Fotodiox Compact Rig - Video Rig, Stabilizer and Shoulder Support
Has anyone had experience with one of these? I am planning a long trip to Europe and Central Asia later in the year and wonder if one of these would be more useful than say a mono pod with my Lumix GH2. Just plan to make a record of my travels and most likely items to post onto YouTube. I am a retired 75 year old and find I am not getting quite as stable shots as I used to achieve hand held. Of course it may be the shape of the GH2 compared to the traditional video camera shape, which always seems easier to hold steady.
Thanks
Gordon
You've still only got a single point of contact with your body for support so the shot will still be reliant to a degree on how steady you can hold the camera. £130 for something that's not going to be much different to putting the camera strap around your neck then holding the camera at full stretch.
robo
Thanks Robo
That does make sense.
Gordon
Use a light monopod with the leg resting on your chest this gives it more stability. I agree with your comment re the age thing. Apart from getting a younger person to take the hand-held shots it's either a tripod or a monopod. I have the same problem. I consider this to be the reason people like Sandy Lyle, golf, snooker players, etc lose their skills.
Harry
yes,
I'd think that a monopod ( with ball and socket on the head) would be better and be useful in other ways.
I have a cheap Libec that is ok but has a straight shoe on the end
I have one of these:
http://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-monopod-high-quality-aluminium-4-section-h170cm-with-shoulder-case-TRIPODWT1003
- to which I added a basic, cheap head - a head intended for a still camera really - i.e. pan and tilt with handle, but no particular fluid movement - as I don't use it for moving shots - if I want to pan, I turn the whole monopod+camera rig.
Does the business well, at an extraordinary price.
I bought a similar one that included a head, took it on our China trip in 2012 & found it invaluable!
Thanks for the various comments and suggestions. I have a monopod and will take it along on my trip. I checked Mooblie's link and of more interest was the V Mount attachment for a monopod. I thought that this could be a real help, so I tried to order one. But no, 7DayShop does not post to New Zealand nor will they through their Amazon entry either. I finally recalled that NZ Post run a service to over come this problem. So I have signed up for that and I now have a UK posting address which is at a NZ Post collecting and dispatch centre. They will charge me an extra postage cost but the item will speed its way to me as part of a larger bundle of parcels. So it is on its way already. There is a similar service available from USA and China. Obviously makes on line shopping even more accessible.
Thanks
Gordon
try ebay NZ or look for a rifle support