Camera movements and the FS700?

I use my steadycam junior from Sachtler (don't know if they still do it...) with my FS700 and then I stabilize the footage in FCPX.
Here is a video I shot using it walking around a BMXer and an Indiedolly for the forward and side moves:

https://vimeo.com/85638226
 
Looks good Steven. But you use a quite deep depth of field. How are those stabilizers if you need to rack focus? Is it even possible? I guess you'd ruin the stabilization by holding on to the lens?
 
Thanks, I never rack focus with a stabilizer as I prefer moving the camera closer or further to stay in focus. As I had to be quite close to the rider I used my Nikon 10.5 fisheye open at 2.8.
I only rack focus when I use the camera handheld, on the tripod or on the dolly. If you need to rack focus on a steady cam you better have an assistant do it with a wireless system.
 
So many things to get! Will it never end?

I used to have a music studio for 10+ years. I thought that stuff was expensive, but it's nothing compared to video gear! ;)
 
dmitrizigany said:
So many things to get! Will it never end?

I used to have a music studio for 10+ years. I thought that stuff was expensive, but it's nothing compared to video gear! ;)
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that's why rental service is quite popular in the business. I have friends who run successfully a film company for image
industrial and advertising films and the do not own any lens. Not to mention a camera. They shoot with GroPro, from Canon C300
to Arri Alexa and the event rent the GoPro.
 
Yes, I know. If there's a budget for rental that's fine. But I like to own my own things, so I can do low budget things that interest me or my own projects. Also, I don't have a car or a driver's license so rental is often a logistical nightmare.
 
The silencer looks very interesting indeed! Saw that it had met it's goal. I will keep my eyes on it for sure.

But here's an idea for Sony: since the manual zoom ring is virtually useless on your lenses, and you release power zoom lenses that are incompatible (the 18-105 f4 PZ) with the FS100/700... Upgrade the FS700 firmware so you can control the focus via the zoom rocker! Now that would be a killer feature!
 
I just re-watched Blade Runner for the 57th time. Blade Runner is in my book, as close as you get to a blueprint for the visually perfect film. This time paying close attention to camera movement. Happily I realised there was not much in the way of camera movements. Except for the establishing shots I'd say at least 90% of the times when there was camera movement it was tripod pans. A very refreshing revelation! Screw these new dslr hand held styles, I'm going back to 1982 and I'm not coming back! ;)
 
gene_can_sing said:
Hey Kyron,

Where did you get that little metal device that you are docking your steadycam onto for balancing? I would like something like that. Glidecam makes a similar dock, but it's really overpriced. Hoping to find a cheaper one.

Thanks.
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Hey again Gene,

I pulled out the Glidecam to test with the bracket that came with my steadicam and it works fairly well. The handle of the Glidecam is wider and the docking bracket rod is quite short, but on my light weight setup it worked absolutely fine.
 

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Gene, very nice handheld work, thanks for sharing the clip and info on the rig you shot it with. I have a much larger rig with counterweights and rails that works well but I almost never bring it out because it takes so long to put together and frankly wears me out to use. Maybe I should put something like this together instead. How do you incorporate the 7Q into this "super light" rig? Does it hang off the side like the Small HD in the pictures?
 
I've found that mounting an extreme wide angle like my Tokina 11-16 smooths out handheld shots quite well. Combined with a bit of FCP smooth cam applied, shots can look quite steadicam- ish.
 
I have the FS100 with Metabones SB. When I use my IS zooms there is an audible noise. I assume you hear it, too. I guess you are not using the on camera mic in those situations.

gene_can_sing said:
Hey Dimitri, personally I would get Canon zooms. They are really good, affordable-ish zoom lenses and you might spend a bit more up-front, but the re-sale value on Canons are very good and they work well on a number of different camera systems: Sony, Canon, RED and BMC. If you buy electronic E-Mount lenses, they will only work on Sony cameras.

I use the Canon 24-105 f4 IS with the Speed Booster and it's awesome as it's one stop faster. The 17-55mm f2.8 IS EF-S is also a great lens which works with regular Metabones.
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