Hi Everyone! Just got my Birdycam yesterday. So far it's really solid and very easy to balance.

I’m so excited to finally use an affordable quality product so I can achieve great dynamic shots with my Panasonic GH4 and perhaps the Sony A7s. The fact that a 32-bit 3-axis gimbal with a tool-less adjustable design, solid carrying case, and downloadable/updatable firmware for less than $2500 makes the Birdycam 2 an amazing value for any production

Check out my first impression review here: http://filmbrosmedia.com/varavon-birdycam-3-axis-gimbal-package/

@tired I think it looks great but agree with the name, what is it got to do with birds?

how many birds fly through the air with a camera operator attached to them?

I've already booked a high profile client and told them about the Birdycam and they loved it, so no one really gives a s***? If you're so worried about the name then that means your pitch for your services and your equipment is not convincing enough to your clients.

@killagram So far the camera has been a dream to balance. It took me a while the first time to get used to it but now I'm able to get this balanced within 5 minutes. I've been flying this with the GH4 and Lumix 12-35mm 2.8 and it works so well. I need to somehow download the software onto my Macbook to make the default follow mode faster. It's a bit slow coming out of the package but it works well. The joystick is absolutely awesome and feels really natural while moving around with the Birdycam. You can use the camera's monitor but it'll be very tricky checking your focus. I wouldn't use the monitor extended but it's still possible. It would just be harder to balance. So I'd use an external monitor just to be safe.

I also tried this with a steadicam vest and I would NOT use that combo again. You lose the dynamic movement going low or high with the gimbal and I'm not sure if the extra weight on your body will be an even tradeoff for your arms. I rather beef up my arms in the long haul :)

@killagram I'm not precisely sure what follow mode is myself since I'm fairly new to these type of gimbals but I figured it is when you pan the camera the gimbal will slide toward the direction of your pan instead of being in a fixed position when the motor is on.

I have my GH4 toward the center right of the stage for near perfect balance so extending the screen out all the way won't work.

@SeekingHeartwood thanks for posting those videos! The stabilization looks phenomenal - no jitter, shake and it seemed very level with the horizon for the most part. I noticed in one of your videos that you were using an external monitor on the top of the gimbal, but is it possible to keep the GH4's external display extended while using the Birdycam? I ask because the OLED display on the GH4 is excellent and it will keep both costs and weight down when using it. Thanks.

Although I had on pre-order the Ronin, I cancelled it thinking I would get the lighter Varavon despite the loss I would take in rentals (the Ronin is much more "rentable"). At this price though, both are so close that it just doesn't make sense to get the Varavon right now. Especially since they've announced that they will be making a larger version as well for bigger cameras. The Birdycam should have been priced below $2000. At $1700-1900 it would be ideal (which I think will be their price once the dust shuttles off)

@3Kids, I concur. I was waiting for this gimbal as I understand it was gonna be $2000, then I heard $2300 then now $2550. At this price point, I might as well just get the DJI Ronin which seems much more reliable.

@kingmixer

I'll let you know as it'll be available as I am keeping in touch with them, we'll have special deals.

any info about maximum payload? Ronin is set at an incredible 7.5Kg!

Looking forward to a pv deal on this product. Thanks as usual, Vitaliy.