how do you do this "almost" handheld look?

jambredz

jambredz

Veteran
I've been seeing this in a couple vids lately...how do they acheive that camera movement with the camera almost swaying/swinging uniformly throughout the vid ?

Luv this song :) and the whole jerk dance movement taking over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgY62FWcLI

(vid has expletives. didnt wanna use this one but its one of the better quality ones)
 
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Shoot it handheld, and use something like a "Smoothcam" filter in FCP or the steady tracker in After Effects to adjust how smooth you want it.

There's too many quick movements to be steadicam footage. Steadicam footage has very slow, almost like breathing (slow in, slow out).
 
This is exactly what the FigRig does well. I've shot stuff that looks like that on the Fig. Not as smooth as a Steadicam, but can do "smoothed handheld" shots just like this. It's a steal for $300.
 
really?!...and here i thought the figrig was a waste. that must be a task holding it for any length of time though.
 
Depends on the camera on it... I can do 30 minutes easy with the DVX. The 5D felt like it wasn't there. I did a 30 minute stretch with the EX1 and couldn't control the shake in my biceps at the end of it!

When we did a "film test" with the 5D, we did some up/down stairs follow shots, as well as some walk/talks and some running. When we dropped the footage into FCP and played on the Apple Cinema Display, the director turned around and said, "We'll shoot the whole movie on this!" He wanted no sticks, and we didn't have the dolly we were supposed to get.

As it turns out, we did about 80% shoulder mount, and 20% Fig. He told me after wrap that he really would have preferred to do it the opposite ratio. Especially, after he same what I could do in post with stabilizing the footage.

Anyway, if you want *that look* then the FigRig and maybe some light stabilization in post will get you there.
 
This is a quick upload (unstabilized) of a tracking shot. We did two takes on this. Director is on the Fig Rig, and sprinting sideways. Sorry, I just did SD for speed.

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I AGREE
 
yeh i can see how u can get that look out of the figrig.

Perrone...when u stabilize footage in that situation (5d) does it eliminate that jello?
 
dang....u bearly moved the cam and it was all jello. nice example. thanx...much appreciated.

i have a question...i;ve seen an video on vimeo (someone posted it here) of this guy that shot a football game (very well done i must say) in 60p with the 7d. no jello. I thought these hdslr cams dont do well with high action movement. does the framerate have something to do with that?
 
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PerroneFord said:
This is exactly what the FigRig does well. I've shot stuff that looks like that on the Fig. Not as smooth as a Steadicam, but can do "smoothed handheld" shots just like this. It's a steal for $300.
Click to expand...

Is the actual fig rig superior to the cheaper knock off brands or can they get you similar results?
 
711 said:
Is the actual fig rig superior to the cheaper knock off brands or can they get you similar results?
Click to expand...

The real deal has a few features the knock-offs don't but they can do a fairly similar job. Compare carefully, and ask questions. It's like anything else. A 7D and a D90 look about the same to the untrained eye...
 
The figrig offers nothing that you can't achieve with handheld. Sorry. That video could be shot on a tripod and animated in post to create that effect. Not hand held.
 
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PerroneFord said:
The real deal has a few features the knock-offs don't but they can do a fairly similar job. Compare carefully, and ask questions. It's like anything else. A 7D and a D90 look about the same to the untrained eye...
Click to expand...

I guess it really comes down to preference and cam op style, but in my experience the fig rig can offer a great deal to smooth out mobile handheld shooting if used properly and in the right situation. With image stabilization enabled using the fig rig, I can get some pretty steady shots that I probably wouldn't have been able to without it. But it's a tool - and for some the tool doesn't work and for others it does.
 
PerroneFord said:
Have you used one?

Please tell me how you hold a wireless transciever, a Marshall HD monitor, a shotgun, a Beachtek, and a Zylight in your hands and operate a 7D.
Click to expand...

Good point - accepted.

I was referring to the stabilisation - but stand corrected.
 
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