Opteka SteadyVid SV-HD Camera Stabilizer with Quick Release for Digital SLR and Video Cameras up to 6lbs

Like all stabilizers, the initial setup may require Prozac and a stiff gin and tonic. Expect to spend a bit of time to get everything balanced out correctly. I use a Nikon D7100, D800 and a Panasonic HC-X920. The 920 required me to remove all weights, and the other cameras required much more weight to balance well. (When loaded up, these things can become heavy!) This stabilizer has all of the necessary adjustments for balance - and are very well executed. (I would like it if the gimbal could be adjusted up and down a few inches, however.) The handle is a bit challenging for those who tend to stabilize at low angles. The gimbal is fluid and moves well. The finish is nice and the unit is nicely portable. Now, for the ugly reality - you have to practice with any stabilizer - this one included! From walking to moving, stabilizers are not vibration reduction or digital image stabilization devices. They make your motions more fluid, but require you to balance, practice and have patience to do their job. There were none of these features found in the shipping box! The good news is once you get all of these, this unit will reward you nicely. Overall, this quality unit is a good value - a photographic hat trick that should meet your expectations nicely!

This stabilizer is not bad. It works for the most part. However there are a few minor issues that, even at this price point, can be solved by using another product. Pros: Balancing: this is my first such stabilizer, and after a few tutorials and a few tries I found balancing it was really not too hard. So points for that! Construction: feels solid, and if not for the few issues below I'd have no issue. Cons: - The sliding plates are not terribly hard to use, but a screw-type adjustment would be great. The Neweer unit is only a few bucks more than this but has the screw-type adjustments, which should be much easier than the loosen-tap-tighten-check method used for the Opteka. I haven't received that one yet but will write a review - The little plastic collar that holds the screw used for extending/retracting the weight platform does not inspire confidence. Technically it works but it looks out of place on an otherwise well constructed (mostly) unit. Generally feels sloppy and not like it will last too long. Opteka must agree since they included a spare. - The grip slips around on the handle, and this is pretty annoying. It's also not the most comfortable to hold. Easy enough to solve with a different grip and/or some superglue, but eh... - The biggest problem by far for a product like this: the bearings. The bearings are OK for the main pivot (if you were to spin the camera around while holding the handle stationary) but I can't really make one walk around it without inducing some moderate spin. That's no big thing really, but the two pivots on either side of the "yoke" - that Y-shaped piece (look like silver buttons on either side of the main pivot) are evidently not on bearings, and are too tight. They cause an otherwise well balanced platform to tilt quite severely with even small movements on these pivots. This is a no-go for any shots where you are moving the camera up/down. Even while walking around trying to hold it steady, there will invariably be some movement and it will cause the camera to get a-swingin'. For instance if I start with the camera around eye level and then lower the stabilizer, by the time I'm at hip level the camera has tilted forward about 30 degrees. This isn't a balance issue, it's the stiff pivots. I could loosen them, lube them, maybe even put proper bearings in there. For now I'm returning this one and going for the Neewer with easier adjustability up top. Hopefully the pivots are better on that one...

The only issue I had with the SteadyVid is that the 1/4" screw, that mounts the camera, is not affixed. I lost it on the first day of shooting. Had to go to the hardware store for another one. Other than that, the SteadyVid is very nice. I get nice, smooth, quality shots! Some folks were complaining about the time it took to balance the SteadyVid but it was no real issue once I got the concept together. You want to have as little weight on this thing as possible, just enough to balance out the camera. While this is the "cheap" version of the Glide Cam it accomplishes the same task depending on your skillset! Excellent purchase on my behalf. I've only had it for a few weeks so I cannot comment on it's durability over time but it seems to be strong and sturdy and comprised of quality materials! If you need to switch back and forth between the SteadyVid, the Tripod, Shoulder Mount, and Jib, you should grab a quick release plate because it gets a bit tedious!

I've been using this product for about two weeks now shooting videos for work. My initial impression of this stabilizer has been very good. I normally shoot with a Canon Rebel T2i with a 50mm lens and a shotgun microphone attached to the shoe on the top. It took some practice to learn to properly balance the camera, but I've been getting some really impressive moving shots with this thing. This stabilizer is sturdier than it looks in the photo. Most of the critical parts are made of metal. The blue adjusting knobs on the quick release plate appear plastic in the picture, but they are actually made of metal. The only plastic piece on the whole unit are on the tensioners on the adjustable shaft that connects to the weight plate on the bottom, and Opteka actually included an extra set of those two plastic pieces with my order. Balancing my camera on this took some practice, but now that I've done it a few dozen times, I can get it set up and balanced in less than 3 minutes every time. I had to watch several Youtube videos explaining how to do it properly. This video really helped me to understand the theory behind balancing the weight on the baseplate properly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QWHz1GVUDw I had to remove all of the weights, except for the two lightest ones, and then adjust the length of shaft on the bottom. Once the weight on the bottom matched the camera on top I was able to achieve a "three second drop" as explained in the video tutorial I posted. Just watch the video and it should make sense. One problem that I've had is that this stabilizer could not properly balance my Canon T2i until I bought a few large washers from Home Depot to use as weights on the baseplate. The included weights were just too heavy and caused the camera to sway too much. The washers from Home Depot cost me $1, so no big deal. I've used this stabilizer for a bunch of moving shots. Yesterday, I used it to follow a model while she was jogging. I was blown away with how steady the footage looked when I uploaded them to the computer. I uploaded my test shots to this review. I color corrected the footage a little, but I didn't edit the motion at all. For a $100 piece if gear, this thing really performed well. Again, it took me a few hours of practice before I started getting usable shots, but I would never been able to jog next to someone and get a decent shot without this stabilizer. I would absolutely recommend picking this up if you're a filmmaker on a budget like I am. I'm sure the expensive Glide-cam is probably nicer, but this knockoff costs 1/5 the price and it performs really well if you're willing to put in the effort to learn how to use it. I was able to get usable shots on the first day of shooting. Be warned: This stabilizer comes with no instructions and there are almost no good tutorials online that cover this model. You are on your own. One thing that I don't like about this model is the quick release plate. It's probably great for a larger camera, but its awkward and unnecessarily large on a smaller DSLR like the Canon Rebel t2i. It sticks out extremely far on both sides and makes shooting awkward when you take the camera off the stabilizer. You can probably solve this problem buy purchasing a quick release plate for $12 on Amazon and using it with the stabilizer. Overall: Functions as intended 5/5 Construction 4/5 Value 5/5 Instructions 0/5 This video helps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QWHz1GVUDw

I bought this instead of the more expensive name brand based on all the good reviews and when I got it, I felt like I had a good product at a good price. I really don't know if I got a bad one or if it's a chronic problem with this item but the swivel bearing between the handle and the U bracket was very clunky with excessive friction which feels like I was just spinning my wheels trying to balance it and keep it balanced. Other than that everything on it seemed very well constructed. I would recommend this item if I just happened to get the rare bad apple but if it's a chronic problem stay away from it. Returned it and not wanting to take my chances just broke down and ordered the name brand.

Despite what all the YouTube videos show how well this item works, I spent days balancing my DSLR on this device and still could not get smooth shots out of it. I did not return it because I trashed the packaging which was needed for any returns. My advice is do not buy this item, it is heavy, you have to have arms of a power lifter to use it any length of time and the design (which there are my copies just like it) is flawed. No matter how you walk, heel to toe, softly, slowly, it wobbles left and right, forward and aft. I was going to use it professionally but would have ended up with unusable footage. $119 down the drain.

Opteka SteadyVid SV-HD Camera Stabilizer with Quick Release for DSLR and Video Cameras up to 6lbs A still photographer for over 55 years I wanted to do some video. While the composition was good the "Bumps" when I moved left me unhappy with the results. I needed something to smooth out the bumps. I needed a Steadicam. Build or buy? I am handy with tools but the plastic tubing route wasn't the way I wanted to go, and with a limited budget a Steadicam system was more than I could afford, or even wanted. After extensive research (looking at Youtube videos, and reading reviews), I ordered an Opteka SteadyVid SV-HD Camera Stabilizer. My research was rewarded, this is a well made, high quality piece of equipment for a very reasonable price. The quick release makes switching from using my Nikon D5300 for stills to videos (without bumps) easy. You will get out of the Opteka SteadyVid SV-HD Camera Stabilizer what you are willing to put into it. You cannot put your camera on it an expect smooth videos! 1st it is necessary to balance your camera on the stabilizer. With a little practice this can be done in a just a few minutes. I found mounting the camera on the quick release plate in the same spot was key, and putting the quick release plate on the stabilizer in the same place was equally important (A flat surface and a small scribe line does the trick). Also order the Opteka Hot Shoe Two Axis Double Spirit Level. It is a must for leveling out the camera and is more visible than levels built into the quick release plate on other brands of stabilizers. 2nd After that... ..use it. Walk around the house, go up and down stairs, walk around the block. Digital video is great. Check out what you shot and work to make it better, reformat and shoot some more.

After few years of using Merlin steadicam, it started to have some problems. I did not want to spend that much money again. So I give this product a shot, and here are my pros and cons: Pros: 5 stars for the price, and it does work. It seems to have solid built material and well made. The size and weight is about right compare to Merlin except just a little big to pack in my camera backpack for travelling. Speaking about comparison between this one and Merlin, one thing I don't like about Merlin is you have to rebalance almost every time you after you put it down somewhere. I don't have this problem with Opteka, which is making very usable for production shoot. Cons: 1 star for balancing. It can take a long long time to get it right. For my first time, it only took me less than 5 minutes. But after that my luck is gone. Every time when I have to balance this one, it could take me somewhere between 30 to 45 minutes or even an hour. The problem is the vertical and horizon adjustment clamps (should use the dial like Merlin). In order to balance, you have to loose the clamp one at the time, and use one or two fingers to lightly tap the plate for the adjustment. Too much force or too little, it just thrown the balance off so easily. This is why taking forever because you just have to go back and forth until you get it right. 1 star for accessory. I was hoping that I can use this one with Glidecam Forearm brace, but none would fit. With any steadicam without some kind of support accessory, you just can't shoot for too long. The bottom line is this thing dose work, just leave the camera permanently mounting on it and work out your arm muscle. 08/20/2014 Update It has been great used since I have this steadicam, but on my last wedding shoot I notice the bottom clamp that adjust the rod for the weight is no longer can hold the rod tightly. Without securely and tightly the bottom rod, this steadicam constantly needs to be re-balance and adjust all the times. It becomes unusable. I am not sure how long the warranty for this product, but I am contacting the selling to see if I can get a replacement for this problem.