Darkrone Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 I have just recently purchased a Magiqcam Series II vest to be used in conjunction with my DVX100. However, as much as I try to adjust the spring arm action, I cannot get rid of the noticeable bounce of me walking when I playback the footage. It is minimal, but noticeable. What am I possibly doing wrong? and what can I do to fix this? Also, is it natural for the camera to swing away from you when you let go of it? If so, how can you counter that? Is the book "Advanced Steadicam Techniques" worth the hefty $90price tag? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Anthony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RobVanGelder Posted October 12, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 If you have not done a steadicam workshop before - and it seems like that - I would not say that a 90? book is expensive.... Other than that, you might check the weight from your rig, compared to the spring tension. In general, springs need to be loaded with a minimum weight to work optimal. Of course adjustments can be made to extend that range. I don´t know your particular arm, but if your rig is too light for the arm it will always react bouncy. In general, mass = inertia, so more mass means less willingness to change speed and direction once it has a certain speed and direction. This is a basic principle and it´s the reason why "heavy" rigs fly more smooth than the lighter rigs, though with much practice the lightweight rigs can behave the same. Some operaters have mastered this to perfection, but with the right equipment..... Then the other thing you mention, the swinging away, is probably caused by a limited (or not existing) adjustment of the arm-mount to the vest, and it means that you have to correct with your posture what can not be corrected by your system. That is not good, it affects the way you walk and also the grip on your rig (which should be light to the touch-fingertips) and then immediately the response of it- bouncing, swaying, rolling. But that´s what you get for free when buying something low-cost...... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkrone Posted October 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Thanks so much Rob for taking the time to reply to my post. I will be taking a steadycam class in Chicago...There is a Janice "something" (cant remember her last name) who is doing classes for like $300 for 2 days. That is a steal. She is a true steadicam operator with several features to her credit. Hmmm, I tried experimenting with adding more weight and increasing and decreasing the spring arm tension, but still no luck. Maybe I need to add MORE weight? I dont see how this makes sense as the vest is designed for smallet cameras. Still determined to bring out the gold in my Magiqcam vest. For the price, it is a really good unit, especially for the first time "semi-pro" user. Best, Anthony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 12, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Anthony, That would be the infamous Janice Arthur, who is one of the greats. A wonderful person, a patient teacher, and... well you get the idea. In case others are interested in her workshop, her web site is: http://www.janicearthur.com/pages/1/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard James Lewis Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Anthony, That would be the infamous Janice Arthur, who is one of the greats. A wonderful person, a patient teacher, and... well you get the idea. In case others are interested in her workshop, her web site is: http://www.janicearthur.com/pages/1/index.htm Just checked out the photo section on her website. Looks like there is someone using an SK with the arm the wrong way around in one of those pictures. (The blurry one second down on the right) and yes I know the difference between the two versions of the SK, but this is literally the wrong way around) How odd! -Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted October 12, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Anthony, That would be the infamous Janice Arthur, who is one of the greats. A wonderful person, a patient teacher, and... well you get the idea. In case others are interested in her workshop, her web site is: http://www.janicearthur.com/pages/1/index.htm Just checked out the photo section on her website. Looks like there is someone using an SK with the arm the wrong way around in one of those pictures. (The blurry one second down on the right) and yes I know the difference between the two versions of the SK, but this is literally the wrong way around) How odd! -Rick. Rick; Good eye, a guy who took another workshop about 2 years before, was there the first day. I was having them build the rigs and his group got it all up and going and I look around when he says "This doesn't seem right." and I recognize the issue, lift off the rig and switch the arm and we all laughed. Honest it was a one minute workshop on how not to wear an SK arm. Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reedy Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Hey Dark, I also have a Magiqcam II and was experiencing exactly what you are describing here. I found the easiest way to minimize (but not completely eliminate of course) this effect was to make up some mild steel (very cheap and pretty heavy) plates that sit under the quick release camera mount. Then just wrap them in black electrical tape for looks. Longer screws needed to be sourced to hold it together again, but the result was 100% better! Also on the modification side of things we ran the cable through the post and added a junction box that sits on top of the battery. The junction box/battery and monitor is removable so I can take it as a self powered field monitor where ever I need it. Also adding a (very cheap at $250 in total) wireless transmitter that runs off the junction box. the plates wrapped in electrical tape Monitor with battery and (waits for laughs...) home made junction box :D Monitor velco'd to battery Hope anything here helps. Any other questions, swing away.. m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Christopher T. Paul- SOC Posted November 9, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 You can't go wrong with Janice- she was one of my instructor's years ago at one of Garrett's courses in Philly. Not only a great teacher but a real sweetheart. Chris Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted November 9, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Somehow Janice was even instructing at the workshop I took back in '85...doesn't seem possible, does it Janice? As I recall, you were nervous about starting high school in the fall, getting your braces off etc...?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted November 11, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Somehow Janice was even instructing at the workshop I took back in '85...doesn't seem possible, does it Janice? As I recall, you were nervous about starting high school in the fall, getting your braces off etc...?!! Thanks guys; I appreciate all the compliments, yes I am the only retro-ager in the bunch. Just this week I start looking for preschools for myself. Thanks again. Janice (P.S. The reason my workshops are so cheap is that its the price people want to pay, it all works out.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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