2026From a Facebook group: The Steadicam Group
Entry-level stabilizer strategy on a 15,000 USD budget: Rever EVO versus used Artemis 2 or M2 plus Volt, in a market with limited secondhand availability.
Note (as of October 2026)Curt O. Schaller, the developer of Artemis and Trinity, has no longer been with ARRI since the end of 2025. To our knowledge, ARRI currently has no dedicated team and no official contact persons for its stabilizer systems. In our view, the future of this line is uncertain. If you are buying new, get written confirmation from ARRI beforehand on how long service and spare parts are guaranteed. Have used rigs checked by the manufacturer before you buy.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Most operators advise against Rever EVO and similar budget brands (Laing, Proaim) because they use cast rather than CNC components, feature inadequately sealed bearings, cheaper load-bearing parts, and inferior fasteners; operators struggle against these rigs and develop poor technique, and the industry perceives budget brands as less professional.
- One academic user of the Rever predecessor found it adequate for the price but noted the band arm requires adaptation, the vest is mediocre and needed modification, and fasteners and connections loosen—requiring grease and threadlock compound.
- High-quality used professional rigs (GPI PRO, Tiffen, MK-V, XCS, Betz, Sachtler/ARRI models) are now as affordable as ever: complete Ultra-2 kits around 14,500 USD, used SmartSystem with accessories, and full EFP rigs around 8,000 USD that paid for themselves within one year.
- A modular 1.5-inch MK-V sled can be equipped with Volt later, supporting a staged upgrade path.
- Strategy: the first sled can be inexpensive if functional; invest more in a high-load-capacity arm and a quality vest suited for a full career, then upgrade the sled and accessories incrementally.
- For operators planning to move to Trinity, ARRI Artemis is the correct path; in Dubai's market, approximately nine Trinity, four Cyclo heads, and one MK-V AR Omega operate among roughly a dozen stabilizer operators—pure Steadicam® jobs are rare there, most productions require Trinity or Cyclo.
Depends on
- Rever entry-level suitability is disputed among experienced operators.
- Market availability and pricing vary significantly by region.
- The upgrade path depends on the operator's career timeline and budget distribution.
Gear in this thread
Same gear or parts
- 2026MK-V Level calibration and operation on the sled, and reliability compared to Wave-based leveling.FacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026First stabilizer purchase: Steadicam® Elite (14 kg payload, integrated Volt 3) versus Rever Evo (higher payload) and used-market strategy.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Why a 150 Wh battery at the sled powers the camera for only ~20 minutes versus two to three times longer when mounted on-body, and how to extend runtime.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Repairing shorted BNC video lines in an ARRI Artemis 1 sled: interim workarounds and permanent solutions.FacebookSteadicam operators group