Tiffen "Steady Stick" support

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hedleyw
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Anyone used one of these? http://www.dvcreators.net/products/steadystick.html. I bought one from a New York retailer via Ebay for about £65 (plus £20 import taxes :( ).

Simple and effective, and if you use the manfrotto sliding plate quick release system on it the handle will also screw into the side of the MF base plate. Shouldn't look too geeky at weddings either...

Hedley Wright Web design: brettvalestudios.co.uk/webdesign.html Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/bvstudios

Chrome
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Joined: May 26 1999

Hi Hedley,

Does it say in the instructions how heavy a camera you can use with it?

tom hardwick
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As My Ponytail says in the pro-mo, it's a cool device for 99 bucks. My reservation is regarding the quick-release tripod shoe. It appears to have its own and that's not likely to be compatible with your existing tripod. Unless you know differently with the sliding plate quick release system Hedley.

At weddings my camera is constantly on and off my tripod, and all in the twinkling of an eye. With this Steadystick it may well change this twinkling to a 3 minute curse.

Other than that though this looks to be a (dear) goodie. As you say it's not too geeky for a wedding, it takes a lot of the weight through the hips and the steadying bar held out sideways is good thinking. My big L bracket does the same sort of thing.

tom.

hedleyw
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Chrome wrote:
Hi Hedley,

Does it say in the instructions how heavy a camera you can use with it?

Says up to 30lbs - might be a bit uncomfortable at that weight though as the weight is effectively transferred to the belt. Fine on my Z1 though.

Hedley Wright Web design: brettvalestudios.co.uk/webdesign.html Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/bvstudios

hedleyw
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tom hardwick wrote:
As My Ponytail says in the pro-mo, it's a cool device for 99 bucks. My reservation is regarding the quick-release tripod shoe. It appears to have its own and that's not likely to be compatible with your existing tripod. Unless you know differently with the sliding plate quick release system Hedley.

At weddings my camera is constantly on and off my tripod, and all in the twinkling of an eye. With this Steadystick it may well change this twinkling to a 3 minute curse.
tom.

Shouldn't be a problem tom - the quick release is a circular coupler at the top of the stick, and is topped by a conventional tripod mount. Any QR system should work on top of it. I use the Manfrotto sliding plate QR system and that works just fine.

There is a good hands-on review at http://www.dvfreelancer.com/articles/steadystick.html.

Forgot to mention that the deal included a lightweight travel tripod - not a deal maker but handy.

Hedley Wright Web design: brettvalestudios.co.uk/webdesign.html Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/bvstudios

BrianReed
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hedleyw wrote:
Anyone used one of these? http://www.dvcreators.net/products/steadystick.html. I bought one from a New York retailer via Ebay for about £65 (plus £20 import taxes ...

Hi Hedley

Looks like a good piece of kit. I'm in the market for something similar.

Did your £65 to the NY dealer include shipping? If so it was a better deal than the dv e-store deal in your link. That works at about £57 for the steady stick plus £22 shipping plus import tax which you say could be another £20. A total of almost £100. Do you think it would still be good value at that price?

Brian Reed
Devizes, UK

hedleyw
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BrianReed wrote:
Hi Hedley

Looks like a good piece of kit. I'm in the market for something similar.

Did your £65 to the NY dealer include shipping? If so it was a better deal than the dv e-store deal in your link. That works at about £57 for the steady stick plus £22 shipping plus import tax which you say could be another £20. A total of almost £100. Do you think it would still be good value at that price?

The total bill from 47stphoto was $128.90, £74.94 at Paypal conversion of 1.72018 - this was via Ebay. So with the £20-ish import duty it is still under £100. Good value? I think so, but camera support systems seem to be a matter of personal taste...

Hedley Wright Web design: brettvalestudios.co.uk/webdesign.html Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/bvstudios

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999

I'm definitely interested in this, but not sure how 'any QR plate should fit'? Maybe I'm just a wee bit dim. :)

hedleyw
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Arthur.S wrote:
I'm definitely interested in this, but not sure how 'any QR plate should fit'? Maybe I'm just a wee bit dim. :)

Well, steady stick plate has the same fitting as a tripod, so if your quick release system fits a standard tripod plate it should fit the S/S.

Hedley Wright Web design: brettvalestudios.co.uk/webdesign.html Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/bvstudios

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999

Actually Hedley, I've tried ordering one, but the site won't accept my order because "I must choose a state/area in the UK" from the drop down list. Mine - Kent - isn't listed. I've e-mailed, so we'll see what happens.

hedleyw
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Arthur.S wrote:
Actually Hedley, I've tried ordering one, but the site won't accept my order because "I must choose a state/area in the UK" from the drop down list. Mine - Kent - isn't listed. I've e-mailed, so we'll see what happens.

I bought mine from them via Ebay - see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steady-Stick-for-Sony-FX1-PD170-PD150-VX2100-VX2000_W0QQitemZ7564636194QQcategoryZ23780QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hedley Wright Web design: brettvalestudios.co.uk/webdesign.html Follow me on Twitter twitter.com/bvstudios

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999

Me too. gave up waiting for a reply & just put 'London SE'. Hopefully the post code will ensure it gets delivered!!

Arthur.S
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Well, it's arrived. Impressed with it, once you suss out what goes where that it is.:o You can get some very nice 'liquid' movements with it. And, as the review sez, it's'almost' as steady as a tripod. Can't for the life of me see how "any Qr system will work on it"??:confused:

tom hardwick
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Joined: Apr 8 1999

QR = Quick Release

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999
tom hardwick wrote:
QR = Quick Release

????????????????? Not what I'm asking Tom!! What I don't get is how "any QR system will fit it" Mine sure doesn't. In the DVFreelancer review, the guy bought a QR adapter to get over the problem. I doubt that I can find one of those for my Velbon tripod. Looks like another new toy may be coming my way. :)

BrianReed
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Joined: Oct 19 1999
Arthur.S wrote:
What I don't get is how "any QR system will fit it" Mine sure doesn't. :)

Arthur

I've just ordered the Steady Stick from 47th St Photo and am awaiting delivery. Hope it lives up to all the praise! Like you I need a QR adapter to "mate" with my Manfrotto tripods, and I've just ordered from Keene Electronics a Manfrotto QR adaptor cradle and camera plate for £37.49 inc carriage. The description indicates that it should be possible to attach the cradle to any tripod, so it should fit your Velbon.

For further information, go to Keene's search page

http://www.keene.co.uk/cgi-bin/bigcodesearch.pl

and type "mn357" in the catalogue code box.

Hope this helps.

Brian Reed
Devizes, UK

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999

Cheers Brian. That looks a very similar part to what the reviewer used to convert. A tad expensive, but looks like the easist solution.
By the way, to me the 'fixing' screw & the locating pin on the steadystick plate seem to be the wrong way round?

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999

I've also found this link here:
http://dvdf.hexus.net/showthread.php?p=226479

BrianReed
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Joined: Oct 19 1999
Arthur.S wrote:
I've also found this link here:
http://dvdf.hexus.net/showthread.php?p=226479

Same piece of kit. Ray suggests that its not a QR system and I respect his opinion, but I think it will do what I want - i.e. allow me to quickly remove my cam from the Steady Stick and mount it on my Manfrotto tripod, the two cradles being compatible.

In Arthur's case, he would need two MN357s - one for the Steady Stick and another to convert his Velbon tripod. Not sure about the arrangement of the fixings, Arthur, but as I read the Keene illustration, the locating pin is at the front, and the screw (adjustable for position) is to the rear which is the correct way round and the same as my Manfrotto plates supplied with my existing tripods. Not sure how this will attach to the Steady Stick but will let you know in due course.

I'll report further when I've received both items and given them a test drive. The Steady Stick has left the US and should be with me later this week, so hopefully I'll have the MN357 by then be able to give an update.

Brian Reed
Devizes, UK

BrianReed
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Joined: Oct 19 1999

Just a quick warning for anyone ordering a Manfrotto QR plate - make sure you order the correct one for your tripod as there are different versions with different plate widths. I ordered an MN357 which is too wide for my 501 heads, so am having to get it exchanged for the correct one which is MN577.

Murphy's Law seems to have applied itself twice here - not only have I got the wrong one, but the replacement is more expensive!

Brian Reed
Devizes, UK

BrianReed
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Joined: Oct 19 1999
BrianReed wrote:
Not sure how this (Manfrotto sliding plate adapter) will attach to the Steady Stick but will let you know in due course. I'll report further when I've received both items and given them a test drive. The Steady Stick has left the US and should be with me later this week, so hopefully I'll have the MN357 by then be able to give an update.

Steady Stick arrived today. Excellent service from 47th St Photo, bonded carriage and able to track progress all the way via their supplied internet link. Total cost including carriage, import duty and handling fees amounted to £96.03 - and you get a free lightweight travel tripod thrown in!

It looks well-made and seems to do just what I want for steadying hand-held shots - particularly pans and limited crane shots. Will need a bit of practice, but first impressions are good.

The Manfrotto quick-release adapter cradle attaches firmly and easily to the Steady Stick mount. As soon as the camera plate is slid in it locks preventing the camera from accidentally falling off before you've secured the locking lever. I can't see why others say that it's not a quick-release system once you have done this as it seems to have exactly the same functionality as the QR cradles on my video heads. Once I get the correct adapter plate (see above) I think I shall have a "new toy" with which I shall be well-pleased.

Brian Reed
Devizes, UK

Arthur.S
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Joined: Jun 2 1999

Any updates on the steadystick Brian? I've yet to use mine in anger.

BrianReed
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Joined: Oct 19 1999

So have I!

From the limited use I've made to date I'm well-pleased. It certainly helps you get a much steadier shot in static situations, almost as good as having a tripod. Not much use for tracking shots, though, as every hip movement causes camera movement.

I also need to practice transferring the camera from the steadistick to the tripod and vice-versa.

Brian Reed
Devizes, UK