CompuServe Messages

hi david, when using the steadycam jr. with the l1/l2 you have to use the 3x lens, and yes it is tough. i weigh over 200 lbs., ex-golden gloves boxer, mucho weight lifting over the years, etc., and it would wear me out after a fairly short period. of course, now that i hit 40 years of age and my back goes out more than i do, it is a real bear! you would never want to use any kind of a real zoom lense like the 15x on a platform like a steadycam. the zoom accents the slightest movement so much that, as a steadycam operator, you would have to be a real superman to make the movement look acceptable. in fact, i don't recall seeing any hollywood footage that used a steadycam for zoom work. i strongly suspect that all steadycams are meant to shoot fairly close up to the action. you have to get a $70 adaptor to mount the battery on the lower arm of the steadycam jr. to get the balance right. after that, balancing the thing and keeping it balanced requires plenty of practice. i have used it mostly for show car stuff, where you pan around the car tight and shove the whole rig into the interior and spin it around to see into the back seat. it's a great look, and it works well for real estate walk-thru's if you can work around the light streaming into room windows… dan