09Apr Canon 5D Mark III + Sigma 20mm on Skyler MiniCam
Today I decided to try and balance the Canon 5D Mark III with a Sigma 20mm F/1.8 lens on the Skyler MiniCam. Sorry I don’t have any interesting test footage right now, but i’ll be shooting something later on today (which is why i’m balancing it). Still very happy I was able to find one of these units used at an affordable price. The form factor is much smaller (and better looking) than the Glidecam HD1000 or even Flycam Nano. Still it can fly just as much weight as either of them. The fine tuning knobs makes it easy to balance, and the tripod design lets you set it down on a flat surface. Can’t do that with a Merlin.
You don’t need this particular stabilizer to get good results, and i’m able to achieve just as good results from the Flycam Nano or any Glidecam Stabilizer. The benefits to this Skyler MiniCam is it’s sex appeal, small form factor, and fine tuning knobs. I personally think it looks 100 times better than the Nano. If it were priced more competitively, this could really sweep the market. Unfortunately at a retail price of $600 dollars, it’s targeted to the audience that might be shopping for something as compact as the $800 dollar Steadicam Merlin.
It’s not all about running around fast. We use stabilizers to add slow camera movements and eliminate handheld shakes. It’s a fast way to get some dynamic camera footage without having to setup sliders and cranes. Here’s a few seconds or raw footage from the Canon 5D Mark III with Sigma 20mm on the Skyler MiniCam.
The guys did a good job using very cheap household flood lights for the back lighting, and in the front we used a very cheap DJ Pinspot LED light and balanced the cameras at 6000K (it was very blue). The 100 watt flood light bulbs run about $5 dollars each and were put on a dimmer switch. The DJ Pinspot LED light is used to create a very tight spotlight and we got it on sale for about $35 dollars.
Skyler Mini Video Camera Stabilizer
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April 9th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Opteka should come up with these type of design at a affordable price, they cost alot. But with the video output and quality of video using this, it’s worth the price…
April 9th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
it helps that the sigma 20mm 1.8 is a decent wide and fast glass…i use it on crane/dolly shots
April 9th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
How are you able to focus so smoothly while using this stabilizer?
April 9th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@Trivell – The aperture is closed down so it’s pretty much always in focus with everything. It’s also a wide lens + macro which means it can focus very close to infinity.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Emm ~ I am not liking the Nano tuning nobs at all. In fact, they are a significant detriment to getting proper balance. The qr nobs and threads dont seem to be matched correctly, or the threads themselves are just poorly machined, because they go thru loose and then very tight stages of adjustment. The bottom nob for the base weights also needs to be tightened with much pressure to get it to stay locked. After multiple loosening and lock sequences, it gets very difficult.
Curious to know if this is the norm for the Nano, or I just got a poor copy?
April 9th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
And to be more accurate, it is not the qr knobs, but the “stage” adjustment knobs (I am not using the qr plate). So it is really not very functionable.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Looks smoother then Flycam but maybe that’s because of the weight of the 5d?My main concern is speed and ease of achieving balance. How does this compare to a Blackbird in those terms?
April 9th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Hay Emm, Do you have a 4 way macro slider? If so could you try putting it on the Nano and seeing if it makes it easy to balance?
Just wondering if it would be a simple way to add a fine tune system to an affordable stabiliser.
Thanks
Alex
April 9th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
how does this compare with the opteka steadyshot pro that came out under the 200 dollar mark
April 9th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Is it really easier to balance? I have the HD1000 and I like it, but balancing it perfectly is something I never really got the hang of and still find annoying. Is this one much easier to balance?
April 9th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Emm, I’ve concluded that you have incredible operating skills, and that you can make any stabilizer look good!
April 9th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
@allen – I’ve learned to balance a Glidecam pretty good. The Skyler has some advantages which i’ll be doing a more thorough review of soon.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
@Killer K – This is much better than the Opteka, but of course it’s waaayy more expensive.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
@Alex – I don’t have a 4 way, sorry.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
@oboypro – I can get similar results in the Flycam. It’s probably not as easy to balance as a Blackbird.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
@Joel – I’m still using my Nano, and I haven’t run into the same problems. I just do everything hand tight.
April 9th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
@Emm – Thanks a lot! I’ll definitely have to add that lens to the collection.
April 10th, 2012 at 3:04 am
Nice shooting Emm! That music shot looked smooth as a dolly would do. Thanks a lot for posting this, as usual.
The $400 price premium over the flycam is a lot to swallow but I’m wondering if two considerations in addition to the quickness in re-balancing might justify it: this mini can be used as a kind of table-top tripod, though requiring control from the handle — a taste of what you call the dynamic element remains — or it can be slipped as is with the camera on, onto a monopod, also available from this mfgr. For event or documentary work, or even some kinds of narrative fiction this could be a huge advantage, no?
April 10th, 2012 at 6:25 am
PLEASE!! tell us your shooting settings when you post these. It’s great to see how the stabilizer works, but I’m always curious to know the camera settings in the shot… ISO, aperture, frame rate, shutter speed, etc. Thanks!
April 10th, 2012 at 9:41 am
What I like about this stabilizer is the threaded bottom to accommodate a monopod. Have you tried it Emm?
Just that the price at 5x the original Nano is a bit too much.
@oboypro – getting it balanced the first time is hard, but once you get it right, keep that setting then flying the nano is great. I still use my 60D/tokina/nano combo with a balanced setting I found more than five months ago:)
April 10th, 2012 at 9:45 am
@Jayhas – Haven’t tried it yet. Working on a review to show you guys the old version and the new version. I have both now.
April 10th, 2012 at 9:46 am
@DemonMF777 – 30fps, 1/60th, ISO 3200, F/6.3, Neutral Picture Style
April 11th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
@Jerry also – I will be doing a video showing some of the stabilizers I have laying around and the differences. One of the benefits the Skyler has as you mention is re-balancing.
November 26th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Firstly, I love your site, always helpful.
Secondly, I have been doing wedding videos for about 4 years but am relatively new to using DSLR cameras and to stabilizers. So, I have 2 very simple (perhaps dumb) questions:
1) When using a stabilizer such as this one with a DSLR with manual focus/zoom lens, how do you deal with having to refocus since that will alter the weight of the camera? Is there a particular type of lens one uses on a DSLR when using a stabilizer?
2) I use Manfrotto quick release plates on all my gear… has anyone seen one of these Skyler MiniCam’s with a manfrotto plate attached to them and would it even be possible?
Thanks in advanc!
Jay
November 26th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@Jay Stemple –
1) Because you will be moving quite a bit with a stabilizer, stick to a wide lens, close down on the aperture, and focus to infinity. Just try to keep everything in focus, no shallow depth of field tricks is the easiest way to fly.
2) You can attach any quick release baseplate system to the Skyler if need be. There are cheaper stabilizers that you might also want to consider like the new Wieldy that is showing up. http://cheesycam.com/wieldy-stabilizer-available-again/
November 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
@Emm;
Thanks for the fast reply.
Cost isn’t an issue, This minicam is in my price range.
Truth be told, I have had a Steadicam Merlin for about 2 years and used it at maybe one wedding because it was a PITA to balance.