I Want a Stabilization Gyro for Christmas...

ic-racer

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For the person that has just about everything. What is lighter than a larger tripod? Maybe a Gyro.

I think one of these would be great on the bottom of a 6x9cm or 4x5in camera. One issue I have with large format is that I'm sometimes not fast enough.

Large format requires the most speed of any other format. It takes a while to set everything up and light or a subject change so fast.
 
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ic-racer

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The traditional Kenyon gyros (made since the 50s) run off 120v 400Hz so they need an inverter and LiFe or lead acid battery.

Sure they are somewhat expensive but the thought is, since digital cinema allows for image stabilization in the digital domain, these gyros will go up for sale as more and more cinematographers convert to high-end equipment where the gyro is not needed.

Digital still people won't want them either, because the iphone already has up to 5 seconds of hand-held digital stabilization.
 

Pieter12

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Gyros can be rather heavy, but the biggest drawback is you have wrestle with them to move your camera into position and compose. The same thing that stabizes your camera also doesn’t want to let you move it intentionally.
 

aparat

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Is it the kind that they used for aerial photography, photographing out of a helicopter? Maybe one can be found in eBay? It's a cool idea!
 
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ic-racer

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Yes, same spinning principle, but I don't think the Greek version will spin fast enough...

The Kenyon stability gyros are sealed in helium for low resistance and take 4 minutes to reach maximum speed of 20,000 rpm.

 
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ic-racer

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aparat said:
Is it the kind that they used for aerial photography, photographing out of a helicopter? Maybe one can be found in eBay? It's a cool idea!
Click to expand...

Exactly! I don't think the Gyros are much use any more with digital stabilization.

So, just like expensive 8x10 enlargers, sensitometers, film processors and professional film cameras, I suspect the Gyros will become affordable. New they can be as much as $6000 depending on size.

The stability gyros were still needed with the first few generations of digital cinema, but by now digital stabilization is mainstream.

 
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ic-racer

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Pieter12 said:
Gyros can be rather heavy, but the biggest drawback is you have wrestle with them to move your camera into position and compose. The same thing that stabizes your camera also doesn’t want to let you move it intentionally.
Click to expand...

Excellent point. Have you used one? It takes 4 minutes to spin up. About the same time it takes to set up a tripod. If one leaves it running, what it it like to walk around with it?

In the video below it looks like he moves it around easily just like any heavy camera.

Also, look at the age of the video; 12 years ago. Another indicator that these are becoming obsolete unless one is using film.

Another point is that conventional aerial photography with any camera, digitally stabilized or not, is also becoming obsolete due to drone cinematography.

 
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Pieter12

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I’ve never used one Myself. Just heard it from a fellow at a rental house that they were a bear to handle. Probably depends on the axis you move on.
 

lxdude

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I'm not sure what you're all talking about. it's Greek to me...
 

reddesert

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Have you looked into the Steadicam or similar mounts? The clever aspect of the Steadicam is that it doesn't use a gyro or similar powered stabilizer, even though many people think it does. It uses weight distribution to let gravity damp the motion of the camera. Of course, the full Steadicam is a rather involved rig.

A current trend among videographers and action-camera (like Gopro) users is to use a much smaller gimbal mount (often powered) that stabilizes action shots. These can be not much larger than a handheld microphone, for small cameras. I think the issue is that in-camera image stabilization isn't sufficient for video type uses where you are actually tracking and want the image to move, but without handheld shake; the stabilizer aids that. I know someone who uses one of these gimbals for videos while trail running.

I think my point is that even with digital stabilization, motion photographers need an external solution, but the gyro is likely already disfavored except for extreme use cases like aerials.
 

Pieter12

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Every Steadi-Cam operator I ever worked with was built like a football player. And that includes the female operators. I take it as a sign that quite a bit of strength is required to manage the rig.
 

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4x5 Crown Graphic with Auto exposure, auto focus and image stabilization, and 12 frames per second

Or a small gyro for a Hasselblad. So many toys.
 

mshchem

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There's several of the Ken-Lab units used on Ebay. Cool.
 
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I have been researching the various sizes. Looks like the KS6 might be the one for 4x5" and large medium format cameras.
 

Sirius Glass

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I will settle for one of these
 
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ic-racer

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There is one on ebay now but in the picture they have it mounted wrong. There is no stabilization 90 degrees to the axis of the sausage. That camera will fall flat on its face.

 

Sirius Glass

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Sirius Glass

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