tutorial 53 CAME stabilizers

CAME Carbon Fiber Stabilizers

If you’re looking for a great and affordable camera stabilizer system then this post is for you.

I have previously reviewed a few different camera stabilizers in this POST. My favorite camera stabilizer has always been the Flycam because of it’s price and the results it produced. Of course that doesn’t mean it was without it’s faults. For one the Flycam stabilizers just like the Glidecam system really require for you to buy a quick release plate. Also those systems don’t have the easiest way of balancing without tools.

That’s where the CAME carbon fiber stabilizers outshine the competition. First of all I was amazed at how complete the CAME system is. It comes with the carrying case and tools. Everything you need other than your camera to start flying. It really is a well thought out camera stabilizer system that hasn’t disappointed me so far.

Here are some of the things I love about this steadicam:
-It’s light weight
-Strong materials
-Easy to balance
-Can handle light and heavy cameras (1 – 10 kg or 2.2 – 22 pounds)
-Super smooth gimbal

The CAME camera stabilizer systems can be bough separately from the vest and the 4-spring-arm or as a kit. You can find them on CAME-TV website and Amazon.

Here’s the lighter of the two stabilizers, with and without the vest and arm.


Here’s the bigger stabilizer, again with and without the vest and arm.


And here are the vest and arm by themselves.


To see the results that the CAME stabilizers produce, see this video review.

Also, in case you missed my previous post where I test different camera stabilizers and teach you how to balance and use steadicams, then you can check it out here.

31 thoughts on “CAME Carbon Fiber Stabilizers”

  1. As always your work is great I love the imagery there so my question is what 10mm or 20mm lens did you use and what camera. Keep up the good work Tom because truly I gage even my attempts to you work…Thanks

    1. Hi Felipe, that is a different steadicam. The vest is different and the arm only has 2 springs not 4 like the CAME system I tested. This one will not handle as much weight and be as easy to adjust the tension as the CAME system.

    2. Just another reason to never buy these Camtree stabilizers. They are headquartered in my city (In India) as per their website. The company is listed under a residential address no where to be found. And lastly they don’t sell it in India at all. Clearly they are making baboons out of everyone to make some money. You wont find any reviews whatsoever anywhere.

  2. I was wondering since i never tested one of these things… how much weight is the 16 pound limit? like how much does a shotgun mic.. or bigger lens.. ? where does it stop working?

    1. I can’t tell you since I don’t know what lens or mic you want to use. Just takes your camera and lens and anything else that you plan to put on the stabilizer and measure its weight on a standard scale. If it’s more than the stabilizer limit then you know you need the stronger stabilizer.

  3. Hi Tom,

    Thank you for the creating the video about Came-TV’s Carbon fiber stabilizer. I did purchase one after watching. Where might I find guidance on how to balance the stabilizer. This is my first time working with a stabilizer. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

  4. Hi Tom, thanks for taking the time to make your video. Quick question: have you tried underslinging a camera? If not, can the pole be reversed and still be balanced (with camera upside down at the bottom and weights up, with flopping in Post)? For low angle tracking in shots basically. Thanks for your answer!

    1. Yes I did do it upside down. Although when you want to use it for real low mode so the camera is just inches above the ground its best to use the stabilizer without the arm I find, or to extend the vertical shaft to it’s maximum and then balance it.

  5. Hi there liked the demonstration. I’m also a photographer but feel that I have stucked in my creativity..I use a Canon 550D.. Please help…!

  6. Hi Tom,
    Thanks for your review. This Steadicam looks good to me. My only concern is the manufacturer doesn’t have service center in N. America. If anything missing or goes wrong during the 12 months warranty, I need to ship it back at my own cost. It takes time to ship back and forth too.

  7. CAME across your video on youtube, and I was wondering what are the materials the chest harness plate of the vest is made of, also what are the articulating arms made of ?

    I found a relatively inexpensive vest and arm system online that stated the arms are made of ISO plastic. I am not sure what that means, but don’t think it’s a great idea, that is why I would like you to clarify what materials they are made out of…

    Thanks for your time,

    V/estley

    1. The vest is made out of some kind of metal. It’s very strong. Ive been using it for months now without any problems.

  8. Thanks to your videos. I got the Came stabilizer for my GH3 recently. Its a great piece of equipment. Keep up the good work… !! Cheers

  9. I have the glidecam and the vest. Everytime I put on the vest and use the glidecam it either moves way to the left or way out infront of me. I used the knobs on the bottom but still have trouble controlling it. Is there a site or lesson I can look at. I saw your tutorials but still cant control the vest with the arm. I watched multiple tutorials but cant adjust the knobs properly to get any good results. I loved your video, really fun!

  10. Hi again Tom,

    I’ve ordered the lighter 1-10kg CAME stabiliser thanks to your review.

    But now I’m wondering if the Sony A7S is too light (is that possible) for the stabilizer? The A7s body comes in just under 500grams. Obviously a lens will bump up the weight but it would have to be a heavier lens to get it over 1kg. What do you think?

    I’m yet to make a decision for the A7S or GH4!

    Thanks very much,

    Darryl
    Melbourne

  11. Thanks so much for your tutorials!! I recently became interested in Videography, purchased a BlackMagic Cinema Camera, a few good lenses, and after watching this vid will be ordering a Came TV Stabilizer. Quick question about the vest,…. Any idea about the range of adjustability, ( basically chest/waist size)? Thanks again.

    1. I don’t know the exact size because it doesn’t say anything on the vest but all the straps on the back are very long so you can really extend it for even a giant. Only problem might be putting it on a very small person or a child as the vest can only contract so much. Then again a small person shouldn’t attempt to wear the vest and hold all that weight.

    2. It will put most people. Unless you are over 300 pounds and have problems fitting through doors, but otherwise the vest adjusts to any size operator I had try this.

  12. Hi Tom – found your Came-TV reviews very useful. I have been trying to get a meaningful answer from Came-TV regarding the Came 150 and 200 and their suitability for the new Canon Eos C100 mk II. The body is around 2.2 lbs and with a 16-35 Eos lens, it runs a maybe 5 lbs max. Came said the C150 would not work, but it fits under their weight spec for max load. They don’t publish a load for the C200. Can you provide some guidance here?

    Thanks so much!

  13. Hello Tom – Great presentations.
    Will a 2.5 Kg. tele-prompter (22″ x 15″ x 13″) with a
    Sony A7R work out with the CANE Steadycam 1-15 Kg.?
    – Thanks –

  14. …and many years later, here’s another question for you, Tom. The vest for the Came-TV rig you tested/own(ed)? 0 how easy was it to change the side of the block on the vest? Looks like you just take it off the bottom and switch it to the other side. Is that correct?
    Thanks and Happy New 2020!!!

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