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2013Steadi-Newbies forum

Building a basic power system for a budget steadicam rig

13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

What the thread found

  • Choose between V-Lock and Anton Bauer battery mounts based on what equipment you have access to and what is common in your working area, as this allows battery sharing and rentability.
  • Purchase a sturdy battery plate and mount it on your rig, with name-brand options like IDX for V-Lock systems and established Anton Bauer plates being reliable long-term investments.
  • Buy batteries in the 2-3 pound weight range to avoid balance issues on the rig, and maintain at least three battery sets with corresponding charger positions to enable continuous operation throughout a working day.
  • Power the monitor easily by running a cable from the battery plate's D-Tap connector directly to the monitor, and optionally use D-Tap splitters for additional devices.
  • Avoid powering DSLRs from the battery system since dedicated power adapters are expensive and camera-specific, while extra camera batteries are inexpensive and practical.
  • Plan for eventual follow-focus power by routing cables up the rig's post with coiled cables, or temporarily string cables along the rig's back and sides to avoid gimbal interference.
  • Battery, plate, and wiring components will cost significantly more than the rig itself, making budget-conscious component choices important for initial setups.

Depends on

  • Advice applies primarily to budget rigs and film school contexts where equipment will be upgraded.
  • Generic and no-name brand batteries may have reliability issues compared to established brands.
  • This discussion centers on personal-use and small-scale setups rather than professional production demands.
  • The specific rig model discussed is considered low-quality by forum standards, limiting applicability of some recommendations.

Parts

Follow Focus

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