By Chuck Gloman, September 2, 2008
Looking like a device for someone suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the Hoodman WristShot fits snugly against the user’s forearm and supports the camera without the fatigue of handholding a camcorder. I used the WristShot on numerous shoots over a period of one month. The camera was a Sony HVR Z1U, but the WristShot can hold anything up to 10 pounds.
Basically, you attach two Velcro straps to your arm, and the camera is supported with an articulating arm that can be positioned in a multitude of ways. The first step is to attach the quick-release plate to your camera of choice. Screw the adapter to the bottom of your camcorder and attach the plate to the camera. Doing this once the wrist strap is fastened is impossible, so it must be attached before the wrist strap is on your arm.
The setup is relatively simple. The “higher” side of the WristShot attaches to the outside of your forearm (right or left hand, does not matter), and the inner mount (the one with the articulating arm) rests slightly lower on the inside of your forearm.
The first adjusting knob determines how high the arm sits above your hand. Those with overly large arms will be happy that the camera has about 6" of play to raise or lower. The second knob adjusts how far away from your wrist you may want the camera. Knob number three hinges the articulating arm in the middle to bring the camcorder closer or farther away from your hand. And the fourth knob tilts the camera up or down.
I used the WristShot in our Summer Video Institute at the university and had students from 15 years of age with tiny hands to people in their 30s who where tipping the scales at close to 400 pounds. The WristShot was adaptable to all sizes of arms. Like any new device, everyone wanted to try it out because of the novelty and how “cool” it looked.
The WristShot manual states that there are five axes for adjustment. I found only four adjustable knobs, so maybe I was missing something. But with the various-sized students in our class, one size surely does fit all. So how does it work on an actual shoot? The short answer is pretty well, but there are a few problems with the design. Using it myself, I found it difficult to securely fasten. You do have adjustable Velcro straps that snugly attach it to your forearm, but it still slid around a lot on my wrist (more pushups for me). Initially it seemed that the WristShot was more suitable with someone with Popeye-sized wrists, but once you master the Velcro, that’s not an issue.
The biggest problem is that once you attach the WristShot to your wrist, it’s difficult to make any further adjustments. Either set everything up before donning the device, or have a helper do so once you’re wearing it. I felt very awkward trying to get it right for the first time.
You need two hands to operate the quick-release plate and that, too, needs to be mounted before you begin wearing the WristShot. It seems awkward at first, but the strap on the back of your forearm goes higher, and the forearm pad goes lower.
Once donned correctly, it immediately stabilizes your shots by keeping the camera straight no matter how tired your forearm may be, but as long as the camera is on your arm, it still becomes too heavy after a period of time.
As with a Steadicam or Glidecam, if your muscles are attuned to wearing the WristShot constantly, it may not be a burden. But for the average shooter, an hour is about all you will be able to handle. My opinion is that the WristShot is ideal for one user who custom fits it to his or her use. With practice, I’m sure the user would be able to wear it for extended periods of time.
The image stabilization available on most cameras is helpful in smoothing out the jitters of most shots, and the WristShot takes that an extra step by keeping the shooter’s forearm from moving while the camera is mounted. For periods of time this would be beneficial — over extended periods, you’ll need forearms of steel. With a list price of around $200, the WristShot is not cheap, but if constant handheld shots are your bag, the WristShot is the only way to travel.
Score: 3.5/4
Pros: Clever, simple and easy to use. And one size fits all.
Cons: Difficult to securely fasten, difficult to adjust once on your arm.
Bottom Line: For short bursts of time, the WristShot is unmatched in what it can do.
MSRP: $199.99
Contact: www.hoodmanusa.com
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