Hi--

>I noticed your ad offering the gyro-stabilizer. If you haven't sold it,
>could you provide me with a little background info on it.

"For Sale: Ken-Lab KS-4 Gyro-Stabilizer, with power supply and charger,
M-, $1350. This is a great device for steadying a camera when a tripod is
not practical. Works for most formats (makes hand-holding medium format
really practical - also works well for long mirror lenses, low light work, and shooting from boat/car/plane/ladder). For more information or purchase,
please e-mail me at: d_ruether@hotmail.com"

It is still available.

>Hours of use/age.

It is quite old, but was at Ken-Lab (recently, with little use since)
for a check-up/refurbish (only about $45!!! They take the ends off, check the gyros, put it back together, re-gas it, check the seals, check the
electronics, and repaint it! Their service is excellent. I've heard they
do a complete rebuild for about $400, if you have a bucket of pieces to
bring in....;-).

>Maintenance history and normal overhaul interval

None required, unless damaged, or it heats excessively and takes too
long to rev up (indicates loss of seal - there is a partial vacuum + a particular gas [can't remember what]).

>Type of power supply

The one designed for it: 115v 400hz converter on a 12V gel-cell.
It takes 14 watts to start the gyro (and about 10 minutes to get
it up to about 22khz speed), 8 watts to run it, for about 3.5 hours
on a charge. It takes about 20 minutes for it to run down after
shut-down. It takes about 12-14 hours to recharge the 12V gel-cell
with the included small charger.

>I have only read about these instruments but have no experience in using
>any nor have I talked to anyone who has. If you could shed some light
>regarding your own experiences I would appreciate it. I am considering
>using one in oblique aerial photography. Have you used it for this?
>Tom Schoenke (schoenke@execpc.com)

Yes. It is not perfect (what is? ;-), but it STRONGLY resists sharp
turns in two axes, though it can be turned slowly. If the
stabilizer is panned too rapidly (more than 20 degrees/second),
or forced, as when the plane bounces, the gyro effect drops out
momentarily, with a jerk resulting since you are applying pressure
to turn the camera. (It does feel weird to have something in your
hand that resists being turned..... ) It works best with a light
hand (letting the gyro hold the camera steady) on a compact, light
to medium-weight camera (with the emphasis on compact - to avoid
lever arm effects wrenching the gyro [works well on 500mm mirrors,
since they are physically short]). The gain with any focal-length
is about two shutter speeds in hand-holdability. The unit does put
out a noticeable high-pitched whine, so may not be suitable when
sound is being recorded, or in locations requiring silence
(so much for wedding photography, at least, during the ceremony!)
The on-camera unit is 2.8" in diameter x 4.5" long, 34 oz.
The supply is mostly a 12 volt gel-cell - noticeable, but not
difficult to carry (I don't know its weight). It is connected
to the gyro cylinder with a coiled, fairly long (6'?) cord that
can be detached from the supply.

I am selling since I do not use it enough to justify for my work,
though it worked well for shooting from ladders and planes, making
a Rollie twin-lens camera hand-holdable, and doing some hand-held
late evening street shooting. Besides, it is a VERY nifty gadget! ;-)