2006Cases/Carts/Stands and Transport forum
Whether Steadicam operators need transport carts or can work with stands and bags
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Some operators successfully use an American stand with casters and hanging bags instead of a dedicated cart, claiming it saves space and works well for their needs
- A cart becomes necessary when working on higher-budget productions where you need immediate access to specialized tools and components while the camera truck may be far from the set
- Casters with brakes are important for safety, especially when moving equipment on camera truck liftgates or uneven terrain
- BackStage offers eight-inch pneumatic caster kits for around $275 that attach to stand legs and include brakes, though they raise the stand height
- Casters with brakes from specialty retailers cost more than basic wheeled options but prevent dangerous runaway situations
- Working style depends on production type and proximity to the camera truck—day-rate corporate work differs from episodic television where everything must be portable and self-contained
Depends on
- The cart-free approach works primarily for video and corporate work, not necessarily for film production
- Proximity to the camera truck significantly impacts whether a cart is needed
- The minimalist approach may not work when complex on-set modifications to equipment are required
- Larger casters can raise the stand too high, potentially creating access issues for camera assistants
- Large caster options (10-12 inches) with brakes were difficult to source through mainstream suppliers at the time of discussion