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
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