How to hold the camera to minimize shake

B

bogatyr

Active member
I noticed that, even with the OIS on, the handheld footage looks shakier on a TV set than the camera LCD. I wonder if there are exercises or tips as to how to hold the camera correctly to minimize shake.
I try to hold it with my both hands but whenever i need to focus or do sound adjustments, the picture becomes even more unstable. Also, walking with the camera is just a disaster, i guess there must be a special way to walk.
:dankk2:
 
you could pick up a spiderbrace, that really helps quite a bit. But each style of shooting has its own aesthetic. Hand held will look slightly more shaky than a shoulder rig, and then you have steadicams.
 
Personally i occasionally get some great results when holding the camera from the handle on top...Its my preferred method of holding the camera
 
papa is right, a shoulder brace or GC/SC would make your footage much more stable. If you don't have the budget for something like that, here's a few tips I remember from my own experiences, sorry if you already know these:

Don't go too far out on the lens, try to stay wideangle as it minimizes the amount of shake you see.

Hold the camera close to your body without squeezing too tightly, try to use more than just your hands (in some situations you might be able to 'tuck' the camera under your arm, which can help if you aren't too tight).

Image stabilizers will help, but if you do any pans or sudden movements, you might get a 'wobble' from the stabilizer. I know thats how it was on my old Xl1s.

When walking with the camera, be prepared to have some shake. To minimize the shake, walk with your knees bent, as this will help to absorb most of the motion from your steps. Keep your back straight, and try to keep your shoulders level and steady.

If you are doing a static shot from a low angle, turn 90 degrees so that your left (or right) side is facing the action. Put one knee on the ground, and one knee in the air. Rest the camera on your 'up' knee and cradle it with your arms. If you find the right spot, you can get a very stable frame with that technique. I haven't practiced it recently, but I think that was close to what I used to do.


I can't think of any other tips, though I'm sure there's more out there. I hope this helped.
 
Get a glass and fill it with water all the way to the rim. When you can walk without spilling any water grasshopper you are ready to shoot handheld.
 
If you're talking about an HVX, don't try to hold it with one hand. That's a recipe for shake. You have to put one hand through the strap, and the other palm under the camera, so that you can control the iris with your thumb and the focus and zoom with your index finger. That way will really stabilize it, as compared to just holding it with one hand.
 
It really does depend on your camera. My GL1 worked best when I cradled it in my hands. The XL1 actually does well like that too.
 
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