2022From a Facebook group: The Steadicam Group
Weight reduction strategies for Steadicam® rig with Sony Venice and heavy Fujinon zoom lens.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Power the Sony Venice via a 24V-to-XLR cable from the sled rather than 12V to preserve camera battery life and reduce onboard battery weight.
- Wireless transmitters can also be powered from the sled, and eliminating the camera battery combined with removing the battery under the post saves approximately 5 lb total.
- A Battery Eliminator for V-Mount provides an alternative to camera-mounted batteries.
- Heavier batteries positioned at the sled base improve fall-time tuning by increasing inertia.
- Lighter optics such as Zeiss CP.3 or Fujinon 18-55 T2.9 significantly reduce load compared to heavier zoom lenses.
- Adding an extra rod plate under the camera complicates the rig height substantially; alternative iris control solutions should be explored.
Depends on
- Trade-off exists between maintaining camera battery for inertia versus powering the camera from the sled to save weight; choice depends on operator preference and rig balance requirements.