dslr stabilizer

Opteka’s New CXS-2 Shoulder Stabilizer • 19 Comments

Emm • March 16, 2012

Opteka CXS-2 Stabilizer

Opteka has made available a new version of their dual handled CXS stabilizer - the CXS-2 Shoulder Support. The handles swing apart for spacing, but under the stage seems to have support for 15mm rods (to mount accessories like an FF). The shoulder pad fits more like a target shooter, but is upgradeable to support their optional counterweight and belt support system.

It runs under $130 dollars, but what do you guys think? Worth it, or is there something else in that price range you are using today that's a better fit? (click here to find Opteka CXS-2 Shoulder Stabilizer on eBay)

Opteka CXS-2 Stabilizer Opteka Stabilizer 15mm
Opteka CXS-2 Double Handle Stabilizer 15mm Support

Another interesting little tidbit released is their VB-30 Aluminum triple mount shoe adapter. The VB-30 fits on a standard shoe and makes available three additional shoes for small accessories, led lights, microphones, etc.

Opteka VB-30 Triple Shoe Adapter Cold Shoe Mount

Lensse DSLRPro Stabilizer Demo • 24 Comments

Emm • March 15, 2012

The Lensse DSLRPro Stabilizer has been around for possibly a few months now, and it is the latest version camera stabilizer in their product line. Here's some footage with a Canon T2i. Lensse uses a custom low friction brass gimbal in their stabilizers, and it doesn't have quite the range of motion as a Steadicam Smoothee or Steadicam Merlin.

dslrpro gimbal

The top stage of the Lensse doesn't provide you with many options for fine tuning knobs but you can slide the camera forward and back. It's not real clear in the product description or photos, but there seems to be an adjustment to shift the gimbal left/right. When not in use, the stabilizer folds down for traveling. Still with a demo video like this, it shows that it can be fairly capable. Lensse makes a variety of different sized stabilizers for different sized cameras. (Click here for Lensse DSLR Video Camera Stabilizers)

Lensse DSLRPro Lensse Stabilizer Video Camera Lensse-DSLRPro-Demo
Lensse DSLR Video Camera Stabilizers

Unboxing Opteka SteadyVid Pro Stabilizer • 21 Comments

Emm • March 9, 2012

An unboxing video from YouTube member Michael19801234 of the latest Opteka SteadyVid Pro Video Stabilizer. The adjustable arch is a design used in some stabilizers to change the weight ratio - more or less bottom heavy. The lower the weight from the Gimbal, the more weight it should be able to support. Judging by the weights and distance, it should have no problems flying the 5lbs. it claims. Currently the Amazon product page has a special promotion for the free cleaning kit.

Opteka SteadyVid PRO Video Stabilizer

Aputure Magic Rig / Polaroid Rig • 25 Comments

Emm • March 3, 2012

Neil writes in and shares another small price drop on those small target shooter style Aputure Magic Rigs a.k.a. Polaroid Rigs. We've seen them drop down to an average $68 dollars, and now they're down to about $58 via eBay (click here). [Thanks Neil].

That's coming from overseas China, but for USA customers, if you add an extra dollar you could have it shipping from the US for $59 + Free Shipping via Amazon (click here).

Target-Shooter-Rig Polaroid Magic Rig Aputure
Polaroid Rig / Aputure Magic Rig Target Shooter style Stabilizer

New – Opteka SteadyVid Pro Stabilizer • 47 Comments

Emm • March 3, 2012

Opteka throws in a new Video Camera stabilizer with a fully adjustable top stage and upgraded 3 axis gimbal. Looks pretty similar to the Steadicam Merlin. The lower weights (stainless steel?) look almost exactly like the ones used in a real Steadicam Merlin (seen here), and the specs say it can handle up to 5lbs of camera.

Unlike the Merlin, it does not appear to fold up, but adds an adjustable front counterbalance weight. Of course nobody should expect the build quality to be up to par with a real Steadicam Merlin, but how well will this new stabilizer actually perform? The Steadicam Merlin will run you about $800 dollars (click here), and the new Opteka SteadyVid Pro runs just under $180 (click here).

Opteka Stabilizer Pro
Opteka SteadyVid Pro Video Stabilizer

Gini DSLR Cages – Non Standard Threads • 22 Comments

Emm • February 28, 2012

Gini Non-Standard Cages Gini Non Standard DSLR Cage
Click image for other Gini DSLR Cage designs

The very early DSLR Cages from Gini supported standard 15mm rods, and basic 1/4 x 20 threads. In the last few weeks, there's been dozens of comments regarding some major changes in his designs that no longer support Industry Standard mounts. WTF Gini? There's no real rhyme or reason, other than he might be working on future 'proprietary' accessory mounts that you'd probably have to pick up from him. So I would stay clear from any of the cages, but luckily his DSLR rigs are still the best deal for the quality and Industry Standard. (Click here to see Gini DSLR Cage Designs)

Ironic that something like this could happen, because I have had in my hands the final designs for the new PNC (photographyandcinema.com) DSLR Cages. I posted an article about these cages earlier here: http://cheesycam.com/pnc-dslr-cage-brackets/. These new cages (industry standard of course) will have be offered in very affordable version, and one with a little more machine work and feature set.

If you're shopping for a nice quality affordable DSLR cage, you might steer clear of the Gini (non-standard) designs, and hang tight for the new PNC stuff coming out soon. Make sure to follow me on Twitter when that's announced...

Olympus OM-D EM-5 Image Stabilization • 15 Comments

Emm • February 22, 2012

One of the great things about shooting with a Sony NEX-7 or Micro Four Thirds camera is the ability to use just about any lens on the market. Not having autofocus in a lens is one thing, but without Image Stabilization, those adapted lenses can be tricky to shoot hand held.

The new Olympus OM-D EM-5 solves that by offering what they call a 5 Axis IS at the sensor (not the lens). Unfortunately in order to get the aperture working for my EF lenses to an M43 body, the expensive solution is the RedRock Micro Live Lens EF Adapter (seen here). Along with what could be the best EVF available on the market today, and all starting under $1K (body) this will be a very very popular camera. In fact it's already at the top of the Amazon new camera list (seen here).

Olympus OM-D-EM-5 Olympus-EM-5-OM-D
Olympus OM-D EM-5 Digital Camera

DIY Glidecam / Monopod Modification • 10 Comments

Emm • February 20, 2012

I get it. Sometimes you fly a stabilizer around and need to take a pause for a long static shot. These things can get quite heavy, so being able to stand on it's own could be beneficial for event shooters. Varizoom offers a Monopod / Stabilizer called the FlowPod (seen here), but when used as a stabilizer, it didn't really work out very well. Varizoom also makes a Crossfire Stabilizer (seen here) that doubles as a small Tripod too. None of them I think work very well, mainly because of the Gimbal setup they are using.

Varizoom FlowPod Stabilizer Monopod

Varizoom Crossfire Stabilizer Tripod

Wondlan also recently showed a Carbon Stabilizer that can be extended to work as a monopod, and they used a better Gimbal system like the Glidecam type stabilizers. I think they fell short a bit here because the sled was a little too small. If you think you need a stabilizer that doubles as a stand, here YouTube member NitsanPictures shows how it could be possible to modify your own with a Glidecam, and possibly even the Flycam by connecting to the 1/4" female thread under the post. It seems to work pretty good, but I think there are other Monopod designs that would make it easier to telescope when needed. [Thanks Nitsan] If you guys haven't seen a Glidecam Stabilizer in use, check out some of my old videos.

Glidecam HD1000 Demo:

Glidecam HD4000 Demo:

Glidecam-HD1000-HD2000-HD4000
Glidecam HD1000 HD2000 HD4000 Stabilizers

New – Wondlan Mini Camera Stabilizer • 5 Comments

Emm • February 20, 2012

Wondlan Carbon Stabilizer

Earlier this year Wondlan released a Carbon Fiber Stabilizer that doubled as a short monopod when you're not running around. A neat idea, but so far we haven't seen any real solid tests of perfect flight capabilities. Now Wondlan throws in a much smaller unit made from Aluminum to support cameras in the same range as a Glidecam HD1000 (found here).

Wondlan Mini Stabilizer

There's a few image comparisons between their larger Carbon Monopod / Stabilizer and new Mini Stabilizer fully extended and collapsed. Wondlan makes some pretty cool products with good build quailty, but this Mini Stabilizer is being offered for slightly more than a Glidecam HD1000. For such a small unit, it's even priced more than Flycam's new Carbon C5 Stabilizer (here).

My advise is to just go with what works, and has been proven for many years. I honestly don't see anything new being brought to the table here, so why jack up prices? If you're curious to see more images and specs, the new Wondlan Mini Stabilizer can be found online (click here).