Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Jittery filmmakers rejoice

- — Terry Gardner, special to Tribunenew­spapers

Name: Tiffen Steadicam Smoothee for iPhone 4/5 and GoPro Whatit is: a lightweigh­t hand-held camera-stabilizat­ion device that allows users to create smooth, stable videos while on the move with their iPhone or a GoPro. The Steadicam Smoothee is a looping metal frame with stabilizin­gweights and a built-in camera mount. Different models come with a case for iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5 or the GoPro. Cases feature a quick-release removable camera mount that fits in the Smoothee’s camera mount along with most tripods. The Smoothee is 21⁄ inches deep, 8 inches wide and141⁄ inches long. According tomy luggage scale, it weighs slightly more than a pound. The easygrip handle folds up for portabilit­y. The Smoothee also comes with a belt clip. The good: It’s easy to use out of the box and makes pans from left to right or up and down smooth and shake-free. Initially I struggled to get the counterbal­ance adjusted, but once I had the Smoothee tuned formy thumb and index finger, shooting videowas easy. On a hike inUtah, I carried it overmy shoulder for easy access. It also has a bit of a “wow” factor if you like to impress people with your gadgets. The bad: It’s awkward to pack, so I sometimes leave it behind. I wish the Smoothee could fold in half to make it more compact. But that might diminish its perfect balance. Cost: $169 Available from:

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States