7D seems very shaky

N

Neild

Active member
I tried out the video mode with a 17-40L and a 85mm and although the quality looks great, the video is extremely shaky. Even though I am simply using handheld, it seems to be much worse than any other consumer camcorder that I have used in the past. Unless I am doing something wrong, it would seem that an IS lens or a tripod might be necessary.

Please tell me I'm doing something wrong.
 
Camcorders have built in image stabilizers- the 7D does not. But you can get lenses that do. Also a tripod will help a lot. Handheld is what it is otherwise. Don't expect a miracle.

Noah
 
it's the same on the 5d or any other vdslr. u can A. get steadier hands. B. turn on anything that says motion stabilization, i'm sure if you dig through the menus you'll find something, i believe the 5d had something. C. might need some handheld rigs, either bought from zacuto or made on your own.
 
Try a monopod or tripod. Lean up against something to steady your hand. That is one think nice about video cams like the DVX100 you can hold the camera next to you and look at the LCD screen. A flip out screen would be nice on these new DSLR.

Please tell me I'm doing something wrong.[/QUOTE]
 
SLR camera are not stable when holding them in Live View mode. The 3-point contact you have when shooting stills is lost in LV-mode.

I had same problems with the D90 in the beginning. It looked horribly shaky. Practice and you will work it out.
 
World's cheapest hand-held stabilizer: put the camera strap around your neck and hold out your arms until the strap goes taut. I shot plenty of silky smooth D90 footage with this technique. If maximum results are not achieved, have a drink and try again (it might just be that new-camera excitement that's shaking up your footage).
 
a lot id say. i know it does make a huge difference on both my xha1 and hv20 when you turn off the stabilization.
 
True. And after reading this site and others for a few days, I'm convinced that this fact warrants some kind of PSA to the indie film community ;-)

But, with that said, doesn't perceived camera shake have to do with the magnitude of movement of objects in the frame? Here's my theory: a 24mm on a 35mm film camera is pretty hand-holdable, but the same lens on a Super16 camera starts to feel shaky. Perhaps its narrower field of view makes a given amount of movement seem larger, because it is moving over a greater proportion of the frame. I say this because I regularly shoot handheld with a 12mm on super 16, and I feel about the same way about handholding a 24mm on a 1.5 crop DSLR.

What do you think?
 
Shaky 7D problem resolved

Shaky 7D problem resolved

Thanks for all of the advice. SWB had the easy cheep solution ..."World's cheapest hand-held stabilizer: put the camera strap around your neck and hold out your arms until the strap goes taut. I shot plenty of silky smooth D90 footage with this technique."

Sounds simple but the difference is night and day. It dramatically reduced the shakes.
 
all i know is what i know from being out there in the field, so to speak.
and thats that an 85 mm lens on a crop camera is too tele for handholding.
It would also be the case on a FF.
Would shake be more on one than the other?
My instincts say yes.
 
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My way to stabilize 5D Footage is to use a very light and cheap ($15) photo tripod, spread the legs but leave them as short as they are and hold the whole beast by the legs. This transfers the weight away from the center of the lens, just as much as a steadicam gimball and can easily and quickly be turned into a monopod or tripod for other types of shots. You get tired and you look like a clown doing it, but I've spent 10 days in NY shooting like this and the result is pretty good.
 
well no camera is perfect. . You can see how when the pros do things, then the camera hits the streets they video is not as good. (Some are really good by the way and more to come.) But filmmakers will have to learn the DSLR limits and in my opinion don't sell your DVX100s, HVXs or other video cameras just yet.
 
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