2008Arms forum
Using PRO arm stabilizer with reduced number of canisters for lighter camera setups
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The PRO arm can be operated with only two canisters instead of the full four, one canister per arm section
- When using two canisters, placement in accessible locations allows adjustment while wearing the rig, such as bottom front and top back positions
- Two blue canisters are sufficient for supporting lighter cameras like handheld DV cameras and the HVX200
- The PRO arm maintains consistent balance and feel across its weight range regardless of canister configuration
- Four blue canisters provide capacity for heavier cinema cameras such as ARRI LT or Moviecam Compact models
- Black canisters are primarily needed for extreme loads like IMAX equipment and are unnecessary for typical video work
Depends on
- Discussion is from 2008 and reflects equipment and models available at that time
- Actual load capacity testing was limited to anecdotal reports from individual users
- Some claims about specific camera compatibility are not verified with technical specifications
- The maximum payload scenario described with four black canisters and studio teleprompter required manual lifting assistance and was only used for two shots