, the pan may have that feature built in.

[Andrew Dean]

I had forgotten i had posted here.. I was like "hey, that guys's sentiments are just like mine"... then i saw that it WAS me. haha.

The pag orbiter is $600, $50 more than the dvrig and the same price as the dvrigproHD.

The pag has a stabilizer bar, but it doesnt "absorb shock"... at least not in a useful way. It mainly just provides support for the camera and while letting you raise and lower the camera. If you try to walk around? It doesnt smooth out much of anything, and if you have the orbiter anywhere but pushed way back on your shoulder (so your camera lcd would be like 2" from your eye), then the stabilizer bar isnt smooth going up and down.

As a body mounted camera support, the pag works fine . if you want to do anything in the way of moves, I wouldn't buy it. I have never touched a dvrig pro, but if Danny was really offering to let me trade my pag for a dvrigpro (especially a hd), then I would absolutely take him up on that. I've never heard anything but good reviews of the dvrigpro. You can't say the same about the pag.

In the whole time i've owned my orbiter, i have never used it on a shoot. Not even once! I have dragged it around, but when it came down to pulling it out, the hassle/performance was too annoying and so it never came out. . For the money, i would have hoped to have found at least one instance where it was the right tool.

Obviously these are just my opinions and my experiences, but hopefully it will offer you a different perspective.

cheers,
-a

[Danny Natovich]

Originally Posted by Andrew Dean

I have never touched a dvrig pro, but if Danny was really offering to let me trade my pag for a dvrigpro (especially a hd), then I would absolutely take him up on that. I've never heard anything but good reviews of the dvrigpro. You can't say the same about the pag.

Sorry, someone else already "jumped" on the offer, I only needed one unit.

[Steve Bernard]

My biggest concern with the PAG was the construction. There are critical joints that are made of plastic. For someone like me who has a heavy camera, this was a worry.

I decided to go with the DVRig ProHD, and I am happy with that decision. Price is a bit high but worth it.