get good at the Steadicam

chromeboy007

chromeboy007

Well-known member
Hey guys,

Been wanting to invest in a steadicam, probably Pilot for my HPX. I want to ask, how would I get good at it?

There is that Tiffen Steadicam workshop I can sign up for. Are there any good DVD's or similar workshops I can get my hands on without (further) bankcrupting me?

Thanks
 
My University had a SteadiCam, so that's how I originally learned. I toyed around with it, and read the SteadiCam Operator's Handbook. The most important thing is balancing the sled correctly. After you have learned how to do that, you just need to practice your form and footwork.

There are some random tutorials that I had found online a long while back, but nothing too informative. I would suggest finding a friend, or a friend of a friend that knows how to operate and see if he/she might give you a few pointers.
 
Im a steadicam newb too..

There is a steadicam book and DVD avaialble from tiffen

(actually two years in I kind of new most of the content of both) (knowing and being able to do are different)

Tiffen run workshops too - but I have not been able to get to one yet

-you must absolutley understand the physics

-steadishots.com and steadicamforum you will pick up info

-you have to be a good regular camera operator on sticks ie good at framing otherwise all your SC work will still be pants

(I saw Larry http://steadishots.org/shots_operator.cfm?opID=2 at a show, what struck me even as he tested a rig was his framing, there were many skillful ops at the show, but larry could frame)

-I have practiced alone, then on my friends, Im far from being able to work with it yet for pay as a SC op

Pracitce doing specific things, SLOW things, things that have horizons and verticals in

Me practicing, Im trying to keep verticals good and move smoothly

Practicing with people make you understand how they move, change in frame size, when to react to their moves and when to let them move in frame

Following someone running through the park tends NOT to be a good exercise IMO

 
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its not nice! its practice, ability to hold a lockoff poor, acceleration into the walking shot, too harsh, final pushin a little wonky etc

I like the pull away from the dirty window

im just encourage you to design shots, then pratcice them, not be random!

S
 
Following someone running through the park tends NOT to be a good exercise IMO
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+1

You see all these amateur or homemade steadycam units showcasing their value by running after someone and that's definitely NOT a good sample of anything. It's rarely used that way, and one of the easier shots to get with a unit once it's balanced. Slow circling, reversing a pan, coming to a lockoff, ramping into movement, all of that is much more difficult to do and takes much more practice. And I'm not a Steadicam op, just another DVXuser member who's been around, and touched a few units. As the old saying goes, practice, practice, practice. But in this case don't practice by running after someone in the park.

Met one Steadicam op who used to take classes in Tai Chi and Yoga.
 
Old thread, but I've been thinking about this lately. How do you break into the Steadicam op biz? Just buy your rig, practice, and start looking for jobs?
 
Yup, that's pretty much it - and spend a lot of time pumping iron in the gym, Steadicam™ operating is physically grueling work. You need to be fit to last a shooting week.
 
I think everything you ever needed to know is already there in front of you. All you had to do is look:
(0:12 is of particular interest)

 
What gets worked the most when your operating? For me its in the lower back. 1 hour and i'm done! lol i need to work out.
 
I did a whole day of steadicam work wearing boots in a forest full of snow, and my back was definitely killing me afterwards..... .
 
It is absolutely physically grueling. Def had a bit of a sore back after practicing all day.

I would highly recommend a Tiffen workshop if possible, and if you're serious about wanting to be any good at it, be prepared to invest time into practicing.
 
There is a mistaken assumption that your lower back should hurt after operating. A properly-adjusted Tiffen Steadicam, operated with good form, should result in some overall fatigue and perhaps an ache in the mid-back muscles on either side.

If your lower back hurts, particularly sharp pain, it's because one or more of the following is true:

1. Your rig is not adjusted properly (or is a brand that lacks an adjustable socket block) and you are having to distort your posture to compensate.
2. Your vest is not fitted properly or is too loose or too tight.
3. You are not operating in good form and should take a workshop to learn correct form.
4. You are overexerting yourself and fatigue is causing you to rely on the "wrong" muscles. You need to build up your stamina gradually.

The common advice is to take a Tiffen workshop. It is excellent advice. You should also buy the "Steadicam Operators Handbook" and the "EFP Training DVD", both available from Tiffen.
 
I recently had an opportunity to attend the Tiffen Steadicam Workshop just an hour south of Philadelphia and just couldn't come up with the $2,400 to make it. That's a lot of cash for something which I can't guarantee will get me the money back in my area. I've tried selling the services, but a couple of local union guys just purchased the cheap Indian knock off from ebay and attached a $2,500 gyro to the bottom and it works the same (so I've been told by colleagues who tried it).

Gotta have a good use for it I guess. With DSLR becoming more and more on demand, a simple handheld Glidecam or Steadicam Merlin will suffice.
 
mozingopj said:
I recently had an opportunity to attend the Tiffen Steadicam Workshop just an hour south of Philadelphia and just couldn't come up with the $2,400 to make it. That's a lot of cash for something which I can't guarantee will get me the money back in my area. I've tried selling the services, but a couple of local union guys just purchased the cheap Indian knock off from ebay and attached a $2,500 gyro to the bottom and it works the same (so I've been told by colleagues who tried it).

Gotta have a good use for it I guess. With DSLR becoming more and more on demand, a simple handheld Glidecam or Steadicam Merlin will suffice.
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Couple of things here -

You can take a Flyer/Pilot workshop for $500. It's a 2-day affair, and only covers the lighter rigs, but it's really affordable, and teaches you a lot of what you need to know in a very short period of time. I'd say it's enough to get you ready to buy a rig, practice, and do some smaller shoots. Then, if you really want to pursue it as a career full-time, you can look at the SOA workshops, or other similar ones.

Also, I don't know who those people are who bought an Indian rig and put a gyro on it, but if they're saying it'll do the same thing as a nicer Steadicam rig, they're certainly in for some nasty surprises. A gyro (and technically you need two, so if they only have one, they're already at a huge disadvantage) will keep the rig going in a straight line without any real influence from the operator. That's true. However, the minute you want to tilt or pan your shot, the gyro will "kick" out, and the rig will suddenly become unstable again. Also, gyros are noisy, and a real drain on batteries. It's a shame that they're going in that route, and honestly, I'd love to know who they are, and give them a feel for what a real Steadicam can do.
 
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