The Steadicam® Operator's Handbook

Buying a Steadicam^®

We've seen students arrive at a workshop with a full kit of new gear and all the accessories, expecting that operating a Steadicam will magically change their entire lives. Sadly, it rarely works that way. In the worst cases, the student discovers he has no talent for the job and lives in an area that doesn't have enough production to support his habit. A few years later, the gear is sold at a huge loss, but the student's disappointment is a lot deeper and more painful than that.

On the other hand, almost every freelance Steadicam operator eventually buys a Steadicam. You need to practice and it's just too annoying to borrow someone else's gear that isn't tricked out just the way you want or available when you need it most. ...