2008General Discussion forum
Pricing and specifications of early Steadicam models from the 1970s and 1980s
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The original Steadicam model from 1976-77 had an initial retail price of approximately fifteen thousand US dollars.
- The model 2 was priced at around seventeen thousand five hundred US dollars.
- The model 3 represented a significant price increase to approximately thirty-six thousand US dollars.
- The model 3A was priced at approximately forty thousand US dollars.
- Early Steadicam arms featured fixed weight designs that were not adjustable, which limited the range of compatible camera weights.
- The original arm design used a single hinge mechanism, which was later replaced with a double hinge configuration in upgraded versions.
- An arm could be upgraded to model 3A specifications by replacing the original trunnions and hinge assembly.
- A model 2 sled unit remained in usable condition with a functional gimbal despite lack of batteries.
Depends on
- Pricing information comes from recollection rather than documented sources and may not be exact.
- The discussion focuses on acquisition prices from decades prior without addressing current market value.
- No details provided about whether quoted prices represented street prices, dealer pricing, or original manufacturer list prices.
- The single user account of a model 2 unit availability and condition represents limited sampling.