Features
—
For smartphone. Mount for using a smartphone as a camera. Most often it is a kind of clamp, in which the body of the device is tightly clamped. Such clamps usually have a fairly wide range of adjustment for the width of the phone, which allows you to use this type of stabiliser with most modern smartphones, regardless of the diagonal. And some models can even work with compact digital cameras.
—
For camera. Attachments designed for use with full-size cameras — SLR and mirrorless (MILC). Such cameras are quite large and have a thread mount for a tripod. All these features are taken into account in the design of the stabiliser.
—
For action cameras. Stabilisers designed for action cameras — compact cameras used mainly for shooting dynamic scenes like sports, skiing, cycling, etc. Such devices, by definition, are designed for use in rather extreme activities, including surfing, skiing, paragliding, etc. However, the specific features of different stabilisers may be different, so before buying it's ok to clarify this matter separately.
Note that instead of the general name “for action camera”, the stabiliser specifications may contain the names of specific models of action cameras for which the device is designed.
Tilt angle
The range of forward-backward tilt angles relative to the vertical position supported by the steadicam.
It can be written in different ways.
The simplest option is when one angle value is indicated in the characteristics. This may mean that the camera is able to deviate from the neutral position in both directions by the same angle, which is half the range.
Another recording option is used when the angles of inclination forward and backward are not the same. In such cases, the horizontal position of the camera on a vertical steadicam is taken as zero, the “—” sign indicates the maximum angle of camera deflection back, lens up, the “+” sign — forward, lens down.
Bank angle
The range of roll angles (to the side) supported by the steadicam.
Can be recorded in two ways (See "Tilt Range")
Max. controlled speed
The maximum controlled speed supported by the stabiliser is, in fact, the highest speed of rotation of the camera along one axis or another, provided by the device. This is the maximum rotation speed of the entire structure, at which the stabiliser automation can provide effective stabilisation along the corresponding axis (that is, keep the camera stationary).
This item is directly related to the purpose of the stabiliser — for shooting while hiking or cycling on flat terrain, a high stabilization speed is hardly necessary, but during surfing, acrobatic aerobatics and other similar activities, the “slow” stabiliser often turns out to be ineffective.
Max. phone diagonal
The maximum diagonal of the phone that can be installed on this stabiliser.
This parameter is more relevant for models for various purposes, not only for those that were originally designed for smartphones. Here we note that the maximum diagonal is a rather approximate parameter: models with the same screen size may have different actual dimensions.
Power bank function
The ability to work steadicam in
power bank mode — an external battery for various portable devices. This allows the device to share its energy with the phone, the charge of which is already hooked, and the shooting process is not yet over.
Dustproof, waterproof
The presence in the steadicam
of protection against dust and moisture, and the level of such protection.
Any device has a certain degree of dust and water protection; however, in this case, an increased degree of security is implied, at least allowing you to safely use the steadicam in the rain. In general, the degree of such protection may be different. Sometimes it is not indicated at all in the main characteristics, and this point needs to be clarified according to the documentation for the device. Sometimes a specific level of protection is given in accordance with the IP standard — for example, IP67. A detailed interpretation of such markings can be found in special tables.
