14 DAY TRIAL // YouTube is full of shaky videos, so you need to stand out from the crowd. The iPhone has an image stabilizer and you can get some help in post-production from YouTube or Video Editing Software, but why would you go there when you can shoot a nice, clean video with your iPhone or GoPro camera?
There are two different projects currently on Kickstarter that are promising. Hando and Elephant Steady are both stabilizers for your iPhone. They look good and the results are awesome.
Hando is a robotic stabilizer that can really help you get the perfect shot. It incorporates the latest in micro-electromechanical technologies in position sensing, motion sensing, and drive components along with a sophisticated motion control algorithm to counter small changes in the hand movement. The best thing about it is that it doesn't need calibration or balancing when switching between camera devices. You just put your iPhone on it and hit the Power ON button.
Hando is looking for a goal of $90,000 (€66917) and so far only $20,831 (€15,488) has been pledged, with 14 days to go. There are a few steps for the backers. The lowest is $275 for One Hando robotic stabilizer, one bracket for iPhone, one for GoPro, batteries, and charger. $375 (€278) will get you the future Hando 2.0 that will ship in May 2015.
The second stabilizer comes from Japan and is dubbed the smallest one ever created for your iPhone. Elephant Steady is using the gyro sensor built into your iPhone. The special designed app can control the grip's motor.
Because there are no complicated electronics inside the grip and everything is done in an app on your iPhone, the device is cheaper and easier to carry around. The "Elephant Cam" app is Free and runs on iOS Devices with iOS 7 and newer. The developer even promises that it will be compatible with the future iPhone 6.
The price for an Elephant Steady starts at $79 (€58.77), but you can get a fish eye lens for $40 (€29.76). There are also some stretch goals: for $500,000 (€371,959), the developer will add five more colors and for $1 million (€743,919) they will add an attachment for GoPro mounts. If this project gets funded, you will get your Elephant steady in February 2015.
Make sure to watch the videos below and pledge for the project you like the most.