Steadicam SK2

[Donald Harvey]

My teacher has given me the opportunity to learn how to assemble and disassemble and how to properly run the Steadicam SK2. I am unbelievably excited to be able to do this. I can't wait till tomorrow morning to start!

Anyway, I am asking anyone who is very knows a how to use a steadicam, to help me out, give me TIPS, ADVICE, anything that I can help me run this thing like a pro! I know that takes time and experience, but I want to be able to run it very smoothly tomorrow!

Thank you!

 

[devnull]

The chances of being very smooth tomorrow would be somewhere between zero and nothing There is an excellent video Tiffen put on Youtube, it's about the Pilot specifically, but the concepts all transfer to larger rigs. It covers all the basics very well.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=S3PgqKF6ugY

The key to smooth shots is the proper balance, static and dynamic, of the camera sled. If that's out of whack, it just becomes so much more difficult. Learn that before even putting the vest on. I know you won't though, you'll put the whole rig on first and run around just like the rest of us! Once you grasp the basics, how to balance, how to move, you won't want to take if off, it's too much fun.

If you want a more technical look at dynamic balance.

http://www.steadicam.com/manuals/dynamic primer.pdf

Another critical point is your stance. Poor stance will lead to fatigue and to poor framing. Steadicam uses muscles most people never realise they have. Before you even switch on the camera, you should try manoeuvres only concentrating on your body balance. New users spend so much effort look at the monitor, they forget all about body balance and wear themselves out very quickly by leaning to far forward.
The idea is to keep the camera close as possible to your body, and try to keep the centre of gravity of you and the rig over your feet. So lean back slightly when the arm is out, lean slightly when the arm is close, and so on.

http://steadivision.com/media/SteadiPos3.pdf

It's a lot easier when the vest is properly fitted, and your threads are correctly set, so that when your standing still you can let go of the camera and it stays in place. Good operators can walk around without even touching the camera, and it stays perfectly stable.

After all that, you may become as good as this

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7qjk2jF0A

A bit late for this, but the EPF dvd from Tiffen who now make Steadicam is very good. It's old, but all the concepts are the same. It's code DVD-200504.

Good luck.