Steadicam Flyer Operating Questions

[Patrick Moreau]

I've used the glidecam and Magiqcam for years. After getting the XHA1, the glidecam was too heavy to use handheld and it was time to move up from the Magiqcam. So, I do have experience with these types of rigs for several years now however nothing nearly as good as the Flyer. So, after using the flyer for a couple days, I have some general operating questions that I couldn't find in the manual and I don't have a VHS player to view the instructional video.

Is there an ideal height at which the camera should sit on the arm in front of you? The A1 ia only 5lbs so even with everything loosened as much as posisble, it still seems high.

Will I get noticeably better performance by trying to add more weight to the rig, or is that something a good operator can work around? The 5lb XHA1 seems very easy to translate smaller bumps and movements from your hand to the camera.

Should the sled when properly balanced sit in front of your body with no hands? I can get it to stay there, but then a slight movement and it will sway one way to another.

If I hold the arm in front of me without the sled on it, should the post where the sled mounts to be level when in front of my body. I'm havig a hard time trying to figure out how to adjust everything around the socket block correctly so any other tips would be great.

Lastly, I'm assuming that the optical image stabilizer would cause more problems with a steadicam rather than helping. Is there any situation with the rig where this would be useful?

Thanks for any info.

Patrick
www.still-motion.ca

[Charles Papert]

Originally Posted by Patrick Moreau

Is there an ideal height at which the camera should sit on the arm in front of you? The A1 ia only 5lbs so even with everything loosened as much as posisble, it still seems high.

Will I get noticeably better performance by trying to add more weight to the rig, or is that something a good operator can work around? The 5lb XHA1 seems very easy to translate smaller bumps and movements from your hand to the camera.

Hi Patrick:

Yes, the naked A1 is going to be on the bottom end of the Flyer weight range, so it will sit high (technically speaking, the gimbal will be set low on the post). Adding more weight to the camera will, as you surmised, improve many things--the gimbal will raise, the rig will be more inert and you will likely find it 'easier' to operate. I would recommend a steel plate between the dovetail and camera, perhaps 5 lbs or so. I think Tiffen may even sell one, but if you have access to a machinist this would be much less expensive.

Should the sled when properly balanced sit in front of your body with no hands? I can get it to stay there, but then a slight movement and it will sway one way to another.

Originally Posted by Patrick Moreau

If I hold the arm in front of me without the sled on it, should the post where the sled mounts to be level when in front of my body. I'm havig a hard time trying to figure out how to adjust everything around the socket block correctly so any other tips would be great.

I generally consider the proper adjustment is that the mounting post should actually be tipped back and away from the rig (i.e. if you mount the arm on the right side of the vest, it should lean to the right as well as back) We are only talking a few degrees here. When you mount the rig, the idea is that you can stand comfortably and the rig will just float at your side without requiring you to rein it in. Load up the rig and walk in place for a number of steps, then stop. If the rig tries to pull away from you in a given direction, adjust the socket block accordingly until that no longer happens.

Originally Posted by Patrick Moreau

Lastly, I'm assuming that the optical image stabilizer would cause more problems with a steadicam rather than helping. Is there any situation with the rig where this would be useful?

You are correct, one should leave the OIS off when using a stabilizer.

[Patrick Moreau]

Thanks for the detailed reply Charles. I added a wide angle with sunshade plus a firestore and that seemed to help quite a bit. Still looking for a place to get a plate made though.

Thanks again.