I'm a Portland based steadicam operator (I've operated my own kit on many short films in school, so I'm not totally green but I'm not a pro).

Alright here's the story: I was rehearsing for a high speed follow shot in the street when I lost my footing and came crashing down. The impact caused the side to side adjustment on the sled to seize up.     😞

So! I'm curious if this community has any pointers for a scrappy steadicam pursist like myself. As it stands I see three pathways:

     1. Find some kind of adjustable base plate that can just do the job the sled used to do.

     2. Machine/drill out where the side to side screw goes, and machine it for a larger size. You can probably tell by my terminology that I'm not very equipt to do that...

     3. Find the replacement part or something that can drop in.

HELP ME PLEASE I YEARN FOR STEADICAM

Thank you,

Eli

This would be a 50/50 purchase, where both operators share the rig, but also share the profit from when either operator is shooting. We would share the cost of the insurance, maintenance and the hit taken down the line on any depreciation of the rig if sold.

Steadicam from Mid 2023 | Location BERLIN

$23.000 OBO

Who's out there? How's the rig working for you? What kind of work are you doing with it? What cameras have you flown and what do you hope to fly? What challenges are you seeing and how are you handling them? What do you like best about it? Is it your first rig or an upgrade...what did you upgrade from? What are your favorite mods or upgrades you've done?

I'll go first...I'm in the process outfitting mine for live TV and music video. Done a couple of commercials with it and happy with its performance.

Flying/planning to fly: most HD video camcorders and studio cameras (Sony 1500, etc.). DSLR's, a variety of RED Epic and RED One configurations. Planning to see if I can find an Alexa setup within the Zephyr range...it seems possible by the numbers...

Biggest challenges: weight. Most video cameras will work but I shot with a XDCam 800 with a Telecast copperhead fiber setup and maxed the arm. The vest was uncomfortable at that weight, too. Mounting AKS...the Zephyr design is challenging for attaching things, but I'm experimenting with workarounds.

Favorite accessories: I got a G-zoom for gimbal zoom/focus. Love it. Lightweight (see above), ergonomic, can control the focus on some video lenses. Got a BFD and Heden motor, which can be controlled by the G-zoom, too. I also just took delivery on Tiffen's aux battery hanger: for hotswap, improved weight distribution, increased load and runtime. Marshall's high-bright 7" monitor with AB plate on the back. I also have a 6 lb weight plate from Janice Arthur that allows me to fly lighter cameras such as DSLR's, Sony EX, Panny HVX200/HPX170, etc.

I upgraded from a Flyer so I'm already used to a light touch. Everything about the Zephyr has a familiar-but-upgraded feel, with bigger gimbal diameter, smoother and more inertial control.

Working on building a tally remote, return monitor, and low-budget HD wireless video assist link. Still working out my "borrow-to-buy" ratio on cables and jumpers.

So, that's a quick rundown. Who's next?

I have an early Flyer system on the way (aluminum sled),  rated for a 15 pound payload, and I'm thinking that I'd like to put the Pilot sled on the Flyer arm and vest . . .but maybe put the dual AB battery mount on in place of the single V-mount (or at least have the option), if the gimbal can handle the weight.

ARTEMIS 2 LIVE

https://www.arri.com/en/camera-systems/camera-stabilizer-systems/artemis-2-live

I'm curious to hear people's opinions about GPI Pro sleds (specifically the Cine Live) vs Tiffen sleds (specifically the M2).  Any thoughts on build quality, power, empty weight, weight capacity, feel operating, ease of balancing, customer service, etc..  If anybody has thoughts specifically on these sleds in the use of broadcast and live event work, that'd be even better!

Cheers,

Noah

Additionally, I'm looking for low-mode monitor bracket solutions for this rig.

Thanks all in advance. Looking forward to being a part of this group.

-Blaine

Just got my first sled, and i'm super happy with it! I do however have a bit of an odd problem (or maybe it isn't and i'm just a newbie ((most likely))

The guy i purchased it from has an older Canon C300, which i have used as a practice camera for a while. I wanted to put my own camera on the sled, but this is where my problems began. My camera is an A7IV, which i've weighed down with a v-mount battery and a practice cage. To get signal down to my monitor, i'm having to use a blackmagic micro 3G HDMI-SDI converter. Now if i connect directly to my monitor from the converter, the signal is fine nomatter the output resolution of the camera. However, when i try to go via the internal SDI in my sled, the signal will only work with 1080 interlaced, and even then, the signal is quite glitchy. The sled has three HD-SDI connectors, which to my knowledge should be able to output 1080 25P? 

I have tried to configure the blackmagic converter, but my choices are only Level A or Level B, none of which work. 

The sled is a Glidecam X-45 (it has been upgraded in several ways, but the internal wiring is still the same). The monitor is a 702 Touch. 

TLDR; My sleds internal SDI cables will only output a glitchy interlaced signal, despite being capable of progressive(?)

The package was coming from a younger Operator in Mexico City and I asked him about the history of the sled and what components it was made up of. He didn't seem to know much about the sled itself, except that it was upgraded to HD and the gimbal was serviced before he got the package, which he had owned for a couple years. I asked him about the rest of the package, and he said it was all in good shape, all serviced recently. The battery rack had been modified to a rods system with Anton Bauer plates, and with a 1.5" post I figured I could upgrade some things as need be. I went ahead with the purchase, excited to be moving to big rig. An astonishing $900 in shipping from Mexico later, I received the package.

Upon arrival and inspection, lots of things were off. The top stage was loose as a goose. I checked the set screws that tighten the internal dovetail on the stage, and they were mostly stripped and unable to be tightened anymore. The Monitor was attached with a single 1/4-20 bolt, ready to spin off center and the 3A arm was setup goofy with the socket pin bent in place. A rig that's seen many years of use and not enough love.

Of course I reach out to the former Owner/Operator and ask him what the heck is up. His response? "Oh that's strange, I've never seen any of those issues. That must've happened in shipping." Really?! The Steadicam was well packed and shipped in a foam cutout pelican, and since socket pins don't randomly get bent in a case like that, I knew he was flat out lying.

At this point I was pretty frustrated and ready to file a claim with Paypal. When I brought this up to him, he said he really couldn't afford to have the the package returned because he needed the money for surgery. Obviously I felt bad that this maybe the case, and I knew we both would lose a lot of money in wasted shipping fee's. I wanted to work with him, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and option of resolving it by refunding part of the purchase price, which despite his claims of having no knowledge of these problems, he easily agreed to. 

I built the rest of the rig fingers crossed that everything else would check out. The gimbal indeed felt good, and the arm (setup goofy) felt pretty solid as well. I hoped I wasn't undershooting what any other repairs might cost and waited on the refund.

A few weeks pass and I hadn't heard anything from the seller. I ask him about sending the money and he said he had issues with the refund process, so I initiate a claim with paypal for a partial refund. Weeks go by, no refund, no real responses. I had to escalate the claim with Paypal, and in the end Papal settles the dispute with me receiving a partial refund. Just enough for a used PRO DB-2 top stage, which was my first step in upgrading this Sled to reliable working condition. 

Fast forward a few months and I've gotten the new donkey box installed and reconfigured the monitor to be based off the lower rails, with a Camjam or Smart system mount in the future. The rig fly's way better than I first received it, and the upgraded top stage probably turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Excited to keep bringing this classic rig into the modern era, and learn more about the history behind the parts in play. 

Build 1 with original scissor monitor mount. Build 2 with the lower monitor mount and new extended rails.

So to bring this story full circle, I researched most of the old posts I could find about DCE systems, and am super interested to know any info that can be shared. My conclusions as of now seem to be a Pro 1 top stage (originally) and gimbal, with DCE post, D-box, junction box, and lower battery rack remnants? This could be totally wrong, but here are some photos of the rig to help with identification.

Also some bonus 3A arm photos, serial #312, and Chris Fawcett's old custom leather LX vest from Steadicam. Cheers!

1. Is it possible to switch out the 1.8 Post with a 1.74 or Volt compatible Post? 
2. If yes, which accessories I need new? 
   1. New Gimbal with Volt
   2. Something else?
3. How to attach the volt box on the sled? 
   1. which accessorie do I need?
4. Service, Volt, new Post...it is just "cheaper" to sell the old Sled and buy a new one?