Shawn Adams

Hello all.  I've been operating Steadicam for about 25 years and since the advent of the motorized gimbals, I've not used my Steadicam much..  Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to re-condition myself (other than wearing my rig and running around the house with it a few times a day).  I'm feeling it in my lower back after 10-15 minutes and I want to work that out.  Any specific exercises or stretches, or do I just keep using it and all that? 

Thanks

I have a question. I've been operating Steadicam since the late 90's and started on a Provid which did not have the typical socket block mount to the vest... I've used several different types since then and now own an EFP red spring arm and I sometimes get some banging around on the socket block kickback.. Walking normal/slow is fine, but running causes the knocking.. I sometimes put a strap on it to the aircraft pin to keep it at the mid swing, and have it set for my posture, but other than that I'm not sure, has anyone else experienced this? I've done the Steadicam course and all that, but my EFP arm is the only one I've experienced this with.. Suggestions?

Does anyone have any info on how to correctly disassemble the ProVid arm? I have one that needs some work and although I think I know the process for tearing it down, I wanted to see if anyone out there had anything that may help me.. Thanks

Does anyone have any info on how to correctly disassemble the ProVid arm? I have one that needs some work and although I think I know the process for tearing it down, I wanted to see if anyone out there had anything that may help me.. Thanks

Does anyone have any suggestions on this? I bought a Provid system and the sled is pretty clean. I want to ditch the lower section with the monitor and battery and get a nice dynamically balance-able bottom. I have several monitors but was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what possibly exists or can be manufactured out there that will thread onto the bottom part of the sled with a modern configuration (rods, battery mounts, etc..).

Thanks.

great list. I wonder why the Provid and the 3A are not in there.

That's pretty much what I thought... Thanks for the reply.

Just curious if anyone can anyone tell me the difference between a 3A and EFP arm? I have an EFP arm and I have not shot with a 3A for a long time, but looking at pictures, they seem almost identical, except for a few drilled holes and sone slightly different elbows, etc... The 3A has a cable or spring end that comes out of each arm, screwed to the side of the arm with a bracket, but otherwise they seem pretty similar.

I have a A-30 Arm too (same as the Zephyr) and my pin that hold the socket block in did the same thing.. It worked its way up and the quick release was faulty so the bottom popped out. Luckily, It did not bend the end of the arm connector, but it did ruin the shot and there was no more Steadicam for that day.. I just bought a steel pin (same diameter) and drilled holes in it for cotter pins and I was back.

Question for users out there. 1: I shoot goofy (camera on the right side), I can do both but I'm more comfortable that way..

2: and my main question... since I started Steadicam 20 years ago and even after taking a course on it, my forefinger always seems to find its way on TOP of the gimbal when I'm operating.. It just feels better there to me.. Does anyone else do that?. I have not experienced any drawbacks and I try to use the conventional grip when I "think" about it, but I'm just curious on opinions...

Thanks

Thanks

Does anyone know if there are any mods out there for the Provid sled? Or does anyone know what other sleds may have the same lower thread/terminal connection for the sled to the battery/monitor section in order to use those mods?

Basically, I would like a lower profile and easier to pack sled and the original Provid bottom side is quite bulky.

Thanks

No, knob adjusts length of a crankshaft, which moves spring termination point as arm is boomed up and down. Smooths response and alters iso-elastic characteristics.

Cool. Thank You!!

From the Tiffen website:

The G-70x is the third release of Tiffen’s G-Series arms. The revolutionary, patented Geo spring geometry optimizes performance throughout its lifting range. It tames high/low arm travel with adjustable-length crankshafts that dynamically rock the spring termination as the arm is boomed up or down. Powered by coaxial titanium spring sets, the G-70x arm smoothly carries any load from 13 to 70 pounds (5.8 to 32 kg). The all new bearing performance enhancements on the G-70x arm makes even the slowest camera moves ultra smooth.

Thanks Jerry.. I'm sure it's an awesome arm and I hope to get one soon. I was more interested in the physical mechanics of what the ride adjustment is doing inside the arm. Is the knob moving a pulley to the secondary spring (Which appears to be inside the primary spring)..?

Just curious on the G70x arm. I have a few arms including a ProVid arm.. What I'm wondering about the G70x is this.. Does it only have 1 spring and no pullies? Or are there any bullies and cables going to another spring? I guess. I'm mainly curious on what the "ride" adjustment is actually doing physically to the arm. I know the lift moves the spring mounting spot up and down to tension the spring, but what is actually happening when the ride is adjusted? PS. I've never used a G70x arm so I have not been able to use them in person, but I'm interested in one and just want to know more first.. Thanks

I've seen them, but never had a need until now, but I'm wondering if there are bags, or sleeves that can go over Steadicam arms for protection against water or sand but still allow them to function properly?

Thanks

Thanks for the replies... I'd love an arm that does everything, but for now, just dealing with my 2 arms...

Yes, it can be used inverted... On the Steadicam A-30 arm, I'm finding it to not be the best arm... It seems stiff to me and as a long time (over 25 years) as an operator, I can't seem to completely eliminate the up and down movement like I can with my other arms... I've used it at it's minimum weight as well as adding weight to the camera to make it heavier and it seems a bit better heavy but not as good as the older (or more expensive) arms..

I shoot goofy. I am much more comfortable with the arm on the left side of the vest and using my right hand on the gimbal.. I can do both, but I'm much better this way...

Hi Lisa. I do not have an Exovest... Just the standard vest from my old Provid and Master Series (Cinema Product days), as well as a Zephyr vest. I have it down pretty well, but that hip sway is just really touchy.. Especially walking sideways.. If I pull the Ronin off and throw my sled on, it is perfect.

I have a few Steadicam arms and am wondering if anyone has an opinion on this.. If you are shooting with different cameras all the time (Alexa, Red and DSLR) I found it's better to use a lighter capacity arm for the light stuff, rather than having the heavier arm almost as light it is will allow... to me, it still seems a bit stiff... I wonder what you all think of using an arm that is midrange on the weight vs hitting the extremes on the stiffness (heavy or light)...

Thoughts?

I was having (and still am a bit) that issue. There is not a lot out there on training for the Steadimate. But I am finding that the more I just practice and make adjustments to my vest and Ronin, it's getting better. For me, the higher the socket block is, the less hip sway I'm getting on the arms.. I think it's the hip motion that translates to the Ronin and since the gimbal much farther away from the camera (unlike the Steadicam sled). I've operated Steadicam for over 20 years and this is definitely different...

I would love some other opinions if anyone out there is using the Steadimate.

Hello.. I've been off this forum for a while and am not back... I'm having some strange issues with my Steadicam/Steadimate and my Ronin.. Quickly, I've been a Steadicam operator for over 20 years as well as a Ronin Operator for the last few years. I have them both down pretty well.. Well until I went from sled to Steadimate/Ronin....

I'm finding a "wobble" of the camera (Ronin) when I walk. The gimbal and sled never has this issue for me since the lateral movement of my hips were taken care of by the gimbal.. With the Steadimate, there is no compensation for the hip sway and the Ronin shifts back and forth with every step... I have only (few days) used the Steadimate so I assume I'm missing something... Anyone have any suggestions, other than "practice, practice, practice...?). The Ronin is balanced great and the Steadimate is also balanced really nicely too.. The Ronin just floats great in space.

Thank You

I'm posting the reason on a new thread, and hoping for a solution.

I have a Provid and a Flyer and I got the Marshall HD monitor (V-LCD651STX) with HDMI in. I mainly shoot with 5DII's and the Red Epic on my Flyer. How can I get an HDMI cable through the post? It has such a small diameter. I've seen the Micro HDMI cables that will fit, but no adapters to take Micro HDMI to Mini or standard HDMI on the ends... Suggestions?? Thank You.