Features
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For a smartphone. Mount for using a smartphone as a camera. Most often it is a kind of "vice", in which the body of the device is tightly clamped. Such "vices" usually have a fairly wide range of adjustment for the width of the "seat", which allows you to use this type of steadicam with most modern smartphones, regardless of the diagonal. And some models can even work with compact digital cameras.
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For the camera. Attachments designed for use with full-size cameras — SLR and "mirrorless" (MILC). Such cameras are quite large and have a screw mount for a tripod; All these features are taken into account in the design of the steadicam.
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For action cameras. Steadicams designed for action cameras — compact cameras used mainly for shooting dynamic scenes like sports, “rides” (skiing, cycling), etc. Such devices, by definition, are designed for use in rather extreme activities, including surfing , skiing, paragliding, etc. However, the specific features of different steadicams may be different, so before buying it's ok to clarify this point separately.
Note that instead of the general name “for an action camera”, the steadicam specifications may contain the names of specific models of action cameras for which the device is designed.
Max. load
The maximum weight that the steadicam is designed to carry.
In fact, this is the maximum weight of the camera with all accessories allowed for this model.
Rotation angle
The range of rotation angles supported by the steadicam.
In this case, it means turning the camera to the right or left, without tilting back and forth.
Tilt angle
The range of forward-backward tilt angles relative to the vertical position supported by the steadicam.
It can be written in different ways.
The simplest option is when one angle value is indicated in the characteristics. This may mean that the camera is able to deviate from the neutral position in both directions by the same angle, which is half the range.
Another recording option is used when the angles of inclination forward and backward are not the same. In such cases, the horizontal position of the camera on a vertical steadicam is taken as zero, the “—” sign indicates the maximum angle of camera deflection back, lens up, the “+” sign — forward, lens down.
Bank angle
The range of roll angles (to the side) supported by the steadicam.
Can be recorded in two ways (See "Tilt Range")
Max. controlled speed
The maximum controlled speed supported by the steadicam is, in fact, the highest speed of rotation of the camera along one axis or another, provided by the device. This is the maximum rotation speed of the entire structure, at which the steadicam automation is able to provide effective stabilization along the corresponding axis (that is, keep the camera stationary).
This item is directly related to the scope — for shooting while hiking or cycling on flat terrain, a high stabilization speed is hardly necessary, but during surfing, acrobatic aerobatics and other similar activities, the “slow” steadicam often turns out to be ineffective.
Max. phone diagonal
The maximum diagonal of the phone (smartphone) that can be installed on this steadicam.
This parameter is more relevant for models for various purposes, not only for those that were originally designed for smartphones. See Phone Mounts for more details. Here we note that the maximum diagonal is a rather approximate indicator: models with the same screen size may have different actual dimensions.
Max. phone width
The maximum size of the phone that can be installed in the steadicam mount.
Camera control
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Joystick. Usually, the joystick has the form of a button that can move or tilt in different directions. With it, the user can control the position of the camera mounted on the steadicam — namely, tilt it and turn it to the sides.
— Buttons. The presence of separate buttons for turning the camera in one direction or another. Compared to joystick control, it is a less comfortable and convenient solution.
