Is this "steadydrive" a piece of junk, or something miraculous? at DVinfo.net

Stephen Pruitt · January 19th, 2007, 03:08 PM

Hi all. . .

I'm trying to find a really good, inexpensive steadycam device. Just like everyone else. I found this on Ebay, and it seems just too good to be true. Is it possible that this thing is really what they are saying it is?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Steadycam-Full-R...QQcmdZViewItem

I've never seen ANY posts on this unit on any forum. Has anyone any information about it?

Thanks much.

Stephen

Jaron Berman · January 19th, 2007, 08:13 PM

Well, it looks pretty ridiculous.... but who knows, it may work.

Basically, it all depends on what camera you're trying to fly. If you're using something small, the merlin is basically undisputed champ. In the midrange, it's a little less clear. If the camera's less than 5 lbs, you can save a chunk of change and hassle by getting a handheld system. Jumping up to a "full rig" is not only a jump in price, its a jump in complexity. And again, it all depends on your needs. If you expect to be doing 38 takes of a 2 minute long shot, and it needs to be perfect... "inexpensive" rigs probably won't suffice, if for no other reason than the fit of the vest. You can get by a lot of slop in the sleds, arms, etc... but if the vest doesn't fit like a glove, you're negating the advantage to using the vest-mounted system in the first place.

If on the other hand, you have a couple shots every so often, and they're pretty short, the handheld option may be exactly what you need.

OR, maybe a stabilizer isn't what you need at all. If you're simply looking to improve the production value and make your footage less shaky, there are a lot of nice shoulder-mount systems out there for pretty cheap that can, with some practice, help you make some great and very stable shots.

As for this monstrosity? It's a gamble, no matter how you look at it. But IMHO, it looks like a hardware store special.

Charles King · January 19th, 2007, 09:33 PM

...boy! do I remember this one. Had a lengthen discussion about this system on HBS. The discussions did not turn out so good because one of the customers or I think owners took offense. I had to lock the topic because of the heated comments being made. I think Mikko will remember this one.

Charles Papert · January 19th, 2007, 09:44 PM

Charles, am I reading those pictures right in that it uses a ball joint as a gimbal...? If so (especially after doing the same thing in my venerable Cineglide back in the day), it's safe to say that's not going to be a very smooth rig.

Charles King · January 19th, 2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Charles, am I reading those pictures right in that it uses a ball joint as a gimbal...? If so (especially after doing the same thing in my venerable Cineglide back in the day), it's safe to say that's not going to be a very smooth rig.

HI CP. You are reading it correctly. This is one of the comments we were having a long time ago among the other comments. Apparently the guy sweared by it. Another thing. The demo they had, was done in post.

Mikko Wilson · January 20th, 2007, 05:13 AM

Yeah, I definatly have to weigh in here with it's "a peice of junk".

- Mikko

Charles Papert · January 20th, 2007, 01:25 PM

Not sure what's going on inside that arm, but it's big enough to store your bag lunch, or perhaps a bottle of schnapps to sneak between takes.

Terry Thompson · February 8th, 2007, 01:15 AM

You crack me up Chas!

The bones look like they came from a prehistoic dinosaur but not having tried on out I can't comment on it's operation. It certainly is interesting looking though.

More power to them if it works as described.

Terry
Indicam

Charles King · February 8th, 2007, 03:18 AM

well, here is the old thread we had on HBS about this whole discussion: http://hbsboard.com/index.php/topic,2314.0.html

I think you have to start from the beginning of the post.

Klaus Schlenstedt · February 14th, 2007, 10:07 AM

Hello!

We found this report coincidental. We get straight hereby: At no time we changed demo-videos of our products afterwards with a stabilization-software or something else. On our website were videos, which represented exemplarily that it is not possible to realize good stabilization with a computer program. This led in the past to misunderstandings. Therefore we removed these videos from our website. Who has interest: We dispatch a DVD with the original video-clips. So everyone can make sure of the fact, that the videos were not "done in post".

Sincerely

Klaus Schlenstedt
by order of
STEADYDRIVE Balance Systems Ltd.

Peter Chung · February 14th, 2007, 05:38 PM

OMG! I couldn't believe it when I saw it, I almost fell out of my chair!

Definitely a no-no if you are planning on shooting a wedding with it... you will probably scare the flowergirl and ringbearer away crying! Yikes!

January 19th, 2007, 03:08 PM	#1
Stephen Pruitt Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 228	Is this "steadydrive" a piece of junk, or something miraculous? Hi all. . . I'm trying to find a really good, inexpensive steadycam device. Just like everyone else. I found this on Ebay, and it seems just too good to be true. Is it possible that this thing is really what they are saying it is? http://cgi.ebay.com/Steadycam-Full-R...QQcmdZViewItem I've never seen ANY posts on this unit on any forum. Has anyone any information about it? Thanks much. Stephen

January 19th, 2007, 09:33 PM	#3
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	...boy! do I remember this one. Had a lengthen discussion about this system on HBS. The discussions did not turn out so good because one of the customers or I think owners took offense. I had to lock the topic because of the heated comments being made. I think Mikko will remember this one. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

January 19th, 2007, 09:44 PM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Charles, am I reading those pictures right in that it uses a ball joint as a gimbal...? If so (especially after doing the same thing in my venerable Cineglide back in the day), it's safe to say that's not going to be a very smooth rig. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 20th, 2007, 05:13 AM	#6
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Yeah, I definatly have to weigh in here with it's "a peice of junk". - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

January 20th, 2007, 01:25 PM	#7
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Not sure what's going on inside that arm, but it's big enough to store your bag lunch, or perhaps a bottle of schnapps to sneak between takes. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 19th, 2007, 08:13 PM	#2
Jaron Berman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 439	Well, it looks pretty ridiculous.... but who knows, it may work. Basically, it all depends on what camera you're trying to fly. If you're using something small, the merlin is basically undisputed champ. In the midrange, it's a little less clear. If the camera's less than 5 lbs, you can save a chunk of change and hassle by getting a handheld system. Jumping up to a "full rig" is not only a jump in price, its a jump in complexity. And again, it all depends on your needs. If you expect to be doing 38 takes of a 2 minute long shot, and it needs to be perfect... "inexpensive" rigs probably won't suffice, if for no other reason than the fit of the vest. You can get by a lot of slop in the sleds, arms, etc... but if the vest doesn't fit like a glove, you're negating the advantage to using the vest-mounted system in the first place. If on the other hand, you have a couple shots every so often, and they're pretty short, the handheld option may be exactly what you need. OR, maybe a stabilizer isn't what you need at all. If you're simply looking to improve the production value and make your footage less shaky, there are a lot of nice shoulder-mount systems out there for pretty cheap that can, with some practice, help you make some great and very stable shots. As for this monstrosity? It's a gamble, no matter how you look at it. But IMHO, it looks like a hardware store special.

February 8th, 2007, 01:15 AM	#8
Terry Thompson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auburn, CA Posts: 578	You crack me up Chas! The bones look like they came from a prehistoic dinosaur but not having tried on out I can't comment on it's operation. It certainly is interesting looking though. More power to them if it works as described. Terry Indicam __________________ He's only mostly sDEADy. sort of from "The Princess Bride" www.indicam.com

February 8th, 2007, 03:18 AM	#9
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	well, here is the old thread we had on HBS about this whole discussion: http://hbsboard.com/index.php/topic,2314.0.html I think you have to start from the beginning of the post. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

February 14th, 2007, 10:07 AM	#10
Klaus Schlenstedt Tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1	Hello! We found this report coincidental. We get straight hereby: At no time we changed demo-videos of our products afterwards with a stabilization-software or something else. On our website were videos, which represented exemplarily that it is not possible to realize good stabilization with a computer program. This led in the past to misunderstandings. Therefore we removed these videos from our website. Who has interest: We dispatch a DVD with the original video-clips. So everyone can make sure of the fact, that the videos were not "done in post". Sincerely Klaus Schlenstedt by order of STEADYDRIVE Balance Systems Ltd.

February 14th, 2007, 05:38 PM	#11
Peter Chung Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 220	OMG! I couldn't believe it when I saw it, I almost fell out of my chair! Definitely a no-no if you are planning on shooting a wedding with it... you will probably scare the flowergirl and ringbearer away crying! Yikes!