The Steadicam was developed by camera operator Garrett Brown and first used on the 1975 motion picture "Bound for Glory," Steadi on Film reports. In 1977, Brown was awarded an Oscar for technical invention for his work on the Steadicam.
In 1976, reports the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the Steadicam was marketed by Cinema Products. Various models were created based on Garrett Brown's design including the Model II in 1977 and Model III in 1983.
The Steadicam Jr. was introduced as a Steadicam for home video use, according to the Tiffen website. The home video stabilizer came on the market in the 1990s and was later replaced by the updated Steadicam Merlin, which is produced by the Tiffen Co.