Steadicam Jr and GL2 (XM2) at DVinfo.net

Paul Grove · June 9th, 2005, 06:44 AM

Hi all - just purchased a Steadicam Jr second hand. Want to us it with my XM2 (GL2) with the long-life BP 941 on the back.

Any hints/tips on settings?

Gary Barr · June 9th, 2005, 11:35 AM

Hi Paul,

Thinking of this combo myself, how much and where for the Steadicam if you don't mind me asking? That new Merlin's a tad pricey at the minute isn't it?!

Colin Sato · June 9th, 2005, 05:20 PM

Ha Ha, he probably outbid me on ebay for the "ferret shelter" steadicam.

Marco Leavitt · June 9th, 2005, 09:35 PM

I was able to use a big battery and anamorphic adapter pretty successfully with the JR. The battery and adapter balance each other out pretty well. I'd suggest adding a wide angle lens. Deep focus wide shots are best with the Steadicam. Also, I added a Manfrotto 394 quick release plate.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ku=5563&is=REG

It helps give you more vertical height, which in my situation made it much more stable. Without the quick release assembly I had to unscrew the collar around the gimble almost all the way out.

The plate also gives you a bubble level (yes!) and way more flexibility to adjust the camera from side to side because the mounting screw is able to shift back forth in its groove. Without the plate, I had to max out the side to side adjustments on the JR.

Colin Sato · June 9th, 2005, 11:15 PM

Actually since my camera is too light, I've had to add the larger battery and wide angle lense. Then I've got a Bogen quick release plate ( like yours a lot, but I've already got another type). Because I have a similar problem with side to side weight, I've added some car tire (tape on) weights to the bottom of the stage. They don't look so great, but are functional and only visible from the bottom.

Paul Grove · June 10th, 2005, 01:36 AM

Thanks for the replies guys - yes it was a purchase of ebay!

Just to confirm - are you suggesting that I should put on the WD-58H to counteract the big battery?

Paul.

Marco Leavitt · June 10th, 2005, 07:40 AM

The WD-58 is great. It would way about the same as the anamorphic I was using. I had a GL1 by the way. I believe the GL2 is a little lighter and longer.

Otto Bartsch · August 6th, 2005, 09:33 AM

So have you gotten the rig to ballance properly? I am curious what settings you used. I have a Jr. I am trying to use with a GL2 and BP-945. I think I have it balanced, then it wanders a bit. Requires continuous fine tuning of the sled. Which, of course, means it isn't balanced at all.

SO, I am looking to see what other people are using settings-wise. Mine was also an eBay purchase, and as a result does not have the video with it.

Paul Grove · August 6th, 2005, 10:09 AM

Hi Otto ... I got mine balanced with the battery and without the w/angle lens by putting in the middle hole right at the the back. Like you I find it does require a fair bit of constant tweaking - anyone else found this?

It's much easier to use the plastic stand straight off as well!

Unfortunately I've hit a problem ... the plastic gromit that you screw in the hole in front of the main locking hole (i.e. to stop the camera rotating left to right), has snapped off, blocking the hole pretty damn well! Obviously, if the camera can move to left or right this will effect the balance - anyone got any suggestions?

Paul.

Charles Papert · August 6th, 2005, 10:37 AM

Tiffen sells a spare parts kit for something like $35, which will include replacement locator pins (the part you snapped off), so you can just drill out the remains of the old one.

June 9th, 2005, 06:44 AM	#1
Paul Grove Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK Posts: 67	Steadicam Jr and GL2 (XM2) Hi all - just purchased a Steadicam Jr second hand. Want to us it with my XM2 (GL2) with the long-life BP 941 on the back. Any hints/tips on settings?

August 6th, 2005, 10:37 AM	#10
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Tiffen sells a spare parts kit for something like $35, which will include replacement locator pins (the part you snapped off), so you can just drill out the remains of the old one. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 9th, 2005, 11:35 AM	#2
Gary Barr Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 186	Hi Paul, Thinking of this combo myself, how much and where for the Steadicam if you don't mind me asking? That new Merlin's a tad pricey at the minute isn't it?!

June 9th, 2005, 05:20 PM	#3
Colin Sato Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Honolulu Posts: 85	Ha Ha, he probably outbid me on ebay for the "ferret shelter" steadicam.

June 9th, 2005, 09:35 PM	#4
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I was able to use a big battery and anamorphic adapter pretty successfully with the JR. The battery and adapter balance each other out pretty well. I'd suggest adding a wide angle lens. Deep focus wide shots are best with the Steadicam. Also, I added a Manfrotto 394 quick release plate. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ku=5563&is=REG It helps give you more vertical height, which in my situation made it much more stable. Without the quick release assembly I had to unscrew the collar around the gimble almost all the way out. The plate also gives you a bubble level (yes!) and way more flexibility to adjust the camera from side to side because the mounting screw is able to shift back forth in its groove. Without the plate, I had to max out the side to side adjustments on the JR.

June 9th, 2005, 11:15 PM	#5
Colin Sato Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Honolulu Posts: 85	Actually since my camera is too light, I've had to add the larger battery and wide angle lense. Then I've got a Bogen quick release plate ( like yours a lot, but I've already got another type). Because I have a similar problem with side to side weight, I've added some car tire (tape on) weights to the bottom of the stage. They don't look so great, but are functional and only visible from the bottom.

June 10th, 2005, 01:36 AM	#6
Paul Grove Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK Posts: 67	Thanks for the replies guys - yes it was a purchase of ebay! Just to confirm - are you suggesting that I should put on the WD-58H to counteract the big battery? Paul.

June 10th, 2005, 07:40 AM	#7
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	The WD-58 is great. It would way about the same as the anamorphic I was using. I had a GL1 by the way. I believe the GL2 is a little lighter and longer.

August 6th, 2005, 09:33 AM	#8
Otto Bartsch New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 10	So have you gotten the rig to ballance properly? I am curious what settings you used. I have a Jr. I am trying to use with a GL2 and BP-945. I think I have it balanced, then it wanders a bit. Requires continuous fine tuning of the sled. Which, of course, means it isn't balanced at all. SO, I am looking to see what other people are using settings-wise. Mine was also an eBay purchase, and as a result does not have the video with it.

August 6th, 2005, 10:09 AM	#9
Paul Grove Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK Posts: 67	Hi Otto ... I got mine balanced with the battery and without the w/angle lens by putting in the middle hole right at the the back. Like you I find it does require a fair bit of constant tweaking - anyone else found this? It's much easier to use the plastic stand straight off as well! Unfortunately I've hit a problem ... the plastic gromit that you screw in the hole in front of the main locking hole (i.e. to stop the camera rotating left to right), has snapped off, blocking the hole pretty damn well! Obviously, if the camera can move to left or right this will effect the balance - anyone got any suggestions? Paul.