2007General Discussion forum
Selecting a camera arm and stabilizer sled for steadicam work
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The XCS Ultimate sled is noted for its rigidity, advanced power management with extra wires for future accessories like auto recorder control, and strong customer service support.
- The Pro II sled is valued for its straightforward design and reliable adaptability with solid customer support.
- The Tiffen Ultra 2 sled features a large HD monitor and represents an improvement over previous Tiffen offerings.
- The G70 arm is recommended as a reliable choice for steadicam work.
- The MK-V Nexus sled includes a 4-stage post with modular design, making it practical for low-mode shooting situations.
- Purchasing decisions should account for service availability and support speed, particularly when operating outside the manufacturer's home country.
- Trying equipment before purchase is recommended as the most important factor when selecting new steadicam gear.
- Several manufacturers should be avoided due to poor service track records.
Depends on
- Some operators reported issues with MK-V products, though one operator had no support problems with the MK-V Nexus.
- The choice between sleds depends on individual shooting requirements and regional access to service and parts.
- Pricing information was not provided in the discussion.
- The preference for the 4-stage post on MK-V is specific to operators doing frequent low-mode work.
Gear in this thread
Parts
Same gear or parts
- 2026Vest drops: what lowering the arm socket actually buys, and what it costs at the topOperator practice
- 2026Lemo connectors on the ARRI Artemis sled: pinout, polarity verification, and powering low-mode monitors and Volt battery.FacebookSteadicam operators group
- 2026Low-mode monitor selection for Volt Brain rig: latency performance of Transvideo Starlite versus current alternatives.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
- 2026Rig setup for 180-degree immersive camera operation with Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive: minimizing rig and monitor visibility in ultra-wide field of view.FacebookThe Steadicam Group