Handholding NON IS lenses

[Ben_B]

Using a monopod in the traditional way is too steady when extended to the ground plus it's hard to walk around and shoot with it like that. I got much better results keeping the monopod closed up and wedging it into my front pocket making it a much more minimalist mobile and cheap solution especially if quick overhead shots are needed.

Randy

Don't you love how small the camera is? With a good, long monopod, you can hold it like a boom pole and get a fast jib-esque shot anywhere!

 

[Martti Ekstrand]

My opinion is that you should NEVER handhold a DSLR for video. It's just not made for that kind of shooting.

Never say never.

DSLRs without a working viewfinder in video mode are pretty bad for handheld, GH1 with the EVF as third point of contact works quite OK. I prefer it over the 'traditional' camcorder ergonomics.

 

[cowpunk52]

I was having this exact issue on a shoot last week; I wanted to get some handheld footage with the 20/1.7, but it was late in the shoot, I was tired, and my hands weren't able to keep the lens steady enough to completely avoid wobble. I had some old pieces in my kit, so this is what I came up with:

Basically, it's an old aluminum giottos tripod I picked up on clearance from Samy's, and a (now discontinued) manfrotto 701rc2 video head. I mounted the camera backwards on the head and tilted it all the way down, closed the legs of the tripod, and put it on my shoulder. I use the center column to optimize counter balance and distance of the LCD from my eyes.

When in use, it protrudes out the back a little, but makes just about any non-IS lens totally usable in a hand-held aesthetic. Works a treat for motion shots, and really isn't bad for free.99! Well, free for me as opposed to buying a totally new shoulder stabilizer since I had the pieces lying around...

 

[J Davis]

When you collapse a lightweight tripod, you can hook one of the legs in your belt.

Then expand the tripod just enough so its head is at eye level. This is a very old photographers trick.

Works with any brand.

 

[Ron Rodenmeyer]

Never say never.

DSLRs without a working viewfinder in video mode are pretty bad for handheld, GH1 with the EVF as third point of contact works quite OK. I prefer it over the 'traditional' camcorder ergonomics.

Never Ever Say Never (Don't know how to make the words the link)
http://vimeo.com/7912681

 

[danny dale]

When you collapse a lightweight tripod, you can hook one of the legs in your belt.

Then expand the tripod just enough so its head is at eye level. This is a very old photographers trick.

Works with any brand.

I had read about that and ended up just pulling the top section out of a Bogen/Manfrotto tripod and putting a piece of 1" pipe insulation over the end, and tightened everything real tight. I always shoot with the viewfinder and that gives me 3-point contact...

 

[andrzejkra]

When I'm going ghetto style without any tripod or stabilizer, I find that I get the best handheld shots if I hold the camera up to my eye and use the EVF like an old SLR camera. Hold your elbows close to your chest and use your forearms as a support. Holding it out in front of you to look at the LCD is just asking for trouble.

If money is not an issue, get a steadicam merlin - once you get the recipe you like, you will be able to get it flying in perfect balance in just 2-3 minutes. It folds up very compactly and is convenient to bring even for day trips or picnics. With the 20mm panny lens you can use minimal weight to get it balanced - the whole thing weights so little. I used it literally all weekend and never got a sore arm (it is really surprisingly light, and more stable than any other handheld stabilizer I have used). That 20mm lens was made for the steadicam merlin, they make an awesome combo - it is even nice to use with the stock lens, but with that the weight of everything will almost double. Even so, it is pretty manageable unless you don't like having biceps.

 

[Ben_B]

I kind of like holding it out in front of you if you have no other stabilizer because the shake is more macroscopic and less of a little jitter and I find it more pleasing.

 

[mojo43]

I have been using a cheap 10 dollar table table tripod attached to the GH1. It is the same length as the cam so it is doesn't take very much extra room.

I extend the tripod legs and use it as a shoulder support. I shoot looking through the eye piece. All of my vids are handheld run and gun. I rarely use a tripod and I think it works really well and costs next to nothing!

 

[MadHMC150]

From my experience the merlin or other balance stabilizers, the camera cant be touched while flying... I get away with a controller and auto features with the HMC but a dslr would be a headache since it best functions in manual.

You can get the best of both worlds pretty much by attaching a monopod to the halo rig's - one of my favorite new features.

 

[Final Design Studios]

I like the halo rig, but you can't pull focus while using it. Monopods work great to steady the vertical jitter, but you still end up with it shaking horizontally if you don't brace the bottom against yourself.

 

[Blackout]

There are a couple of things that are not full tripods but poles / weights that you can screw into the gh1 tripod mount hole... then you get some weight on it and again hold it at the center of gravity and move, pan, change shots with your legs, not your hands / arms. meaning, spread your legs like a woman in heat, get your footing, and use the difference from one leg to another to get the moves, keeping the camera close to your body.