Sony Z1u and my Sony V1s

[Steven Davis]

I am looking to take our business to another level. We mainly due wedding and special events. Both include a lot of dancing, walking, and movement which can get tiring for hours. We currently use a lot of devices, fig rig, tripods, monopod, and held held. These are all Bogen devices with the same quick release, and I've heard that there are vest devices that you can use your own quick release plate with, but that's a side point. What we've been missing is that super steady walking/dancing footage while moving is something I would really like to have.

 

So I'm debating currently within my brain and my business manager about what stablizing vest device to get.

 

I would love the ability to rotate the rig, have a monitor.

 

I looked at the merlin setup, but it seems that my Sony Z1 would be pushing the weight limits.

 

I truly appreciate any feed back. Thank you for having the forum with so much good information I have already read.

[Erik Brul]

I am looking to take our business to another level. We mainly due wedding and special events. Both include a lot of dancing, walking, and movement which can get tiring for hours. We currently use a lot of devices, fig rig, tripods, monopod, and held held. These are all Bogen devices with the same quick release, and I've heard that there are vest devices that you can use your own quick release plate with, but that's a side point. What we've been missing is that super steady walking/dancing footage while moving is something I would really like to have.

 

So I'm debating currently within my brain and my business manager about what stablizing vest device to get.

 

I would love the ability to rotate the rig, have a monitor.

 

I looked at the merlin setup, but it seems that my Sony Z1 would be pushing the weight limits.

 

I truly appreciate any feed back. Thank you for having the forum with so much good information I have already read.

 

Hi Cosmichrist,

Welcome on this forum. We can give you all kind of advise, but first of all :

This is a real username forum. So pls enter your real name,

 

Best, Erik

[Steven Davis]

Thanks. Sorry about that.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Don't know what your budget is but the Steadicam Pilot would probably do what you want. Looks like a sweet little rig for the type of work you are planning. Of course the gear is only a small part of the equation, you will need practice to get good results.

 

~Jess

[Erik Brul]

Thanks. Sorry about that.

 

No problemo Steven..., feel welcome overhere !!

Ok, about which Rig...

 

For your both mentioned Camera's the Merlin with Arm and Vest is a option.

But to be honest, to get some extra things on the Rig will push the Merlin above the limits.

 

The Pilot and Flyer are both the Rigs to use. They both give you for 100% (after x times practise and practise)

very nice steadi shots !

Besides these 2 from Steadicam, also the Glidecam V25 or the Artmis DV Pro FX are nice options.

If you are almost sure about the fact that besides the camera only some extra's like mic wireless receivers and a camlight, i think the best

way to go is def. the Steadicam Pilot. Also a nice extra on the Pilot is : the stage plate is indexed so that the camera can be re-moved and re-mounted without the need to re-adjust the balance. But the Camera with the plate cannot be easy mounted on a Bogen device i think.. ;)

 

It gives the most bang for the buck ! :lol:

 

My 2 eurocents, Erik

[Steven Davis]

Don't know what your budget is but the Steadicam Pilot would probably do what you want. Looks like a sweet little rig for the type of work you are planning. Of course the gear is only a small part of the equation, you will need practice to get good results.

 

~Jess

 

 

Hi Jess,

 

Well my budget, so to speak, is somewhere half of what the flyer costs, but I can swing it. My interest in a stablizing system has to do with what I'm not getting, and that is steady shots on the go.

 

I can quickly see the benefit of being able to get the shots I want. I'm not throwing away my tripods, monopods, figrig, but in event videography, there is often a lot of movement from place to place. I did an event that stretched easily over an acre of land, up and down flights of stairs, and up hills. And I had to drag my tripod all over that place. It was very tiring and cumbersome. We also film the pictures at the wedding, which can be tricky because you try to stay out of, lets say, the photographer's way. So being completely mobile is very attractive to me.

 

I was looking hard and heavy at the Pilot, but that thing is a couple of months backordered. Still looking though. Thanks for the input.

[Jess Haas SOC]

I wouldn't necessarily expect using a steadicam to make anything any less tiring, but it will definitely allow you to get smoother shots. Although with a small camera and a pilot or flyer I wouldn't think you would have too much trouble flying for extended periods of time after your body gets used to it.

 

One thing that you might want to consider when it comes to shooting weddings, etc... is how people will react to it. People expect to see the camera, tripod, etc... But if you breakout a steadicam I would expect a lot more people to want to talk to you about what you are doing which could negatively impact your ability to document the occasion. Don't know if this would actually be a problem or not, but it is definitely something to consider. Of course it would make you one of the coolest looking wedding videographers they have ever seen.

 

~Jess

[Erik Brul]

One thing that you might want to consider when it comes to shooting weddings, etc... is how people will react to it. People expect to see the camera, tripod, etc... But if you breakout a steadicam I would expect a lot more people to want to talk to you about what you are doing which could negatively impact your ability to document the occasion. Don't know if this would actually be a problem or not, but it is definitely something to consider. Of course it would make you one of the coolest looking wedding videographers they have ever seen.

 

~Jess

 

I do besides the shorts and corporates max 4 to 6 weddings a year. Just for some extra cash and a nice way to get the equipment on a nice level all the time.

I used the Steadicam the last 3 years in weddings.., i'm the only idiot overhere who uses a steadicam in weddings.. and indeed.. you get a lot of attention. But also the shot's i make are not to compare with any competition in the Netherlands. And the amount of competition is unbelievable overhere. I building everytime a stand with extra clamps in the Chrysler Voyager so that the Steadicam can placed secured all the time. This because of the many locations to visit. For that alone the Pilot is a winner because of mentioned stage plate. It may feel a little bit more secure when you can get the camera of the Steadicam while driving.

 

Erik