T2i Merlin type stabilizer only way to get decently steady footage while walking?

A

altar

Active member
Hi,
I'm getting an LCDVF viewfinder for my T2i hoping it'll help me better focus and stabilize my image but I'm wondering if it will be possible to get reasonably stable footage while walking. I'd rather not buy a merlin type stabilizer because I don't like the "gliding" effect (plus they're horribly expensive).
Apart from standing on rollers or a skate board, do any of you guys manage to shoot while walking? How do you do it?
Thanks
 
If you want stabilizer footage, you need a stabilizer. There's a reason so many people buy one.

Are there workarounds? Sure, but they are rarely as good. Are there cheaper ones? Absolutely, you don't need to to spend a fortune on them. But (and this is a BIG BUT) you WILL need to invest time in learning to use them and practice practice practice. Many people give up after just a few goes because they can't get the hang of it and assume they never will. It takes weeks (or months) of practice for some people.
 
To get smoother looking handheld footage you need to get your hands off the camera. A good shoulder support, a monopod with a tilt head and a belt support, a DSLR cage, or a stabilizer-steadicam will produce better results than handheld.
However, I think that the best solution (even if you don't like it much) to smooth out your steps is a steadicam. There are cheaper solutions than the Merlin that still work good enough.
 
thank you all for your answers.
I'd really like to try a stabilizer out, but right now I'm in South Korea so it won't be easy...
 
I use the CMR Blackbird stabilizer and have had some success with it. Shot about 9 ads with it to date and had about a 80% success rate per take. Not bad. The more you use the hand stabilizers the better you get.

Cheers

Jon
 
The LCDVF will provide a little bit extra stabilization when standing still, yes. But only a little... as suggested, get a shoulder mount and if you want to smoothly walk (shoulder mount walking is done and accepted in movies) then get a steady.
 
Yes, I'm not trying to have it perfectly stable while walking, just enough not to be unbearable to watch.
I have to watch more footage from t2i owners who use shoulder mounts.
 
Hi. If you want to go handheld but want to avoid that glossy super-smooth steadicam look then you might want to consider a fig-rig stabilizer. They can be had pretty cheaply too, or you can even make your own. Go to ebay and search "fig-rig stabilizer" and have a look at what's out there. If you want to see a sample video with movement, then check out the cheesycam.com blog, and search "fig-rig". The cheesy guy did a sample video tracking through his house and it looks surprisingly good for not being a steadicam. Not perfectly smooth, which is good if you hate perfection. The cheesy guy shows you how to make your own fig-rig too, or you can maybe find one on ebay if you like the look. Hope this helps.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top