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Steadicam Pilot-VL Camera Stabilizing System - $800 (Silver Springs)
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$800 obo
This is a lightly-used true Steadicam Pilot-VL kit, the "prosumer"-level rig suitable for camera systems up to 10 pounds of weight. Will provide years and years of service, while also being a great and simple starter rig for those intending to shoot for movies and TV. This was my own onramp into the Steadicam universe, and I'm selling it because I got a professional-level Steadicam rig, the kind which sells at a price between "Ouch" and "YEEEOW!"
The Pilot is an excellent, capable yet simple and lightweight system for such uses as family, wedding or real estate videos. It's also a great rig for newbies, and those who want to learn to use Steadicam with an eye toward a career in the industry. This is a REAL Steadicam, not a toy! It's the "sports car" of Steadicam rigs.
INCLUDES:
Pilot vest with all-Velcro aftermarket waist belt (replacing original Velcro strap)
Arm (w/quick-disconnect pins)
Carbon-fiber extending sled, with
V-mount battery holder (battery NOT included)
Camera quick-release mounting plate
5.8" color LCD monitor
8 balancing weights
Docking bracket (used for setup, balancing, etc)
. . .all carried in a rolling soft case.
Just add camera, battery and appropriate power cable!
You get what's listed above. The pics show this rig with (not included) camera, plate, battery, wireless mic receiver, cables and C-stand.
As you can see in the pic, I was flying a Sony EX1R, V-mount battery, Sennheiser receiver, shotgun mic with dead cat AND was doing all of this on a Sony tripod plate (I like to be able to jump back and forth between sticks and rig).
If you are doing professional video work (events, sports, etc) but can't justify spending tens of thousands of dollars on a full-bore Steadicam rig, this is the one for you.
With the vest and arms proudly emblazoned with the Steadicam name, people will know at a glance that you're not just playing around with some Chinese, tofu-dregs toy knockoff that Uncle Fred could have bought off Temu. This can be important, if you intend to use this doing professional video. Steadicam has become so important in motion-picture production that more and more people know the name, even outside of the industry.
Every one of your competitors has a business card saying "Video Production" -- that can mean anything. Contrast that with when you hand over your own card, saying "Steadicam Video Production" and you're using a rig with that name on it . . .they figure that you're the EXPERT.
All that counts now is what you give them after the shoot . . .and that takes practice.
The Pilot-VL kit in backpack had an MSRP over three times my asking price. The vest and arm were originally designed to use with the Merlin handheld gimbal, then they realized that there was a need for a lightweight, "prosumer"-level Steadicam system, so they developed the carbon-fiber sled that makes this the full Pilot rig. For another few dollars, I also have a Merlin 2 that I can sell, with the pin to adapt the Pilot to work with the Merlin, to give an even wider range of capabilities.
Garrett Brown, inventor of Steadicam, states that this is intended to fly a 10-lb payload, though some literature was not updated and gave the lower payload capacity of the Merlin. I flew it with about this much weight, and found it responsive yet stable. It's FUN to use!
The rolling case holds the original foam insert for the Pilot arms and sled. Being unmarked luggage, it avoids attention that might be attracted by one emblazoned with the name of a company whose products range into the tens of thousands of dollars.
I can also provide a PDF of the Pilot user manual (or you can download it). If you are unfamiliar with Steadicam use, there are videos on YouTube which explain in detail how to set up, balance, learn and use Steadicam systems -- the principles are the same for pretty much all of the models. There are also some VERY impressive videos of Steadicam work done by the experts . . .and by newbies! Steadicam is easy to learn and fun to use, letting you be creative without FORCING you to be.