How to Balance a Flycam or other Camera Stabilization sled.wmv

[wyciskTV]

Hey Rick, you rock! Did you assemble this stabiliser by yourself or did you buy it ready-to-go?

[SlangingBeatz]

at 5:30 is awesome.. can u keep jumping mad funny yyyyyyyyyyy but it works 

[avonsworld]

That's a hell of a logo you have at the beginning. I must also suggest to people in search of a steady camera to look into the easily affordable and effective Cam Caddie Scorpion. I've had much success with it.

[missionabandoned]

thanks for posting this :)

[cobywatkins]

oh man than you so much. I got it on the first try. I have a fly nano steadi cam, and i didnt know it could extend until you should me. Thanks a lot and i will allso try to make that light ring you did in one of you other vids. youre very helpful.

[thoughtgrenades]

@rickvanman Rick you shouldn't be standing in the middle of the road, it's dangerous! lol (Yes i know it's green screen)

[exesm3k3eu]

thankyou you've helped me a lot, I had too much weights, now the balance is a lot better

[ScribblesOfOwls]

Ok so were still top heavy 

[aasgirl]

this is mad cool! love youre work!!

[TVNpictures]

Is there a way to mount the camera onto the steadicam and adjust the camera on the sled properly or do you just mount it on and counter balance it?

[masterbboy]

thats hard i want one of those

[rickvanman]

@masterbboy not worth it - i got rid of mine.

[rcboatdriver1234]

@rickvanman U flycam?

[planetrics]

these balancings make me laugh... if you want that it always stays vertical it means the top and the bottom weight have to be exactly the same, so in this case it would never do that 2 seconds thing. To return to vertical position withing 2-3 seconds it has to be bottom heavy a bit. But if it's bottom heavy a bit, when you move it fast left-right soon or later it will lose the vertical position. So basically it is impossible to make it perfect.

[djtowo]

hey rick,tom here

do you think this is a good system for a cheap filmmaker,i maybe want to buy it,but is this realy a good system?

my budget is reeaaaaly low ^^

i use a panasonic nv-gs330 with a raynox wide angel lens

[rickvanman]

Hi Tom,

you need to see my video titled:

"Flycam 5000 - U-Flycam - cheap stabilizers my honest opinion"

In it, I give a full and frank review about what I really think of these cheap stabilizers not that i have owned them for a couple of years.

(I have sold mine now)

cheers

Rick

[SergSpace]

@rickvanman $262 on Amazon.com. Do you call this cheap for some metal parts?

[AmunExorbis]

Things would've been lot easier if the gimbal handle was also adjustable on the post (for example if you're using a heavier cam on a stage with mattebox ect),

Is there a way tinkering the handle to make it adjustable ?

Nice vid by the way !

[rickvanman]

I'd check for you but I've now sold it. From memory, I dont think it was adjustable.

[AmunExorbis]

Ok, thanks anyway.

So what new steadycam system did you get in the meantime ? :D

[rickvanman]

None yet - i'll just stick to using a tripod for a while

[magetv]

@AmunExorbis unfortunately the gimbal is NOT adjustable. it is fixed on the Glidecam 2000 and 4000 and the Flycam 3000 and 5000 [i own a GC2000 and FC5000 btw] ...the 6000 has a movable gimbal and better adjustable upper and lower stages...it is however a heavier rig and not really handhold friendly. it usually comes in kit with the dual arm and vest set...i'm considering to get that...

[NOGALIPTUS]

I found your videos very practical, and have made a stabilizer similar (more rudimental than yours) made in galvanized iron piping except for handele. It works qute good but I only have a sony trv170 handy cm and weight seems disproportionate. I plan to redo it in aluminum, question is is there a relation between camera weight and stabilizer??

ron buenos aires argentina

[rickvanman]

yes - find the center point of balance between the camera and the stabilizer and that's the point where you need the handle to be.

[jiidee]

If one is using the "£9 steadycam" design, does the same tilt test work for that?

[rickvanman]

in theory - the weight at the bottom should be the same as the weight at the top. as the weight on the bottom increaces past the upper weight - so does the pendulum effect.

The £9 steadicam video I made was done 2 years ago when I didn't know this! but the principal is sound - just use less weight at the bottom.

[jiidee]

oddly enough you caught me while i was working on my own. I think the key is one of those handles off a drill that tightens up so i can move it up and down the shaft to balence the thing. Can you just buy them seperately?

[matrixm777]

Getting the right balance is tough. I am getting that slight rocking motion, but now I have a better idea of how to fix it thanks to you. :)

[Macinabit]

Try Balancing a sony HVR-Z1E you need twice the weight on the bottom as it is 4.6 lbs and they say this takes up to 6 Lbs!!! your back even with the body pod wil be in half after an hour!!!

[rickvanman]

Yikes!

[Macinabit]

Hhahaha. Done it though, what a job!! 10 hours recording a wedding and back massages every 4 hours for the next week!!!!

[polabear707]

Learned alot from your video`s, just one question, where did you get that big lens hood at?

[djtowo]

do you have a table on hw much weight you need for.depending on my camera (450g ,panasonic nv-gs330)?

great !

[raybarber]

Rick, I've built my prototype steadicam but I'm struggling with weights. Can you suggest a solution similar to the ones you used in theis video? Thanks mate.

[rickvanman]

Hi . the flycam uses bug fat steel washers. Failing that, how about lead fishing weights? - all I can think of at the moment.

Good luck

Rick.

[raybarber]

As a temporary measure, I've used some blocks that I've cut from a length of 2"x1" mahogany. It's worked quite well so it may be a bit more than a temporary measure. I'd have founf it a lot more difficult without this video. Thanks again.

[nath042]

omg the video quality on the fly cam is beautiful lol..

[JFPM64]

Where did you buy the mattebox and how well does the camera work?

[JFPM64]

What kind of camera is on the flycam and what kind of lens is it?

[TheHonestGuys]

It's a Panasonic NV-GS500 with a standard Leicia Lense and a mattebox. It loog bigger because it has a radio-mic reciever and a secondary monitor strapped to it.

[MicheleMidnight]

faved this for when i can try stabilizing myself....woo hoo

[TheHonestGuys]

woo hoo! :o)

[DirtWorks2008]

Ah yes, back to the good old days of useful stuff - I have missed this.

I will have to go and look into one of these devices.

[rickvanman]

I think moviebuttmonkeys currently has a secondhand one for sale if you are interested (he lives in Ireland)

[Coltranized]

You are amazing!

[rickvanman]

Thanks! :o)

[baddogonline]

You have to show us how you made that intro. One of the best I've seen! It looks like you moved the camera in while pulling the wide-angle lense back. Is that right?

[rickvanman]

Greenscreen footage and keyframing onto the road footage.

[JonRut101]

hey i was wondering what program u use to edit as i need a new program or if u know one that is free? or what do u recomend to download?

[rickvanman]

you got it! duct tape works best! I actuallt strap the big washers that came with it to the top when required.

[rickvanman]

lol - yes, I seriously need a new logo!

[TheLogick]

Might replace my U-Flycam with this. Looks very good

[rickvanman]

it's not a bad bit of kit, although it does take time to set up right - I often find myself 'not' using it, unless I'm doing a major shoot.

It also makes your arm ache after not a lot of time (and I work out 3 times a week!).

[TheLogick]

Can you add a support vest so it isnt so heavy

[rickvanman]

Yes, the support vest is ok to hold the camera when you are standing still, but is pretty useless when you are walking.

[VALENTINEproductions]

RICK WHY ARE YOU STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY?!!!! lol.

[MidwestMex]

lol, thanks for another good video

[rickvanman]

no probs! thanks for watching.

[rickvanman]

Why not! It's 'ahem' art!

[rickvanman]

Hi Mark - Add weights to the top.

[MandeepGadgetBoy]

Hahahah nice.

[armed56]

from now on kan i do it myself

[niallswand]

Another video to pull in the subscribers? :-D

[rickvanman]

Naa - it just saves me typing the same email over and over

[crazy8mopfo]

Mm...