Cheap quick alternative stabalization

smelni

smelni

Veteran
SO i just went to purchase the steadytracker but unfortunately they were out of stock and I needed it for a shoot this weekend. So I tried to think of alterntives and I came up with one and tested it a bit with decent results that I think will get better with practice. Now, I know this wont get perfectly steady results and its a bit ghetto but I wanted to post it here in case anyone wants to try.

I have a cheap travel tripod - Manfrotto - like 50 dollars. put the dvx on top. Then i was able to adjust the counterweight in a vertical direction by sliding the center post up a bit. The x and y axis were close but not dead on. Then I put the legs out a bit and put them wide to help spread the weight on the base and lower the center of gravity.

I gripped the center post at about the center of weight point and tried some stabalized shots. They were decent - it was hell on my hand and i wouldnt want to do it for a day. But this may suffice for the 3 shots I need to do this weekend. And it most certainly beat the smoothness that I would get handheld.

Keep it in mind if you need something in a pinch - obviously it wont work with a heavyweight tripod.

I will let everyone know how it goes this weekend.
 
monopod

monopod

I think that a monopod will have a good work. For me works fine.
Good luck
 
It's a tried and tested trick that works supprizingly well!

Infact andy of you who haven't used a stabilizser, try this with your tripod (you DO have a tripod don't you?) and it'll give you a good idea of how it works. :-)

I'v done some shots for local broadcast with an XL1 like this, including out the back of a jeep of some runners. As you said, not great, but does the job in a pinch.
..on yeah, and HEAVY!

- Mikko
 
Thanks for the confimation - hopefully will work well this weekend and its saved me a bit of money for now. By the way Mikko, i checked out that short on your site - the couple running around the house - it really look beautiful - very nice lighting and camera work. It gave me some ideas

thanks
 
I just got my monopod a few weeks ago and tried some shots as a stabilizer for the heck of it and was impressed how easy it was to do. It wasn't perfect but it was a lot better than handheld.
 
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