CompuServe Messages

les <<I have done everything but totally rebuild the Scam Jr–that I will be doing in the next few weeks as I redesign a totally new device for the larger—but not ready for $10,000 Steadycam costs!!!– size of cameras.>> I am a constant user of my SteadyCam Jr with my TR700. As long as you're rebuilding, I have a couple'a minor suggestions. <g> First and foremost, when the lower spar is collapsed and placed on my tripod, the butt of the folded screen intrudes into the camera's view. Yuk. I can raise the SC up to rest on the handle but that makes it slightly unstable and unpredictable (the reason I'm using the tripod to begin with). Second, I have an Avenger counterweighted 6ft boom (only $96 retail) on a Bogen tripod. I have rigged a post on the end of the boom that slips up into the 'table rest' hole in the handle of the SC. This rig allows me to do certain cinematic shots like booming from worms-eye to 10ft overhead in a single fluid sweep. As you know, boom motion causes an undesirable attitude shift in a fixed-mount camera; but the SC auto-compensates for any pitch, yaw or pivot keeping the shot in original framing. It would be very helpful if the 'table rest' hole were a standard pin-size and had a screw-lock hole in the side to secure it. This would eliminate the need for duct tape. BTW: I often mount my SC on a tripod with the camera on another tripod. It makes a great fully-articulated monitor (with tripod's fluid head) to use on location. I'm often in my shots, and use the camera's IR control and the SC's monitor for framing. Yours, Paul