Abstract: A monopod includes an elongated housing and a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder bounding a compartment in which a pressurized fluid and/or gas is contained, and an elongated piston having a piston head mounted in the compartment and a piston rod movable along a longitudinal axis through an upper open end of the housing when the pressurized fluid is released. A support for a portable device, such as a camera, is mounted on the piston rod exteriorly of the housing. A foot-operated control is mounted on the housing adjacent its base. The control is movable by pressure exerted by a user's foot to a control position in which the pressurized fluid and/or gas is released to jointly move the piston rod and the support to an adjustable elevation relative to the base.

Abstract: The invention includes a payload stage with tilt head, a monitor mount and a payload plate clamping mechanism, individually, and incorporated into a camera stabilizer. The tilt head provides a curved and a straight slot each having a pivot pin disposed therein. The pivot pins are at a fixed distance from one another and thus the stage tilts as the pivot progresses with respect to the straight slot. The monitor mount provides inserts to accommodate central posts of different sizes, each designed to be axially registered to the posts and the monitor mount.

Abstract: A portable, handheld lighting apparatus having a light intensity control component, a focus control component, and a light source accommodation component. The lighting apparatus is configured to be handheld with a single hand wherein the light intensity control component and the focus control components are accessible with the single hand to hold the apparatus. The lighting apparatus may be part of a kit that contains one or more of the following: various light modifying components, a power source, charger and various light sources.

Abstract: A camera stabilizer having a camera mount for attaching and positioning a camera, a gimbal component disposed below the camera mount and positioned at or near the center of gravity and a balancing arm. A handle is offset from a line through the center of gravity of the stabilizer plus camera. Adjustable weights are provided in a balancing arm to vary the center of gravity location.

Abstract: A balanced mounting arrangement stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device, and includes a mount for holding the device during image capture, and a handheld equipoising structure having a support platform on which the mount and the held device are mounted during image capture, a bottom counterweight below the platform, and a curved arm extending along an arcuate path between the platform and the counterweight. A weight component is mounted on, and is movable relative to and along, the curved arm to adjust a vertical balance position of the arrangement.

Abstract: A camera stabilizer having a camera mount for attaching and positioning a camera, a gimbal component disposed below the camera mount and positioned at or near the center of gravity and a balancing arm. A handle is offset from a line through the center of gravity of the stabilizer plus camera. Adjustable weights are provided in a balancing arm to vary the center of gravity location.

Abstract: An insert kit for use with an equipment bag to divide the bag into compartments and protect the bag's contents is provided. Boundary inserts can be placed around the interior perimeter of the bag and divider inserts can be placed horizontally, vertically or can flex into desired angular or arced configurations. Faces of inserts are covered with a loop material. One or more edge portions of the inserts have a hook material that is complimentary with the loop material so that the inserts can adhere to one another in a variety of positions. A backpack for carrying equipment that can be worn during and facilitate use of the equipment is also included.

Abstract: A portable, handheld lighting apparatus having a light intensity control component, a focus control component, and a light source accommodation component. The lighting apparatus is configured to be handheld with a single hand wherein the light intensity control component and the focus control components are accessible with the single hand to hold the apparatus. The lighting apparatus may be part of a kit that contains one or more of the following: various light modifying components, a power source, charger and various light sources.

Abstract: A stabilized support for supporting motion-sensitive, ultra-lightweight, camera equipment includes a hollow platform on which the camera equipment is mounted, and a structure on which the platform is detachably mounted. The structure has a handle, a counterweight mounted below the platform, and an arm for connecting the handle with the counterweight. The platform has a plurality of interior compartments preferably arranged in generally parallel rows at opposite sides of the platform, each row extending past a center of gravity. A plurality of ballast weights is held and confined in the interior compartments within the platform to balance the support when held by the handle, or supported by optional support legs. The placement of the ballast weights is based on a balancing procedure in which the camera equipment is balanced relative to a stationary horizontal support surface.

Abstract: A weighted mounting arrangement stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device incorporated in a cellular telephone. The arrangement includes a handheld equipoising structure having a platform and a handle connected to the platform at a handle connection, a mount on the platform for holding the device during image capture, and a ballast weight mounted on the mount with the held device as an assembly. The assembly and the equipoising structure together have a combined center of gravity positioned in close adjacent proximity below the handle connection for balancing the arrangement during image capture.

Abstract: A stabilized mount stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device, such as a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant, on a support surface, such as a tripod or analogous camera equipment. The device is operative for capturing an image over a field of view along an optical axis perpendicular to an image plane. The mount includes a holder for holding the device during image capture, and a fixed base integral with the holder and lying in a base plane perpendicular to the image plane when the base is supported by the support surface in a supported orientation. The base is operative for steadily positioning the holder and the device on the support surface in the supported orientation during the image capture.

Abstract: A stabilized support for supporting motion-sensitive, ultra-lightweight, camera equipment includes a hollow platform on which the camera equipment is mounted, and a structure on which the platform is detachably mounted. The structure has a handle, a counterweight mounted below the platform, and an arm for connecting the handle with the counterweight. The platform has a plurality of interior compartments preferably arranged in generally parallel rows at opposite sides of the platform, each row extending past a center of gravity. A plurality of ballast weights is held and confined in the interior compartments within the platform to balance the support when held by the handle, or supported by optional support legs. The placement of the ballast weights is based on a balancing procedure in which the camera equipment is balanced relative to a stationary horizontal support surface.

Abstract: A stabilized support for supporting motion-sensitive, ultra-lightweight, camera equipment includes a hollow platform on which the camera equipment is mounted, and a structure on which the platform is detachably mounted. The structure has a handle, a counterweight mounted below the platform, and an arm for connecting the handle with the counterweight. The platform has a plurality of interior compartments preferably arranged in generally parallel rows at opposite sides of the platform, each row extending past a center of gravity. A plurality of ballast weights is held and confined in the interior compartments within the platform to balance the support when held by the handle, or supported by optional support legs. The placement of the ballast weights is based on a balancing procedure in which the camera equipment is balanced relative to a stationary horizontal support surface.

Abstract: A balanced mounting arrangement stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device, and includes a mount for holding the device during image capture, and a handheld equipoising structure having a support platform on which the mount and the held device are mounted during image capture, a bottom counterweight below the platform, and a curved arm extending along an arcuate path between the platform and the counterweight. A weight component is mounted on, and is movable relative to and along, the curved arm to adjust a vertical balance position of the arrangement.

Abstract: A weighted mounting arrangement stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device incorporated in a cellular telephone. The arrangement includes a handheld equipoising structure having a platform and a handle connected to the platform at a handle connection, a mount on the platform for holding the device during image capture, and a ballast weight mounted on the mount with the held device as an assembly. The assembly and the equipoising structure together have a combined center of gravity positioned in close adjacent proximity below the handle connection for balancing the arrangement during image capture.

Abstract: A stabilized mount stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device, such as a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant, on a support surface, such as a tripod or analogous camera equipment. The device is operative for capturing an image over a field of view along an optical axis perpendicular to an image plane. The mount includes a holder for holding the device during image capture, and a fixed base integral with the holder and lying in a base plane perpendicular to the image plane when the base is supported by the support surface in a supported orientation. The base is operative for steadily positioning the holder and the device on the support surface in the supported orientation during the image capture.

Abstract: A stabilized support for supporting motion-sensitive, ultra-lightweight, camera equipment includes a hollow platform on which the camera equipment is mounted, and a structure on which the platform is detachably mounted. The structure has a handle, a counterweight mounted below the platform, and an arm for connecting the handle with the counterweight. The platform has a plurality of interior compartments preferably arranged in generally parallel rows at opposite sides of the platform, each row extending past a center of gravity. A plurality of ballast weights is held and confined in the interior compartments within the platform to balance the support when held by the handle, or supported by optional support legs. The placement of the ballast weights is based on a balancing procedure in which the camera equipment is balanced relative to a stationary horizontal support surface.