On Tue, 04 Jun 2002 17:00:29 -0400, John Garrison wrote:

>Steve McDonald wrote:
>
>> Regardless of your final choice of models, I point out that a
>> small, handheld camcorder can be easily and effectively converted into a
>> shoulder-mount rig. There are several simple, commercially-made
>> shoulder-mount accessories that bolt onto the bottom of a hand-held
>> model and extend back to a contour pad for the shoulder.
>>
>> I have made several versions of them myself to fit all my cameras
>> and some include additional features such as chest pads and grab-arms in
>> front. They give me a lot more shooting stability and also provide a
>> handle to more safely carry the camera.

>Where can I go to find one of these for a VX2000?

www.habbycam.com, among others, offers them. I have tried
this shoulder-mount (modified, to hold the camera lower),
shoulder-braces (doesn't go over the shoulder), monopods,
monopods-over-shoulder, beltpods, side-handles, side-bars,
and combinations. I did not like the shoulder mount, since
it restricted movement and tended to pop off the shoulder
at inopportune times (a bungee cord to belt would cure
this); the shoulder brace since it didn't stabilize the
camera very well; the monopods since it was awkward and
not very effective for me... The beltpod was the most
effective, but awkward for someone of my shape to use;
the side-handle works well for all but long-lens work;
the simple side bar worked the best (a flat bar attached
to the tripod mount, extending straight out to the left -
with the camera held with the right hand normally, the
left hand holding the "blob" just behind the lens, and
the bar resting on top of the left arm), giving greatest
stability and also good freedom of motion with the
VX2000...