These descriptions are meant to show the parts of the Steadicam system as the basic Show & Tell for those who are not too sure what the various parts are called. So for those of you just starting out or are just not sure what is what, then glance over these pics. A small note. There are many variations of the Steadicam system but all have somewhat the basic setup. All pics, except for the MK-v gimbal pic, are property of HBS.
So simply put, please do not use these pics for any other publication other than private use. With that out of the way, please go ahead and refresh your knowledge.
The components that make up the Steadicam® system
For those who are unfamiliar with the Steadicam system I will point out what the system is made up of. I’ll just go into some brief details on the components involved in the system.
The Steadicam® system comprises of three main components:
The vest
The arm (Iso-elastic®)
The sled
I’ll begin with the Vest, which acts as a support brace, so to speak, for the arm and sled components. This is one of the components that are important to the system as well as to the operator. It has to sit well on the individual that is wearing it and at the same time be as comfortable as possible. It also has to be sturdy enough to be able to carry the weight of the arm and sled. The vest’s job is to distribute the weight of the camera system across the entire upper body.
For this to work right the vest is constructed using light materials like carbon alloy, which is strong but light in weight. To make the vest comfortable, padding materials are used to give the operator a well-fitted support to the back, chest and waistline. The vest is made adjustable to be able to fit the different sizes of operators. There are different models of the vest that are designed to handle the weight of a particular model of the steadicam system.
Although there are different models in the Steadicam line, they all provide the same amount of comfort and stability within their required limitations. Regardless the model, the vest is extremely well built, mostly, with high-grade materials that provide quality, reliability, stability and endurance. Certainly attributes to a well deserved device.
By adding all the necessary qualities that goes along with a steadicam vest, the manufacturer went one step further. They incorporated a safety line which enables the operator to detach the vest in case of an emergency. A good example, quoting the late Ted Churchill, is a situation when one is “…being chased by a wild bull…” and needs to get out of its way quicker.
A strap or line connected from the back to the upper right shoulder of the vest, with a plastic handle, enables the operator to pull on it when the need be. This detaches the back of the vest, which is made in sections in order for the system to work, in an emergency event.
The parts are essential to the operator and are made as flexible as possible. One particular area on the vest of importance is the socket block. This ingenious construction enables the operator to adjust the direction of the arm according to where the sled wants to go. If the sled seems to pull away from the operator, he can simply turn one of the screws on the socket block thus bringing the sled back to a position that is comfortable for the operator. This is call, personal adjustments.
This is one of the options that make the Steadicam stand out from the rest of the cheaper stabilizers out there. This feature is used constantly within the professional world and it’s something that no operator, more or less, can live without.
For optimum quality, Titanium is used and I would think this is because it’s at a point where the most stress lies. Although Titanium is expensive its biggest advantage is that it’s a light material and that counts a lot in body stabilizers. Springs are also made out of this material which seems to be the proven product of choice.
The Steadicam® manufacturer tends to lend towards quality, liability and aesthetics and to achieve all of the above, they hold back no expenses. That’s why their arms, sled and vest look so high tech. Everything is machined, leaving no room for an ounce of soldering. The result is a smooth, clean cut shaved device with linear age to die for.
Nowadays there are other leading brands with similar fine machining but they still pretty much share the same attribute – They cost!
The Arm is what I considered one of the most important components in the Steadicam® system. This is the real brain behind the stabilization concept. The arm takes out the jitteriness by using sets of springs and pulleys to absorb the vertical movement of a person when in motion. It simply knocks out the jolts that go through the body when a person walks or runs. For each step that a person takes sends a vibration through the body which the arm must dissipate before it gets passed on through to the sled. The springs are calibrated precisely to insure perfect balance when the arm takes the weight of the camera and sled.
With the springs adjustable, the arm can be use with various camera weights. One of the extraordinary features of the arm is to remain in the position in space when the operator releases his grip from the sled or gimbal.
The ability of the arm to stay where you leave it is a result of a well-tuned and mathematical precision arm put in one word – Isoelastic®.
The Sled is the support pole for the camera. It holds a battery and monitor system that is used in conjunction with the camera. The post is able to extend to a certain length increasing the CG which produces different characteristics that affects the balance of the sled in the way the sled behaves. The sled attaches to the arm with the help of a gimbal device that enables the operator to manipulate the rig in space. I call the sled the ‘powerhouse’ for the camera.
The complete sled comes in all shapes and size but all of them have one underlining similarity. They all have a pole with counter weights at one end which helps to spread the mass between the camera and battery, monitor (which acts as the counter weights) setup at the opposite end. The monitor used in the high end rigs is precision monitor. They are capable of viewing in broad daylight, which is of huge importance to the operator. One can probably buy several televisions sets for the cost of one of these monitors.
The gimbal is another very important piece that needs to be machined properly for the system to work, as it should. A gimbal is simply (not to be taken too literally), a bearing system that allows the sled to rotate freely in all three of its axis. It is made up of bearings which control the pan, tilt and roll of the sled. It is simply a part of the steadicam system that helps control the sled with its mounted camera in time and space and at the same time helps in preventing outside forces from acting upon the sled.
A good example, as mention earlier, is the ability to balance a broom on the tip of your finger by placing your finger at the right spot of the broom, which is the broom’s center of gravity or the CG. With the CG at your finger tip you can lift the broom straight up because both upwards pull and downwards pull cancel each other out. If you place your finger any where else on the broom stick, other then the CG, then the broom will tip to one side, falling to the ground. This example is exactly similar to that of the sled and the rest of its components. To be exact, it uses inertia to resist rotation whenever a force emanates through the steadicam Arm. It is also responsible for placing the sled at its center of CG, or usually just below it. It is also one of the most important parts in the steadicam system.
Without the gimbal then there is really no point in having the sled, arm or vest.
The gimbal is attached to the sled and can be moved in its vertical axis for proper balance when the sled is mounted with a camera. One can say that the sled acts as the powerhouse of the system. A portable reserve-housing if you will. Without the sled, then there would be no need for the arm and vest.
Every component has their CG; it’s a matter of finding it. A camera for instance has its CG which also helps in the fine tuning the entire setup.
The whole idea of the steadicam® is to get smooth shots in situations where a normal handheld, crane or dolly shots would not permit or deemed too complicated a set up to achieve the same results. Imagine trying to get a crane or dolly in a tight basement passageway, 1.5 m wide, with pipes running along side the wall. Now, you got the picture.
The possibility of this great device is, in itself, a huge asset and has become a major player in the film industry. As operators become well tuned to this device they come to discover things that could make the steadicam an even better system. There have been additions made to the steadicam over the years with new concepts being devised to make for an even greater operational experience. Using the Steadicam® system is just not simply strapping everything on and getting perfect shots. It requires good stamina and a trained eye to operate this beast. It is a strenuous craft to master, taking months and sometimes years to produce some outstanding shots.
The biggest tip any operator will give you is Practice! Practice! And then Practice some more! This is an advice that has always been the norm throughout time; and will continue on well into the future.
Every component of a steadicam system is more or less stream-lined in design. BTW, have I told you how I like that look? Most sleds are factory balance, dynamically. So the only thing the operator has to worry about is the usual overall balance.
Although the Steadicam can be used in almost every situation possible it is still best use when tracking actors. This gives the feeling of the audience being more involved. All components in the steadicam system, regardless of the different type of models, are well inter-related, making them work precisely together in perfect harmony. That’s the beauty of the steadicam system.
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Below is a pic of an MK-v Gimbal that I used to illustrate the bearings placement and what they do:
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sled1.jpg
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We are all learning 
I'll be adding things later on. Remember there are different names that people use like the bone which descibe the outta covers of the arm.
