The rest of the system is pretty manageable on its own, and quite easy to sling over one shoulder, the camera acting as a counterbalance on the other. The only issue with the bare tripod/ head being slung “head down” is to beware when walking in public where young children are around. That video head is pretty substantial and just at the right height to kybosh a 5 year old in no uncertain fashion should there be a collision.

My initial reservations with regard to the Spread – Loc spreader have been allayed. I still haven’t managed to figure out the engineering concepts behind their working, but work they do. Whether I’ll ever figure what gives with that lock mechanism I don’t know, but have long ceased worrying about it.

Last weekend I attended an awards ceremony, and after congratulating my old friend Garrett Brown there on the recently announced Merlin vest and arm, he suggested I come over and sniff out the prototype. Today I headed over to the Tiffen facility in Glendale…

Out of Taiwan comes a new competitor from a company with the curious name of Fishbone, which makes me want to dig out the old ska/punk albums and give them a spin. Their top of the line product is the XTR 700…

The VariZoom DV Sportster is a vest and articulating arm assembly which is compatible with a wide variety of camera stabilizers including the GlideCam 1000 through 4000 series, SteadiCam Jr., and the VariZoom FlowPod and UltraLite.

added 20 February 2002 Enhancements for the SkyCrane Mini-DV Camera Boom an article by Carroll F. Lam The SkyCrane is a great DV camera crane for DV videographers. I have…

added 30 August 2000 The SkyCrane Mini-DV Camera Boom an article by Bob Jones and Chris Hurd Drawing heavily on extensive experience in the Hollywood film industry and his engineering…

added 30 August 2000 The Skycrane Junior Mini-DV Camera Jib by Bob Jones and Chris Hurd Introducing the Skycrane Junior Mini-DV camera jib… finally, a professional jib that will fit…