Just picked up a Nikon 5100. Looking to swap tips and tricks.

Trying to pick out a reasonably priced stabilizer/Stedicam like device.

You should check out the Rhino Steady. Pretty decent stabilizer for $350ish.

I own a 5d mkII and a 550d and make a fair few amateur films / music videos in my spare time.

Instead of a steadicam I'd consider something like a shoulder rig that can also double as a basket. I've tried a bunch of 'steadicam' designs (most recently the merlin) and to be honest they never seem to be much cop. You get what you pay for with these things and a good steadicam is...expensive. The glidecam 2000 with a bodypod (your hand will hurt pretty quicky otherwise) isn't a terrible choice though.

I'm not sure about your Nikon, but the trouble with my Canon is that the screen size limits what you can see and do, so to use a steadicam properly you might also want to invest in an external monitor. The lilliput monitor is a decent budget choice here.

To be honest, however, a good fluid headed tripod and shoulder rig are a far better use of funds imo.

Also, (depending on funds) consider getting a nikon mounted 35mm Samyang lens. Budget but damn fine. Excellent in low light and comparable in quality to nikon's far more expensive one.

Appreciate the advice.