Tag Archives: Skyler MiniCam

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If you know a thing or two about stabilizers, the new 2013 XCAM Sabre brings a few new much welcome features that are typically only found on much larger systems. The design is still based on the original compact mini XCAM with quick folding legs, but now has a vertically adjustable Gimbal along a Carbon Fiber post. This adds another fine tuning option that should make balancing lightweight cameras much easier.

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XCAM Sabre Adjustable Gimbal Carbon Fiber Post

Unlike the original XCAM that is limited to small cameras, the 2013 XCAM Sabre now includes a telescoping post that drops the sled lower to support even heavier systems. This essentially makes the system more bottom heavy without actually adding additional weights.

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Telescoping Sled Supports Heavier Camera Systems

Now if you happen to have a camera that is just too lightweight like the Sony NEX, you'll need to make your camera heavier, so the listing also throws in a few top camera weights. You can find more information about the XCAM via eBay (click here).

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find-price-button 2013 Version XCAM Sabre Mini Telescoping Stabilizer

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Skyler MiniArm Forearm brace.JPGSkyler MiniArm Forearm brace

The guys making the Skyler Minicam Stabilizers look like they've been busy in the last few months. Not only have they released another Skyler Minicam Stabilizer model with folding legs and Arca swiss quick release plate, but they've also added a new ForeArm Brace.

When a full Vest if too bulky, and when your arms get too tired from flying, an arm brace can sure come in handy. If you're not a DIY type of guy/gal, then your other option for a forearm brace is the bulkier Flycam version (below).

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find-price-button Flycam Forearm Arm Brace for Flycam and Glidecam HD Stabilizer

Something like this new Skyler MiniArm is most likely not going to be comfortable with your large Glidecam setups, but for all the new mini handheld stabilizers popping up and pocket cinema cameras, it should do well to provide arm strain relief.

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find-price-button Skyler MiniCam MiniARM Forearm Stabilizer Brace

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[Update on Article] This appears to be a copy of the original Skyler MiniCam and not the original Skyler MiniCam.

Typically the Skyler MiniCam stabilizers can be found for approximately $520-$540 shipped (as found here). There's one seller posting a unit that is a copy of the Skyler product and lists as an XMiniCam for just $399 shipped. The listing mentions that only 5 would be sold at this price, or until the end of December. You can find that listing via eBay (Click Here).

Skyler MiniCam XMiniCam
find-price-button Skyler MiniCam XMiniCam Video Stabilizer

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Skyler MiniCam Video Stabilizer
find-price-button Skyler MiniCam DSLR Video Camera Stabilizer

The Skyler MiniCam (seen above) is one of the smallest Video Camera Stabilizers around, and can still fly a fairly weighted DSLR Camera. It's an expensive piece of kit, but my favorite stabilizer to travel with. To make the Skyler even smaller and faster to setup, there's a new optional Transformer Legs kit. It allows you to fold the three counterweight legs instead of unscrewing each one on the for the Skyler MiniCam Video Camera Stabilizer.

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find-price-button Skyler MiniCam New Transformer Legs

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The Sony RX100 produces great video quality, and performs well in low lit situations, so I was recommending this camera to a Real Estate agent looking to perform low budget YouTube Virtual Tours. Unfortunately, it's widest focal length is approximately 28mm (not the greatest). I got to thinking, and decided to test out the new Carry Speed MagFilter Threaded Ring Adapter. The MagFilter Adapter will allow you to attach your own filters to point and shoot cameras, and here I'm using the RX100 with a cheap 52mm Wide Angle Lens Adapter.

Wide Angle Lens MagFilter Carry Speed RX100
find-price-button Neewer 0.45x 52mm Wide Angle Lens with Macro

To make walk throughs even more stable, I balanced with the Skyler Minicam.

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Sony RX100 + Wide Angle Lens + MagFilter Threaded Adapter on Skyler MiniCam Stabilizer


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I first purchased a used first gen Skyler Minicam and enjoyed it so much, I went out and purchased the latest model (then sold off the older one). It's a tiny little stabilizer that packs up small, performs excellently, and has amazing build qualities. Unfortunately it's a bit expensive compared to other stabilizers, so i'm happy to see another person like Carl Pendle from www.carlpendle.com using it. I'm not alone in this world..

This time Carl shows how to modify the Flycam Armbrace to fit the Skyler MiniCam for extended flight times. After the modification, he also shows a clever sling he uses to help him carry the entire weight, and stick around to the end for some fine examples of his Skyler Minicam in use. [Thanks Carl]. I have some additional information about the Skyler Minicam vs. Glidecam vs. Flycam (seen here) if you're still wondering what some differences could be.

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find-price-button Skyler MiniCam Video Camera Stabilizer Kit


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find-price-button Flycam Forearm Arm Brace for Flycam and Glidecam HD Stabilizers

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Home for the day, so I decided to see if I had the skills to fly the Skyler MiniCam Video Camera Stabilizer while riding a Gyro-Stabilized Motorized UniCycle called the SoloWheel (found here on eBay).

Skyler-MiniCam  Solo Wheel Steadicam Segway Self Balancing Gryo Stabilized

Just in case something disastrous were to happen, I felt comfortable trying this test out with Canon's latest EOS T4i (not the 5D Mark III) and was a good excuse to see how the Auto Focus would work with the Sigma 20mm F/1.8.

Canon T4i VariAngle LCD  simga-20mm

Besides not being a very skilled SoloWheel rider, the breeze against the Vari-Angle LCD threw the little Skyler off balance. So it wasn't a truly successful test, but at least I didn't eat pavement...

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This video is complete rambling about different feature sets of a few 'Small Camera stabilizers' I use. I have quite a few very large ones as well, but for now i'm just touching on these specifically because they are so close in what audience they are intended for. The three small stabilizers i'm showing are the Flycam Nano, the Glidecam HD1000, and the Skyler MiniCam (new and old). If you're not interested in knowing about the differences of such products, I suggests you skip this video since it's quite lengthy.

I'll start by saying that it's possible to get excellent results from ALL of these stabilizers. Don't be fooled to thinking you'll be achieving excellent results on the first day, even if you wanted to spend thousands of dollars on high end gear. With any stabilizer, it will require practice, practice, and even more practice. This video will probably generate more questions, but hopefully it's an insight of the different things to look for when shopping for a stabilizer.

Flycam:
The Flycam Nano does not have the best fit and finish as the other stabilizers, so obviously it will be much cheaper. It also does not carry the fine tuning knobs of a Glidecam HD series stabilizer. The Flycam Nano does not come with any type of Quick release system to make packing up and re-balancing more convenient.

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find-price-button Flycam Nano Video Camera Stabilizer

Glidecam: The Glidecam HD1000 has a quick release system, fine tuning knobs, and has better overall build quality and aesthetics. The quick release system will help you remove your camera from the stabilizer when you need to pack up, and makes it easy to get the camera back in the right spot for rebalancing. The fine tuning knobs help get very accurate alignment.
Note: Recently Glidecam released an XR version of their stabilizers which is cheaper, but will lack the QR plate and fine tuning knobs. (click here to see Glidecam XR-1000 via eBay)

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find-price-button Glidecam HD1000 Small Video Camera Stabilizer

Skyler MiniCam: The Skyler MiniCam is the most expensive of these three small stabilizers. It's also the smallest and lightest, but yet can still fly just as much weight. You can remove all of the parts from the Skyler for travel and set it back up without having to rebalance. Everything falls perfectly in alignment. It also offers a quick release stage - not only for packing up, but it can be used to move your camera to a tripod, slider, cage, rig, etc with the included 'mounting base plate'. The design of the lower sled makes it easy to adjust up and down for weight compensation, and does not have the same potential to shift (like the Glidecam and Flycam models). Build quality is top notch.

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find-price-button Skyler MiniCam Video Camera Stabilizer Kit

If you're just starting out, doing it as a hobby, or just curious about flying camera movements you could start on the lower end. The actual practice of flying a stabilizer is more important than the stabilizer itself. Sell it off later when you're ready to upgrade or try renting one for a weekend to see if it's something you're interested in, and how often you think you'll be using it. If you're already flying a stabilizer and need more of the convenience of fine tuning knobs, quick release plates, compact for travel, and ease of rebalance, then look for the higher end models that offer some of those features like the Glidecam HD or Skyler Minicam.

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Today I decided to try and balance the Canon 5D Mark III with a Sigma 20mm F/1.8 lens on the Skyler MiniCam. Sorry I don't have any interesting test footage right now, but i'll be shooting something later on today (which is why i'm balancing it). Still very happy I was able to find one of these units used at an affordable price. The form factor is much smaller (and better looking) than the Glidecam HD1000 or even Flycam Nano. Still it can fly just as much weight as either of them. The fine tuning knobs makes it easy to balance, and the tripod design lets you set it down on a flat surface. Can't do that with a Merlin.

You don't need this particular stabilizer to get good results, and i'm able to achieve just as good results from the Flycam Nano or any Glidecam Stabilizer. The benefits to this Skyler MiniCam is it's sex appeal, small form factor, and fine tuning knobs. I personally think it looks 100 times better than the Nano. If it were priced more competitively, this could really sweep the market. Unfortunately at a retail price of $600 dollars, it's targeted to the audience that might be shopping for something as compact as the $800 dollar Steadicam Merlin.

It's not all about running around fast. We use stabilizers to add slow camera movements and eliminate handheld shakes. It's a fast way to get some dynamic camera footage without having to setup sliders and cranes. Here's a few seconds or raw footage from the Canon 5D Mark III with Sigma 20mm on the Skyler MiniCam.

The guys did a good job using very cheap household flood lights for the back lighting, and in the front we used a very cheap DJ Pinspot LED light and balanced the cameras at 6000K (it was very blue). The 100 watt flood light bulbs run about $5 dollars each and were put on a dimmer switch. The DJ Pinspot LED light is used to create a very tight spotlight and we got it on sale for about $35 dollars.

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find-price-button Skyler Mini Video Camera Stabilizer

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find-price-button 100w Outdoor Flood Light

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find-price-button DJ LED Pinspot Lighting

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