Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System

Posted by Cheryl P. | 4:00 PM
, , , , , ,

Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System Review



Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2OOKVV08HANE3 I've had this for about an year now. Before purchasing this, I tried to look for actual footage of this product being used as a stabilizer; all I could find videos from Manfrotto were actors just holding the ModoSteady, chasing each other around and acting like they were having a good time -- but they NEVER showed the actual results of what they shot. I can see why they avoided advertising that part now.

In the "steadicam mode", you DEFINITELY will NOT get a smooth gliding feel. Unless you're moving like a slug, the ball/handle will hit against the corner and cause undesired jittering. (see the beginning of my video). Yes, your mileage will also vary depending on who's operating, the size of the camera, and how well the optical stabilizer itself is on the camera. HOWEVER, I also own the Hague Mini-Motion Cam (the price is actually the same; however, the shipping charges can add to the total, if you buy directly from them, since Hague is based in England), and I shot videos using both stabilizers with the same camera/condition. The result with the ModoSteady is quite disappointing.

With the Hague MMC, you will actually get a really smooth gliding result with it! Although Hague has limitations of its own, not as compact/portable, and looks more like it was made in a garage, the results are far more impressive. Watch the video for comparison. You will see the difference. I also used a stabilization plugin filter of the jittery ModoSteady footage, to actually make it look smooth (how ironic), but the Hague can actually produce that smoothness without relying on post digital editing.

Like any other product, the more features or extras that a product has/throws in, the less impressive it usually is compared to a primary focused one; that should usually be a given. Although the ModoSteady is a 3-in-1 product, it is basically a watered-down version of everything.

* The shoulder support extends quite a bit, so it can actually end up causing more fatigue on your arms. I find it less tiring not extending it all the way (see my video at around 2:49). However, the shoulder support is probably the most conventional out of the three modes.
* There is only one lock for the table tripod, so it can be difficult to get one desired pan or tilt movement, since the tension cannot be adjusted individually.
* For the "steadicam mode", if your camera is front-heavy, the front-tuning "leg" needs to be moved back more (since there is no adjustment for the camera mount itself to move foward/back; however, the mount can be adjusted to move left and right), which can cause less room for your hand and end up hitting against it.

Pros:
+ Very innovative idea (gets extra points for that)
+ Portability! It folds up really compact to carry in any bag.
+ Quick Release (well, sort of... you still have to unscrew)
+ Number scale marking for making steadicam tuning adjustments.
+ Made in Slovakia/Europe - Good construction build quality, despite plastic elements (definitely looks better than the Hague - too bad the steadicam results weren't up to that quality)

Cons:
- NOT a real steadicam (the Hague Mini-Motion Cam completely puts this to shame. The ModoSteady is probably only a slight improvement compared to walking handheld)
- The biggest issue is the poor mechanism between the ball joint and the handle; it's just stiff and choppy despite making the ball loose. It should have been thought out better - it causes unnecessary friction/vibration when in "steadicam mode" (it seems they had to design it this way in order to spread the legs into a tripod, but it really hurts the performance of the steadicam - basically not a whole lot better than walking slowly handheld)
- Tilt/pan lock is fixed together for table tripod

I give it a 3 1/2 stars. Definitely far from a 5-star product. If you know its limitations, it could still have some uses. The biggest thing I like about this product is its portability. When walking up the stairs or a simple pan/tilt, it can still add a slight improvement than not having anything at all. However, don't expect gliding smooth flowing results. You will never get that with this. Invariably, you'll need to fix the vibration/jittery caused by the poor friction/handle in post editing -- if you're looking for real professional result. If you feel your handheld shots are really horrible and all over the place every time, want to just simply improve your "home videos" (size is good for taking it on road trips and vacations too), this can be a nice addition, especially if your handheld camera doesn't have a good hand grip support. For those who already have a decent steady hand or expect to get a smooth gliding result with this, well, you will be disappointed. If your primary interest is only for the "steadicam mode", then you will DEFINITELY be disappointed. I know when this product came out, the MSRP was double the price; it definitely would have been overpriced if they kept it at that.



Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System Feature


  • Can be utilized three different ways
  • Use as a shoulder support
  • Unique stabilizing system
  • Can be used as a table top tripod



Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System Overview


Bogen Manfrotto MODOSTEADY: a unique innovative-designed, ergonomic, multifunction stabilisation system for lightweight camcorders. A "three-in-one" product: 1. A shoulder support. its bi-injected foot can be used as shoulder pod, so that the MODOSTEADY becomes an extension of the body. 2. A camcorder counterbalancing stabilizer, the counterbalancing stabilizer needs to be set in order to find the proper counterbalance position and weight, considering the weight and the centre of gravity of the camcorder. When balanced it is a very useful camcoder stabilizer, which improves a lot the quality the image when shot in movement. 3. Table Tripod: folding the extension arm, the bi-injected handle can be opened and MODOSTEADY becomes a table tripod, useful also for still-pictures. The Modosteady concept was invented by the design company Sapio and developed by Bogen Manfrotto.


Available at Amazon Check Price Now!



Related Products





Customer Reviews


good stabilizer for price - chewy - SF bay, CA United States
just starting out with a GH1 panasonic, and wanted something to help stabilize video shots when zooming in. this one is made by manfrotto, a big name in tripods and such, but is an entry level kind of thing. takes a few minutes to figure out the bracket unlock, but it looks worth the money to me. only issue I have had is that the camera comes loose from the base, I think b/c cameras don't have the extra hole to prevent rotation that camcorders do. will add a rubber wassher or something to prevent this (long lens leads to front heavy lever arm rotating the screw)






You get what you pay for... - Daddy V -
Although we all know the ModoSteady is a "ball-in-socket" style stabilizer, this is not a Steadicam Merlin (gimbal-style) or even a Hague MMC (ball-in-socket), but rather a really good approximation of what those devices do. Your actual mileage will vary with the ModoSteady depending on what video device, along with accessories, you have mounted on it.

For the price, this is a good amateur attempt to provide "inert" stabilization. If you don't want to spend more than a hundred bucks to try your hand at Steadicam style filming, then this is the perfect entry-level product for you. Better, since it also has the "shot-gun" and "mini-tripod" modes as well... which are handy when you realize the Steadicam approximation isn't cutting it anymore.

I have the Canon HF-S100 w/ the BP-827 battery mounted on the ModoSteady. My results have only been average, with the more aggressive action filming style resulting in very poor/shaky footage. I've come to realize that the HF-S100 is best when mounted on a tri/monopod and used for capturing the action from a fixed position. I don't think the combination of the ModoSteady and the HF-S100 is a good one, IMHO. The HD video is too sensitive to movement and the ModoSteady is not "fluid" enough to control poor operator technique. That's a bad combination.

The best footage I got was indoors under controlled conditions and with slow deliberate movements. Again, your result will vary depending on level of experience, technique, and camera configuration/accessorizing...

I briefly tried the ModoSteady with a Canon PowerShot SD780 IS... the results were not too bad. It actually makes handling the very small SD780 much easier and more stable.

Like my review title says, "You get what you pay for..." If you want Steadicam Merlin results, buy the Merlin... if you want to experiment with entry-level, sub-one-hundred dollar results, buy the ModoSteady...

P.S.
I also bought the 585 LNC remote control that mounts to the ModoSteady handle. (Again you get what you pay for.)




Steady Cam - S. Paller - Caledonia, Michigan
I purchased this product to use with a Nikon D-90 when using the "live capture" HD movie mode the camera is capable of. The Manfrotto 585 is a well made, easy to use product, though using with the heavy D-90 proved to be a little cumbersome. I have since added the small Canon HF10 to our "arsenal" and this Manfrotto 585 is a God send for the Canon. This is a reasonably inexpensive Steady Cam substitute for use with small hand held video camcorders on the market today. Buy it . . . you'll love it!


**Product Information Feb 05, 2010 17:00:08**