{"id":25297,"date":"2016-09-14T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=25297"},"modified":"2016-09-15T11:02:05","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T15:02:05","slug":"love-proam-usa-autopilot-camera-stabilizer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/love-proam-usa-autopilot-camera-stabilizer\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Love the ProAm USA Autopilot Camera Stabilizer"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is an inherent problem trying to take steady video. The human body is not steady, nor is it on wheels, a slider, or a set of cams. That means that when you’re trying to take video, the odds are that the camera, being handheld, will shake, pan, and vibrate, and the results will show in the final product.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are multiple solutions, from software<\/a> to post-process stabilization, to panning cranes like this one<\/a>. But is there a way for the professional (or dedicated amateur) to significantly improve their video footage quality without breaking the bank?<\/p>\n

ProAm USA, a relatively young company, is trying to answer that question with the affordably priced Autopilot camera stabilizer<\/a>. The Autopilot is intended to keep walking, panning, and running shots \u2013 especially outdoors \u2013 smooth and stable. (Here\u2019s an accurate demo<\/a> from ProAm that will give you a quick idea of what it can do.)<\/p>\n

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To be clear \u2013 this is not a new product. The Autopilot has been on the market since 2014, but it\u2019s worth highlighting now. Not only is it a very solid product, but now Adorama<\/a>\u00a0has a new bundle for it. It\u2019s now available for a very economical $199.95<\/a>, and includes a very well constructed carrying bag bundled together with it. Previously, the stabilizer alone<\/a> cost $189 and the carrying bag<\/a> cost another $35.<\/p>\n

When buying the bundle, the Autopilot comes dressed to impress in a black nylon case (about 17\u201d x 10\u201d x 3.5\u201d). In it, you\u2019ll find the Autopilot preassembled in the foam insert. (The only pieces not preassembled are the counterweights \u2013 more on those later). It\u2019s very much worth spending the extra $10 to get the bundled case. The Autopilot is purpose-engineered \u2013 it\u2019s first and foremost intended to make your video smooth, and it\u2019s not constructed to allow for ease of transportation and storage. The case holds the Autopilot (and its counterweights) neatly and makes for the perfect method of transporting it from your studio to wherever you\u2019re shooting. If you\u2019re buying this, get the bundle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Engineering:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me say something about the engineering on this unit. The Autopilot is essentially a platform, counterweighted on bottom, with a handle towards the top to hold the unit with. But the handle is attached to a gimbal that is engineered to be incredibly sensitive to the slightest pressure. This thing is smooth! And it\u2019s the key to the Autopilot\u2019s operation. By making the camera \u201cfloat\u201d on the gimbal, the Autopilot smooths out much of the operator\u2019s side-to-side and up-and-down motion, to make for significantly smoother video.<\/p>\n

Further on the engineering, I should note that the Autopilot is made cleanly and with a lot of thought. The platforms for the camera, as well as the weights \u2013 the two spots that are most likely to see much wear \u2013 are covered in a powder black finish. The entire construction, top to bottom, gives the impression of strength and durability. I only had my review unit for a week, but I can see this lasting for a lifetime. (So does ProAm \u2013 the Autopilot comes with a lifetime warranty.)<\/p>\n

Setup:<\/strong><\/p>\n

How does it work? You could read the included 8-page instruction booklet. But there’s a great 11-minute video<\/a>\u00a0on YouTube that ProAm made to tell you how to setup, balance, and start using the Autopilot.<\/p>\n

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How to Balance Camera Stabilizer - ProAm USA Autopilot Setup, Balancing & Tips Tutorial<\/div><\/div>
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