Handheld rig to shoot family session in video.

I want to include lifestyle video for an add on to my portrait business. I need a stabilizer to follow clients and small children around. Make it as a day in the life.

I also need a stabilizer or rig so I can shoot a small sports documentary for my nephew that include action shots so I will be moving around a lot so will the subject.

Any help on what is best for my needs I was thinking shoulder rig or a steady cam for moving shots but which one. I need to be able to focus easily with one hand. I'm not trying to fully switch to video so I don't want it over $300.

I think any decent shoulder rig with follow focus will do. Or if you can go with a 70d which has pretty decent auto focusing capability for regular actions.

kenwood33 wrote in post #17253931
I think any decent shoulder rig with follow focus will do. Or if you can go with a 70d which has pretty decent auto focusing capability for regular actions.

I've found the autofocus of the 70D to come in really handy in some glidecam shots.

Its important to understand that most stabilizers work best with wide angle and prime lenses. Zoom lenses that are typically used for sports don't work on stabilizers because their weight balance shifts. For sports I would instead use a monopod where mobility, motion tracking, and weight balance is good, and a viewfinder to help focus and stability.

Didn't want to create a new thread. Think I may go with a shoulder rig to start off with. I'm very entry level and this will be for personal video projects nothing big.

What rig would you get
Flimcity
http://www.thecinecity​.com …age-Shoulder-Rig-Kit.html

or

P&C
http://www.photography​andcinema.com/products​/prime-video-rig-kit

I'd agree about a shoulder rig; a year ago I thought a glidecam style thing would be the best way to go. In hindsight I was wrong.

I got a Monocam CF stabilizer / glidecam rig and while it's pretty good the faff in setting it up and lack of flexibility means I haven't got as much use out of it as I would a basic shoulder rig with follow focus.

From your two links, personally, I'd go with the cheaper more feature packed one. It's likely that it will be poorer quality and will break or wear quicker but you'll learn what you need from a rig with it and then be in a better position to spend money on exactly what you need.

With family sessions I am more interesting in "capture the moment" and be ready quick than the "quality recording" so I recommend you a very easy use stabilizer call steadyphone. It´s a hybrid between steadycam and selfie stick that perform very good without spend time on counterbalance settings and let you put your camera on the ground level to shoot children playing on ground. The advantage is that you have to record with your smartphone (less weight ) and disadvantage is less camera setting.
More info
http://www.steadyphone​.net