Flycam and Opteka are excellent at producing affordable camera equipment so when it comes to choosing between their products it can be difficult to decide which manufacturer will better serve your filming needs. Independent filmmakers have a huge amount of products to choose from, but a limited budget to work with. Most filmmakers will know what they need in terms of equipment to get their desired style of filming or the specialist shots they can’t achieve without additional equipment.
OptekaSteadyVid Pro
With a load capacity of up to 5lbs, the OptekaSteadyVid Pro is perfect for use with DSLR cameras and additional accessories. The ability to stabilize tracking shots and handheld camera work is ideal for improving the quality of filming, allowing low budget products to have a finish that Hollywood would be proud of. There is an adjustable mounting plate than can be precisely balanced for to suit your camera so that you don’t have to invest in another new piece of equipment to fit the OptekaSteadyVid Pro.
The comfortable grip handle makes it easy to operate the gimbal that measures 8 x 9.5 x 1.2 inches. Made from aluminum, the OptekaSteadyVid Pro is lightweight making user friendly and something that filmmakers can use for extended periods of time without suffering. The smooth gimbal allows for accurate motion tracking so you can avoid jerky camera movement. Aside from the main counterweight, there are two add on weights that can be used to customize the balance of the OptekaSteadyVid Pro, it also comes with a one year warranty.
Flycam Nano
The DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano has a built in quick release system that allows your camera to be removed from the rig with the minimum amount of fuss and effort. As the name suggests, this Flycam is designed to be used with a DSLR cameras. The black gimbal bearings have been more specifically designed to be compatible with nearly all Canon cameras that include the 5d Mark II, the EOS7D, the 1000D, the 40D, the 50D, the 450D, the 60D, the 1100D, the 30D, the 20D, the 350D, the 450D, the Rebel XSI, the XT, the T2I, the 500D and the 550D.
The DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano is a much bigger rig than the OptekaSteadyVid Pro measuring 19 x 6.5 x 8 inches, though it is fairly light for its size, weighing 6.6lbs. This does mean that it is much heavier than the OptekaSteadyVidPro, even though it is constructed from aluminum so may not be suitable for extended use or for those who are lacking in upper body strength. However, the load capacity for the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano is only 4.4lbs meaning that for the extra weight you are not gaining any extra load capacity over the OptekaSteadyVid Pro.
The telescopic sled on the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano is adjustable for perfect balancing of the unit to allow for the best possible quality. The standard mounting screw measures ¼ inches, making it suitable to attach cameras that are not produced by Canon, but other manufacturers as well. The stabilization of the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano is customizable using the additional stabilization weights, the main counterweight weighing 3.5lbs. There are sixteen additional counterweight discs that come with the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano meaning that you can balance the unit to suit your own particular shooting style and keep a consistent level of quality in your filming. The additional counterweights attached to the base platform.
The camera mounting platform is adjustable in both the x and y axes so that you can be sure of the best possible of framing of shot that can be adjusted for different takes. When using the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano you eliminate the need for both tripods and dollys, which has the advantage of saving filmmakers with limited budgets large amounts of money. There are also multiple mounting holes on the camera platform so that the camera position can be modified for different shots; different camera positions as well as fitting different sized cameras.
The Final Verdict
When it comes to the cost of the OptekaSteadyVid Pro and the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano extremely reasonably priced for the equipment you get. The OptekaSteadyVid Pro is the cheaper unit as you might expect for the weight of the unit and its ability, there are however a lot of accessories that you can purchase for the OptekaSteadyVid Pro that do increase stability as well as provide extra features. If you are not willing to part with the extra money, or do not have it in the budget to purchase all the extra accessories, the OptekaSteadyVid Pro is still a unit that will act as an excellent gimbal.
The load capacity for both rigs is fairly similar, however for the extra weight of the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano may make it a little less appealing. If you are more concerned with the customization of stability then the DVC 17837 DSLR Flycam Nano is the better choice, having an additional 16 counterweights vs the OptekaSteadyVid Pro’s two.
Click here to purchase Opteka SteadyVid PRO on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Flycam Nano on Amazon!