I am buying the Sanyo VPC-FH1 and I think that I will need a stabilizer.

Can anyone give me some recommendations?

I am looking for something less than $200CAD after shipping.

For now I found:
- Hague Mini Motion Cam Stabilizer
- Manfrotto 585 Modosteady Camcorder Stabilizer.
Both are $180CAD after shipping.

Which one would be best? and if there other such stabilizers, that you recommend, what are they?


Thanks,


PS: Don't suggest the Merlin. $1100CAD :(

I own the Hague and recently bought the Merlin for a bigger/heavier needs.

I would recommend the Hague at that price point.

But if you're a DIYer, there are cheaper options. You can do your own Hague unit, or something like a home-made FigRig, which is another type of stabilizer (google it). My personal DIY of that style:
http://yousillyman.blogspot.com/2007/04/building-pvc-fig-rig-for-camorder.html

Another option that I'm thinking about trying (from the same guy):
http://yousillyman.blogspot.com/2008/04/making-bottle-cap-stabilizer.html

Since they're so cheap, I would suggest you try one of those first. :)

Thanks for the info.

I will try to do some of those things. :D
However, living in an apartment has it's disadvantages.

Worse come to worse, I will choose the Hague.

Thanks for the info.

I will try to do some of those things. :D
However, living in an apartment has it's disadvantages.

Worse come to worse, I will choose the Hague.

I've heard bad things about the Modo, but I've never tried it. I like my Hague.

i agree with eric. get the hague. the other one has really bad reviews.

i've done extensive research on this and although the best one out there is the merlin, the hague is pretty darn nice too and performs pretty well.

the biggest downside if applicable is that it is limited to the heavier camcorders but if you are going to stick with lighter cams then you are good to go.

I actually prefer the Hague over the Merlin so far. :) The Hague is a lot easier and faster to calibrate. The Merlin requires a lot more fine tuning.

I actually prefer the Hague over the Merlin so far. :) The Hague is a lot easier and faster to calibrate. The Merlin requires a lot more fine tuning.

so what are you going to do with your old hague? hehehe ;)

You should be asking me what I'm going to do with my Merlin actually. :)

You should be asking me what I'm going to do with my Merlin actually. :)

hehehe nah man, i'm thinking about myself. i'm selfish lol :cool:

jk. i'm hinting at if you are going to sell it.

Just ordered the Hague.


Now onto the SDHC card. Is class 4 fast enough?


Btw, any deals for Canada for a 16GB card? :D

Can the folks who use the Hague recommend some good standard shots that they do with it?

Here are the standard shots I use it for, just wondering if anyone has some other creative ideas or tips:

1) Follow a moving subject from behind showing back of subject's head/body in addition to what subject sees.
2) Filiming the foreground while moving, as if the camera is the subject's eyes.
3) Filming backwards, in front of moving subject, showing the subject's face/body.
4) Filming a moving subject from the side hasn't worked for me as the camera seems to tilt in the direction I'm moving (any ideas on how to do this successfully?).
5) Filiming from a bicycle doesn't work because the wind messes up the balance (any ideas on how to do this successfully?).

Can the folks who use the Hague recommend some good standard shots that they do with it?

Here are the standard shots I use it for, just wondering if anyone has some other creative ideas or tips:

1) Follow a moving subject from behind showing back of subject's head/body in addition to what subject sees.
2) Filiming the foreground while moving, as if the camera is the subject's eyes.
3) Filming backwards, in front of moving subject, showing the subject's face/body.
4) Filming a moving subject from the side hasn't worked for me as the camera seems to tilt in the direction I'm moving (any ideas on how to do this successfully?).
5) Filiming from a bicycle doesn't work because the wind messes up the balance (any ideas on how to do this successfully?).


Good idea. For those of us that didn't take filming classes, are there some online tutorials that teach you the art of filming (with one camcorder, though)?

I don't know about filming, but to use a handheld stabilizer, I like what I found in the Merlin's doc:
http://www.steadicam.com/images/content/Merlin%20Manual%20Nov8_Lo.pdf
Start reading at around page 27.

Just ordered the Hague.The Hague is great but be careful of four things:

First, the gimbal. It will fall out and over time, it becomes loose.

Second, weights. At first, you will think that it doesn't matter - it does, and if you change lenses, it matters more. If the camera wobbles, the weights are wrong.

Third, left/right. With the Hague, the camera points forward, always. So you'll have to learn how to nudge it around corners, without making it wobble.

Fourth, Canadian customs. The Hague is a small package but I had to go to an airport warehouse to pick up mine. (True, it looks weird and it will make you look dorky.)

The Hague kit does the job but in an almost DIY style, have you thought about a fig rig it looks very odd but the results are stunning you could even hire one from a video camera hire company for about £15 try one out you wont be disappointed!

The Hague kit does the job but in an almost DIY style, have you thought about a fig rig it looks very odd but the results are stunning you could even hire one from a video camera hire company for about £15 try one out you wont be disappointed!

I have decided to buy the Hague as well.
Apart from cost, I love the compact design of the stabilizer.
With a little practice I am sure it will be as useful as stabilizers that cost several hundred dollars more.

The Hague is great but be careful of four things:

First, the gimbal. It will fall out and over time, it becomes loose.

Second, weights. At first, you will think that it doesn't matter - it does, and if you change lenses, it matters more. If the camera wobbles, the weights are wrong.

Third, left/right. With the Hague, the camera points forward, always. So you'll have to learn how to nudge it around corners, without making it wobble.

Fourth, Canadian customs. The Hague is a small package but I had to go to an airport warehouse to pick up mine. (True, it looks weird and it will make you look dorky.)

Regarding your first thing....why does this happen? How much time does it take for this to occur. WOndering if the Hague guys have any advice on this one.

Dave

Regarding your first thing....why does this happen? How much time does it take for this to occur. WOndering if the Hague guys have any advice on this one.

Dave

I've had my Hague for about 6 months, and I have not had a problem with the gimbal. However, I am very careful in handling it. So far, it has only popped out once from the gimbal, because of my mishandling it (accidentally turning it way too much while packing it away). If it gets popped out a lot or if you put too much weight on the Hague, I would imagine that the plastic socket would get worn out over time. I think if you're careful it should last for years.

I've had my Hague for about 6 months, and I have not had a problem with the gimbal. However, I am very careful in handling it. So far, it has only popped out once from the gimbal, because of my mishandling it (accidentally turning it way too much while packing it away). If it gets popped out a lot or if you put too much weight on the Hague, I would imagine that the plastic socket would get worn out over time. I think if you're careful it should last for years.

Good to know. Thanks. I'm real close to pulling the trigger on one.

I've had my Hague for about 6 months, and I have not had a problem with the gimbal. However, I am very careful in handling it. So far, it has only popped out once from the gimbal, because of my mishandling it (accidentally turning it way too much while packing it away).Exactly. I have been less than careful with it and the gimbal has popped a few times while stowing the Hague. The gimbal is really the secret to the device so if I were you, I'd do as Peter and be careful. I'm thinking of devising a lock so that when it's not in use, the handle-grip and device remain in a fixed position.

I am buying the Sanyo VPC-FH1 and I think that I will need a stabilizer.

Can anyone give me some recommendations?

PS: Don't suggest the Merlin. $1100CAD :(

You could do worse that the DIY effort in the video:
http://www.vimeo.com/3803065

Nice demo, just a shame this guy converted his 30fps footage to 24fps, so the panning has terrible judder.

Tutorial
http://www.vimeo.com/3803065

Here is a picture of my setup using the Glidecam 2000 Pro with my Canon HG10, the camcorder is only 1.1lbs so i had to attach my Rode Video Mic and my Canon wide angle lens to get the weight up to just under 3lbs...works really well for smooth glide footage whether it be walking,running, or usings stairs....sorry for the poor quality, my digital camera is on the fritz so I had to snap the picture using the camcorder while looking in the mirror...

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss3/warriorkingtech/IMG_0352.jpg

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss3/warriorkingtech/IMG_0353.jpg

I tried the glidecam 2000 with my Panny SD-9, but it just didn't work with so little weight.

They do make the Glidecam 1000's which are for camcorders weighing less than 2bs....still a bit pricey however....

Pepster, wrong url for the tutorial, correct one is: http://vimeo.com/3822991.

I decided to go with the Hague "replica" by Indiehardware in Wisconsin (search Ebay/google for Indiehardware).
Got the stabilizer today and I have to say the built quality is very good.
There are actually some claimed improvements over the Hague, but for the same price (actually cheaper considering shipping was only $12.80 vs $25+ from Hague UK).
I tried it on my HG20 and it took a few minutes to get used to.
I will play with it a bit more and post pictures tomorrow.

I decided to go with the Hague "replica" by Indiehardware in Wisconsin (search Ebay/google for Indiehardware).
Got the stabilizer today and I have to say the built quality is very good.
There are actually some claimed improvements over the Hague, but for the same price (actually cheaper considering shipping was only $12.80 vs $25+ from Hague UK).
I tried it on my HG20 and it took a few minutes to get used to.
I will play with it a bit more and post pictures tomorrow.

I haven't pulled the trigger on the Hague just yet so I am very interested in your feedback and pics would be great. Thanks.

Dave

I decided to go with the Hague "replica" by Indiehardware in Wisconsin (search Ebay/google for Indiehardware).

It looks identical to the Hague. Picture here. (http://www.indiehardware.com/Products.php)

Here's a video using the Indiehardware stabilizer (http://www.vimeo.com/4387625).

Here's a video using the Hague stabilizer (http://www.vimeo.com/796130).

I suspect that any apparent difference is based on adjustments, weights and user rather than the specific stabilizer. If one stabilizer is superior to another, IMHO it would be in the quality of the gimbal.

----

Incidentally, searches on Indiehardware seem to lead to the more expensive Atlas Camera (http://www.atlascamerasupport.com/) stabilizer, based on teh same principle.