Strange sniper platform

[Lieutenant Frank Drebin]

As I am a damn noob here I hope not to have post a re-post. p-)

This sniper platform looks like an adapted steadycam system. I think it is manufactured in France by GK but I am not sure. Any info about it?

[Ghostryder]

It is a steadicam system, and its either as brilliant as it sounds, as crazy as it looks, or both.

[Doyle 998]

It seems better something to keep dirty socks away from body when on operation....

[Sten3]

hehe reminds me on:
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/4760/wph6eq.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wph6eq.jpg)

[StukaJr]

There is a Takashi Miike's film (one of the names is "Deadly Outlaw: Rekka"), where a Yakuza wields a SAW on a steady-cam rig

I wonder how effective that platform is... It's hard to imagine lack of objects to use as rest in an urban environment, nor even in a rural area. Variety of shooting rests that don't involve so much steel strapped to the wearer - shooting sticks, monopods, bipods... All are fast to set up and much easier to ditch - I would also imagine it's pain to take cover with the SteadyCam unit and a gun attached to it...

The most obvious question - how does the SteadyCam deal with recoil? Any normal weapon set up will fall back in the general target area and allow for follow up shots... What happens with the system that takes the gravity out of the play and adds hydraulically aided movement? I'll bet my money that the gun will end up pointed upward and the shooter would have to force it back down - requiring a complete target re-acquisition every shot...

The more I think of it, the more I want to say "No thanks".

[Straker]

Add to that the fact that a proper gyroscopically controlled steadicam rig is really really heavy and takes a long time to set up properly for shots (of a camera nature) the whole idea does seem a little strange.

As for that matter does having a non magnified aimpoint sight. Perhaps it is for use off a helicopter platform if it was set up properly it would minimise the vibrations of the helicopter (you would still have to deal with the downdraft effect on the bullets flight though.)

[Icarus1]

hehe reminds me on:
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/4760/wph6eq.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wph6eq.jpg)

Those were normal steadycams too. Great movie btw (Alien 2). Some very nice weapons concept in it and awesome production design.