Is there a top steadicam?

Jack Walker · May 21st, 2008, 04:58 PM

Matt,

I emailed ActionCam direct and got back some links that should be useful in evaluating the product.

If you email me I will reply and attach some info from ActionCam they sent me that is new and not up on the website yet.

Also,

Go down to the long post by Charles Pappert in this thread:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...ining+going+on

Search ActionCam on this forum for a lot of into:
http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/

The following two links have info on film productions where the ActionCam is being used:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13376
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...ight=actioncam

(You may have to join the red forum to see the threads.)

It seems ActionCam has been in business for 10 years but started marketing in the U.S. just this year. Here is what they wrote me:
"Please note that we are on the market since 10 years now. Since 5 years our ActionCam is basically the model as we have it now. However we just started to sell to the US since the end of last year and officially introduced our new model on the last NAB show. So there aren't that much reviews of our new models at the moment.
But we have had excellent feedback on the ActionCam at NAB and otherwise."

It seems this is a legitimate product and possibly unbeatable in its price range. It seems to sit nicely in both price and quality between the low range Glidecam rigs and the upper range Tiffen, XCS and PRO rigs.

Dave Gish · May 22nd, 2008, 07:56 AM

Matt,

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the steadicam forum
http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/
They do talk about other brands there, and you'll get advice from many working operators. Ask about the ActionCam and see what they say.

There's also a post from a guy in L.A. who wants to share a used pro Steadicam rig, so this also could be within your price range.
http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums...=0&#entry36017

Hope this helps.

Charles Papert · May 22nd, 2008, 11:23 AM

Hi everyone, I've been out of town at a family event for the past week.

Matt:

I have a great many thoughts on things that have been said in this thread and few of them have to do with suggesting what kind of rig would be best for your camera package. You seem to have gotten frustrated with those who have not simply answered this question, but that should actually tell you something; you have two entirely separate concerns going here. The ideal rig for your shoot may not necessarily be the ideal rig for your future projects.

As you indicated, you are working with professional crew on this very complicated shoot. It seems to me that an operator who is capable of pulling off such an elaborate and lengthy sequence would have his own ideas on what kind of rig would be right for the job and if I were in his shoes, having the director suggest otherwise based on recommendations he culled from the internet would, in all honesty, generate a big red flag about the whole job.

However, if the ultimate success of the film is not that high a priority (you indicated that you were "just trying to add a cool one taker to the resume", which to me is an indication that it is more of an exercise than a serious endeavor), feel free to ignore all this, just have fun making the project and sure, buy an Actioncam, it's a good rig.

Matt Ryan · May 28th, 2008, 02:01 AM

Thank you all again for the help. Charles thanks for the insight. I agree whole heartedly with your opinions and greatly appreciate your input. You are correct in that this is more of an exercise. Again I am a film student majoring in Directing and Cinematography. I am in the mode of putting together larger scale projects than the typical student films to build up a reel and resume.

Again thank you all for your input. I am thankful I can be a part of the dvinfo community. Thanks again all!

Matt

May 22nd, 2008, 11:23 AM	#33
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Hi everyone, I've been out of town at a family event for the past week. Matt: I have a great many thoughts on things that have been said in this thread and few of them have to do with suggesting what kind of rig would be best for your camera package. You seem to have gotten frustrated with those who have not simply answered this question, but that should actually tell you something; you have two entirely separate concerns going here. The ideal rig for your shoot may not necessarily be the ideal rig for your future projects. As you indicated, you are working with professional crew on this very complicated shoot. It seems to me that an operator who is capable of pulling off such an elaborate and lengthy sequence would have his own ideas on what kind of rig would be right for the job and if I were in his shoes, having the director suggest otherwise based on recommendations he culled from the internet would, in all honesty, generate a big red flag about the whole job. However, if the ultimate success of the film is not that high a priority (you indicated that you were "just trying to add a cool one taker to the resume", which to me is an indication that it is more of an exercise than a serious endeavor), feel free to ignore all this, just have fun making the project and sure, buy an Actioncam, it's a good rig. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

May 28th, 2008, 02:01 AM	#34
Matt Ryan Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hollywood, CA. Posts: 110	Thank You all! Thank you all again for the help. Charles thanks for the insight. I agree whole heartedly with your opinions and greatly appreciate your input. You are correct in that this is more of an exercise. Again I am a film student majoring in Directing and Cinematography. I am in the mode of putting together larger scale projects than the typical student films to build up a reel and resume. Again thank you all for your input. I am thankful I can be a part of the dvinfo community. Thanks again all! Matt

May 21st, 2008, 04:58 PM	#31
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	Matt, I emailed ActionCam direct and got back some links that should be useful in evaluating the product. If you email me I will reply and attach some info from ActionCam they sent me that is new and not up on the website yet. Also, Go down to the long post by Charles Pappert in this thread: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...ining+going+on Search ActionCam on this forum for a lot of into: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/ The following two links have info on film productions where the ActionCam is being used: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13376 http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...ight=actioncam (You may have to join the red forum to see the threads.) It seems ActionCam has been in business for 10 years but started marketing in the U.S. just this year. Here is what they wrote me: "Please note that we are on the market since 10 years now. Since 5 years our ActionCam is basically the model as we have it now. However we just started to sell to the US since the end of last year and officially introduced our new model on the last NAB show. So there aren't that much reviews of our new models at the moment. But we have had excellent feedback on the ActionCam at NAB and otherwise." It seems this is a legitimate product and possibly unbeatable in its price range. It seems to sit nicely in both price and quality between the low range Glidecam rigs and the upper range Tiffen, XCS and PRO rigs.

May 22nd, 2008, 07:56 AM	#32
Dave Gish Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverdale, NJ Posts: 468	Matt, If you haven't already, be sure to check out the steadicam forum http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/ They do talk about other brands there, and you'll get advice from many working operators. Ask about the ActionCam and see what they say. There's also a post from a guy in L.A. who wants to share a used pro Steadicam rig, so this also could be within your price range. http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums...=0&#entry36017 Hope this helps.