Comments

taliesin wrote on 10/8/2004, 12:31 PM
Yes, once used one. It's rather loud. You can't use it if you need sound recorded together with the video. And it's pretty inconvenient for the cameraman because moving the camera then feels like moving tons of weight.

Marco
JL wrote on 10/8/2004, 2:25 PM
Thanks Marco. The noise issue was one I thought might be of concern for me when using the on-board camera mic. I also was curious about operating in cold temperature environments so I emailed the company with those questions.

Their response:

“… The gyros do have a particular 'pitch' to them, but it does not travel far, can be easily cut out later as nothing sounds like it, and then too, one can buffer the gyro so as not to have the mic pick up the sound. There are no serious temp. constraints- the gyros love the cold and the operators can help keep their hands warm, as the unit does exhaust the heat of the bearings to the outside of the case... ( the battery does need to be protected in Extreme cold- like under one's parka in Antarctica ( was the case). We have quite a few photographers (and videographers of extreme skiing) that find the gyro an invaluable tool…”

As for “moving the camera feels like moving a ton of weight...” , I think that’s exactly the effect I’d be looking for.

JL

John_Cline wrote on 10/8/2004, 2:37 PM
"As for “moving the camera feels like moving a ton of weight”, I think that’s exactly the effect I’d be looking for."

Yes, me, too. DV camcorder just don't have enough mass to make them stable and resistant to shaking. In some ways, I miss the old 20-pound shoulder mount cameras, it was much easier to keep a stable shot. Of course, the downside is that they weighed 20 pounds! These gyrostabilizers look very interesting.

John
farss wrote on 10/8/2004, 3:42 PM
Wow,
the only other ones I've heard of are the Tyler mounts and they cost the earth. These things look like great value. I don't see the audible noise as being a big issue, many of the places you'd be using it (choppers, boats and trains) you probably wouldn't want the audio track from the camera anyway or at least not from the on camera mics.

Only issue I can see is the time it takes the gyros to spin up.

Bob.
taliesin wrote on 10/9/2004, 2:29 AM
Yes, it takes some minutes till it's ready.

Maybe you know about those "Gyro Twister". Kind of fun toy which only costs a few bugs. Not that you can use this plastic game for your camera. But it gives an idea of what happens to the camera using a real gyro stabilizer.

Marco
farss wrote on 10/9/2004, 7:47 AM
I've been saving a few dead disk drives that still spin, one day when I've got northing better to do I'm going to try rigging a couple up as a cheap gyro mount.
Bob.
JL wrote on 10/9/2004, 12:20 PM
LOL. Bob – you sound a lot like me. I’m always toying with ideas like that. Let us know how it turns out ;)

JL

vicmilt wrote on 10/9/2004, 2:05 PM
The Kenyon Stabilizer has been a mainstay in gyro assists for as long as I can remember - but...
unless you plan to do a LOT of this kind of work, it doesn't pay to buy one, when you can rent one for the day or two that you need it.
I'd suggest checking out some of the larger camera rental services in NY and LA, and see what you come up with.
I try to never BUY equipment that I can't pay off within a year, but I rent specialty equipment all the time for distinct shots.
What, exactly are you after??
BTW - remember you cannot do "swish" pans or really fast moves with a stabilizer. I used the Tyler mount (rented) many times in helicopter shots. It definitley makes a BIG difference.
v.