Don't like it. G

Looks kinda cool, but I have two concerns.

1) How do you operate it with one hand?
I like to be able to make adjustments and such on the fly, but I don't see how that could be done with this rig.

2) How does it stabilize the camera, is the bottom section weighted in some way?

I'll have to create and post a link on the construction of my homemade stabilizer. It is a variation of Johnny Lee's Poor Man's Steady-Cam, but mine is made with threaded PVC water pipe instead of iron gas pipe. I also added a Monfrotto monopod mounting head and a Sony Remote Commander. It's much lighter and easier to remove/install the camera as well as control start/stop and zoom.

HeeHee, I may be wrong, but I don't think you can operate it with one hand.

Which might mean that it's crucial to have an external control mounted near one of your hands, for focus etc.

I also wonder how the camera is stabilized, as the camera looks to be mounted on a spar that spans the "steering wheel" but doesn't itself pivot, roll, or anything.

It'll be interesting, I think, to see some product reviews from people who actually use this rig. The guy who designed it evidently is an award-winning cinematographer who's used prototypes of his Fig Rig on some of his films.

When you get your PVC stabilizer link posted, please let us know. How does it work for you? Do you have any footage you can post?

I had a very long play with this gizmo at NAB. It's surprising usefull. You do need the LANC controls, these end up under your fingers so the camera is very easy to control, probably even more natural than the cameras native controls.
As the chap from Manfrotto readily admitted it's not for everything but it is a reasonable price, it does give quite a bit of camera stabilization, it does take a release plate at the bottom so you can easily put the camera on/off a tripod. The last part is vital, none of these things reduce the strain on your arms, if anything they increase it. They're certainly not competition to steadycam type of rigs but you can get shots with these that you cannot do with steadycam like a dutch rolls. I was able to easily get some 'flying through the crowd' footage with this thing.
Bob.

Bob, thanks for the input.

To me it looks like a useful tool, though I wonder if a guy on a limited budget (uh, ME) who can really only afford ONE such device might be better off with the Steadycam JR-type rigs that can be held with one hand.

No Dutch rolls, true, but maybe more useful overall than the Fig Rig?

Seems like with the Fig Rig you'd really have to pay attention to keep from moving the camera off the horizontal plane---though it seems it'd be easier with the Fig Rig than traditional handheld methods.

Think that Fig Rig would be heavy affter a while.
Needs some way to take the weight off.
A ball and socket joint perhaps. That attaches to a body brace?
Allowing mobility and freedom, but supporting the weight of the camera and the device.
Maybe a suspension system? Spring thing?

Looks fun though.
May have a new idea for on-board racing shots!
Pass the duct tape.

Certainly wouldn't have it high on my wish list!
There were quite a few oddities like that around at NAB, I bought the Glidecam monopod / camera stabiliser gizmo. Quite useable with a lightweight camera and you can use it to take the weight of the camera. Other good thing with this unit is you could put a different head on it if you wanted to.
Bob.

I will try to get something put together soon for the PMSC, but I have little free time. If you want to see some sample footage, go to the link I gave on my last post. I think there is another link to Johnny's other site that has sample footage (with and without steadycam comparisons). It's not perfect, but it is cheap and can easily be made yourself with parts from the hardware store. My version eliminates 95% of the weight of the Iron gas pipes and fittings. I think it removed like 3 pounds (1.36kg).