2017Steadi-Newbies forum
Selection of Steadicam stands, wheels, and mounting hardware
What the thread found
- Hard casters from American Grip are lighter and easier to roll than inflatable wheels, making them better for stage and indoor shooting.
- Inflatable wheels have a large footprint and are difficult to move around, though they can be useful for rough outdoor terrain.
- The American LS-32 stand works well with both 12-inch and 14-inch straps depending on wheel size and shooting environment.
- Using 14-inch straps provides a larger footprint that improves stability when balancing dynamically, particularly beneficial with smaller or no wheels.
- Using 12-inch straps with heavier wheels reduces the need for additional counterweight on the stand during balancing.
- Wheel mounts come attached to wheels and slide directly onto the stand legs.
- Wheel mounts must match the strap size (12-inch or 14-inch) to ensure correct angle attachment to the stand legs.
- Many operators prefer docking the rig on a cart rather than using a stand, as carts are easier to ship and avoid vibration issues.
Depends on
- Experiences are specific to individual operator setups and shooting environments.
- Recommendations vary based on whether work is primarily indoor on smooth floors versus outdoor on rough terrain.
- The preference between stand types and wheel combinations depends on available resources like carts and transportation needs.