2007Steadi-Newbies forum
Weight specifications and compatibility of cameras with Steadicam Flyer
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Camera weight specifications are typically available in manufacturer PDF manuals and should be consulted before committing to a job to verify equipment compatibility
- A Varicam in fully stripped configuration bottomed out the Steadicam Flyer arm and could not achieve dynamic balance even at minimum weight
- The Sony F900 and F750 cameras exceed the practical weight capacity of the Steadicam Flyer, with the F750 bottoming out the arm upon adding counterweight even without viewfinder and battery
- The Steadicam Flyer gimbal and post assembly are not designed for heavy camera payloads and using oversized cameras creates an unpleasant operating experience
- Smaller cinema lens packages like mini35 with light wide-angle primes may slightly improve weight distribution but likelihood of success with F-series cameras remains poor
Depends on
- The Varicam experience represents one operator's single attempt; others may have achieved different results
- No clear confirmation provided on whether an Arri SR2 falls within safe Steadicam Flyer operating parameters
- Discussion focuses on older camera models from 2007 era; newer cameras may have different weight profiles and capabilities