Bart Wierzbicki

Hey guys, I have been using my steadicam Pilot now for about 2 years and I really love it. But because I do mostly wedding videos I have to work fast and move quick so I started using the Pilot without the arm & vest. I'm happy with the result. But in the way I'm using it now (handheld) ... isn't it then just the same as a merlin ? So I was thinking of selling my Pilot and purchasing a merlin instead. It's also for handheld and smaller in size so even easier to carry around. I used the merlin in a shop in our town, but I wasn't happy with the result. It felt really wobbly and not as steady as with the Pilot. Is it just because it may have not been balanced correctly or is there still a difference in handling it ? Now in my opinion, because of the bigger size of the Pilot, I think it is easier to stabilize a shot (when using the pilot handheld). So because of that I think it's best to keep on working with the Pilot instead of replacing it with the Merlin. what are your ideas ?

hey guys, I just bought a Tokina lens 11-16mm (f2,8) for mounting my Canon 7D onto my Pilot. The reason I want to do this is because at this moment I'm filming with several 7D's and I have the Canon XHA1 on the Pilot (Dynamically balanced ... Jeeijj !) ;o) But the problem is that the look of the images are totally different and I'm losing so much time trying to match the looks of the images and it's still visible. So now I want to use the 7D onto it. I haven't tried it yet, while I'm looking for a way to connect the 7D to the monitor of the Pilot. What cable are you using for this ? HDMI - COAX ? I have not a clue ! :o(

hey guys, Thanks for the info. I didn't knew we just can use the flyer vest for the Pilot aswell. I think purchasing that flyer vest is the best option while changing to other velcro straps is just another quick fix and it will get loose again in a period of time. But wow ... I just checked that price. Is it really $2,050 ? For only the vest ? Isn't there a way like upgrading ? ;o) I'll send in my Pilot vest to purchase that Flyer vest ? ;o) Is the only difference between the Pilot vest and the Flyer vest the straps ? Or does it really give you a more stable feeling ? It's quite a lot of money for just the vest.

Hi, When I was at WPPI a few months ago, I saw Steadicam and they had a vest but not with straps. They had plastic locks or how do I call it in english. ;o) Anyway, when I'm using my Pilot lately, the straps are coming loose during filming and it gets on my nerves. ;o) Is there any way I can order a different vest for it that can be used with the Pilot without straps ?

I have a pilot with an XH-a1. So maybe that's worth the risk. :lol:

Hey Mike, Do you use inline skates, or rollerskates ? I did a lot of skateboarding, ice-skating & rollerskating when I was younger, so I have an idea to balance. ;) But just to be sure I was thinking of those 2x2 skates because it is even more stable I guess. right ?

Hey guys, Yesterday I saw the movie "Gamer" and on the behind-the-scenes feature I saw Mark Neveldine using the steadicam on inline-skates. It really impressed me. Did anyone tried it ? :lol: Now I was looking for some good alternatives because I don't want to change shoes all the time. I found this : Skorpion Rollerskates You can use it for multi-terrain (gras, dirt-tracks, ...) etc. It's kinda cheap and you just can strap it onto your own shoe. It has 2x2 wheelbase so it's more stable then inline-skates. What do you think about it ?

Hey guys, I have a steadicam Pilot. I really love those 360 degree shots (very fast) around a person what you see a lot in for example music videoclips. I'm trying to do the same, but I just can't get it right. <_< Is there any kind of trick ? Are they doing it very slow and then speeding it up in post or are they running like crazy and still maintaining the exact distance to the object and in frame ? Any advice would be great. :lol:

Hey Jeff, Impressive Imdb List ! :o

Any news ? My Pilot is also creaking ... :(

Hey guys, I have just received my wheights from B&H which I had to order because they were not included with my Steadicam. :rolleyes: So I have made a first test. :unsure: I still need to do a lot of practice, but everybody has to start somewhere right ? :lol: Don't mind the video-quality, it was shot yesterday evening, inside without any lights. Greetz, Bart Steadicam First Test

Oh yes ... thanks for the helpful information pro ... not ! I have used the search function and I already saw posts about the 8 pounds, but I was looking to see if it is something which is officially stated by Tiffen or of it is just something that is proposed by users out of their own experience. The other question about the XH-A1 was just to ask if there is someone with a Pilot and an XH-A1 to find out what is the best setup to achieve SB & DB. I didn't found it in the search or the archives and if I looked over it, my apologies for that. Otherwise my big thanks to Dave Gish for his always helpful answer and explanations. Hopefully some day I can also, like him, help other newbies as I am now to give them advice in their way of making the best out of it by trial, error, questions, searches in archives to make it as a steadicam-pro.

Hey, Is there someone who has a Pilot with an XH-A1 ? How much, which wheights and where do you put them ? :rolleyes: I've read throught posts that people were talking of having a total wheight of about 8 Pounds. But I haven't read that ... It's not in the manual so where can I read more about that ?

Then I will contact the store again and they have to deliver me the wheights. The rig was expensive enought so they have to give me at least that huh. I have been trying and practising with the rig and the EFP training video. It's going really good, but I just can't get it to have it dynamically balanced. :angry: Any more tips on this ? I also used a video cable which I had at home. 1 mini-jack - 2 cinch (yellow + white). It was too long (1 meter) and I had to insert the white cinch in the steadicam. Which cable do I need and how long does it need to be ? Does someone have a link from the cable I need ?

I GOT HIM !!! :lol: I bought it at Fotokonijnenberg. I picked it up and they told me that they have called some people. (I think someone from Tiffen) And it seems that the wheights are not standard delivered with the Pilot. You have to buy them optional. So the only thing I'm missing at the moment is the Allen Key and the video cable to connect the camera to the LCD screen. I'm busy now balancing it. :rolleyes: