In the meantime I made a short video with footage from first tests and projects with the Porta Head 2 and 5 prototypes. The footage is not stabilized in post to show the actual results of the gimbal. More footage will follow soon and also a test with the gimbal combined with the steadicam.

Best regards, Andreas

www.portahead.de

Has anyone used one of these for a long period? They're obviously fantastic and having given up on two hand held ones in the past because of the fanny of balancing them I would love to have one but if you were doing a loooooong shot, covering an event or whatever wouldn't you still want a vest and arm and therefore regular stabiliser? Do you need both!?

Just thinking with a BMCC and monitor and maybe battery it's still going to be a weight to lug around and hold up for an extended period of time. Maybe i just need to go to the gym - I would put more but that wouldn't be true.

@ahbleza Ah, thank you, that was my fear. I might be too old to start! So the Portahead 2 is OK with BMCC, that's good news, bit of a price jump to 5. What sort of lens were you using? Did you have any add ons like FF or battery?

@ahbleza Thanks. So nice and light. Do you think it would have taken a heavier lens or ff?

I've found that a lighter rig is a bitch to get balanced. Weight is stability.

If these work than you could get stable shots with a light rig. That would be a good thing. Then a GH2/3 bmpcc could be a flying rig with a bigger camera as the main.

There's no way anyone can hold say a bmcc with a big lens, monitor and stabilizer. Not without body support or more that one guy. Not for multiple takes. No way.

I'd like to see a brushless on an arm, has anyone seen it done? Can't see what the connecting point would be but if there is a way that would seem perfect to me. Great off the arm for short bursts and getting into nooks and crannies and then fine for longer work on it.

I wouldn't go anywhere near these until comprehensive reviews are out. It's one thing to walk around the carpeted office, it's another on uneven ground in the field.

What's the learning curve like? What about calibration? What happens when it's loaded in the back of a car, does all the gyro get screwed up? Some of these look fragile. How long does it take to get it set up and balanced?

How do they handle sway and pitch? Most stabilzers handle up down motion really well. It's the side to side roll that's hard to control. Turn a corner and see what happens.

I love the idea. But the idea has to work and work repeatedly under real conditions.

Itll be interesting to see the price on the varavon unit, as they are usually pretty inexpensive.

Be careful to by from a manufacturer that's dedicated in making 3-axis stabilizers like MOVi or Defy. I kinda told myself, I was gonna spend +$3000 on a stabilizer, I will buy a Defy. I doubt the varavon system is gonna be cheaper.

This market will change in upcomign year very significantly. With mentioned manufacturers pushed into niche top market. As for varavon stuff, don't make assumptions :-)