"ralphbowman" <rogueduo@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:883357bb.0309241912.419ad0dc@posting.google.com...

> "David Ruether" <rpn1@no-junk.cornell.edu> wrote in message news:<bksrc0$okl$1@news01.cit.cornell.edu>...

> > "ralphbowman" <rogueduo@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> > news:883357bb.0309232047.2053e97b@posting.google.com...

> > > I want to buy a shoulder brace for a VX2000 that works, is

> > > comfortable, durable, and keeps the horizon stable. Any advice from a

> > > happy owner?

> > I liked the Habbycam, but I had it modified to put the

> > adjustable bracket lower (otherwise I was looking *UP*

> > at the camera...;-), and it needs a hole in the rear to put

> > one end of a short bungee cord (with the other end hooked

> > to the belt - otherwise, the thing tends to pop off the

> > shoulder... [www.habbycam.com]). I never use it, though

> > (I prefer a side handle or bar resting on the left arm, with

> > the left hand holding the "blob" under the lens for best

> > stability with this camera combined with ease of movement).

> Thanks for your input. It's easy to buy these products you can't

> tryout except in a picture and then find they are not helpful but in

> the way...

Yes, all too easy...;-)

I often comment aloud (and sometimes very loudly! ;-),

"DOESN"T ANYONE ACTUALLY TRY THIS [STUFF]

BEFORE SELLING IT?!?!", but it doesn't help much...;-)

Fortunately, a well-known supplier of video-camera accessories

sent me a bunch of items to review, which saved me the expense

of finding out that they didn't work very well...;-)

>Your idea about a side handle I am trying to picture in my

> mind. Is this something you purchased or designed from a hardware

> store...( best place to buy video gimmicks).

Yes! ;-) I have some items I use shown at

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/VX2000_odds.htm, with a few

more to be added. The bar I use now is either the long Stitz

handle (shown) or a folding version unfolded flat - but neither

serves well for long shoots. BTW, the VX2000/PD150 has

a guide rectangle that can be switched on in the VF (I would

have preferred a centered cross) that can help. Perhaps adding

a side-handle to the shoulder mount may help. A belt-pod

can also be useful (or a combination of all of the above...;-).

>I bought a Biddle Stick

> that is OK but I cannot keep a level horizon when I tire...

For long "hand-held" shoots, little will guarantee level

camera at all times. A monopod or chest-brace can help.

If you find a solution, let us know.

> Thanks again...I tried sending you an email..but it bounced..

> Ralph Bowman

You need to remove the added "stuff" from my address.

I was annoyed for years by replying casually to people

who asked for advice, only to find that the email had

bounced due to being "munged" (this was back in the

good old days before viruses and worms were common,

and spam was easily handled with the "delete" key),

but with as many as 400 viruses coming in a day now,

it was necessary to modify my return address (but it

is recoverable).

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com