steady cam questions

I

In Over My Head

Member
Before I get to my questions, I will tell a little about myself. I am a pro still photographer, and used to do some production on low power broadcast TV, (paid programing, so it is not like I have a lot of experience).
I am making a documentary on the mind set of "Hot Rodders" There is a local "production" company here that did a DVD on the Woodward Dream Cruise, and it was horrible. I don't like to bad mouth anyone's work, but there was no sound track, (just what ever sounds were happening while shooting!), there was no beginning, or ending, just a bunch of "middle." The "cinimatography consisted of holding the camera at angles, moving around, and zooming in and out as if that were enough to create interest! Then the Travel channel did a piece that was pretty good, (I did the voice over), but they spent 20 minutes out of an hour, on low riders. Low riders are an LA thing, in Detroit we are drag racers. So I was inspired to do something on my own to tell the story of cars, drag racing, and the mind set of the personality that NEEDS to do this. I am forunate enough to have a good number of close freinds who happen to be a part of drag racing, and automotive history, so I will have interviews with them, etc.
OK, enough background on me and my project. Here is my hardware question. I have been looking on ebay for a steady cam. I am trying to get a jr, and am bidding a few. I have noticed other "steady cam" items that are listed that have no gyros or anything. So my question is this,
"since the only thing these other units have going for them is mass, if I can't come up with a steady cam, would it be better for me to build a unit like I see on ebay, that is just big and heavy, or should I just "do the best I can" hand holding? If this were how I earned my living, I would get a Merlin or something similar. It is not. I don't even know if I will ever recoupe my expenses on this project. I am just doing it out of love of cars, and wishing to express myself.
Any advise from the group here would be most welcome. This whole project has me a little scared, as my user name implies. I did a 4 minute 12 second video for my gun club and it took me over 20 hours to put together! I am trying to put together a 90 minute to 2 hour project here and it is a little scary!
Oh, one last thing, I do plan on doing some shooting out the open side door of my van. It would not be hard for me to fabricate a boom that would be balanced camera on one end weight on the other. Even if I had a steady cam on the end of the boom, (still easy for a guy like me), would I need to make something to isolate the rig from the van to avoid vibration?
Thanks!
 
First off; Welcome to DVXuser!

Hmm.. lots of interesting questions...

First off, be wary of the many "steady cam" type contraptions on e-bay. 90% of them suck and arnt' worth the money. Most are made and sold by people who have never seen, let alone operated, a real Steadicam.
If you want to try something like this, you are best putting one together yourself rather than paying for it on e-bay.

Here's one simple setup you can try:
You are a photographer you say? Take you monopod and put your video camera on it. Then take something, (doesn't matter what, jsut somethign laygin around) and tape it to the bottom for a bit of counterweight. I should weigh about 1/4 of the weights of your camera. Then hold the monopod horizontal and find where it balances. Return teh monopod ot vertical and hold it *just* above that balance point, so it's almost neautral, but still wants to hang down a little. That's it, you have just built a "Shaky cam" - which is similar to most of those non- gimbled things on e-bay.

That will help take out the very worst bumps, but to be honest, won't work great (this is why i'm saygin don't invest any money in something like that). Head over to www.steadishots.org and compare what the Shaky-cam does to the real rigs.

My recomendation would be for you to actually invest a little in a real rig. What camera are you using? If you have the DVX, a JR might be a little small for the camera. Your thought of getting a Merlin is in my oppinion by far the best option for the DVX (or smaller). Run a search for "Merlin" on the forum and you'll find some reviews and footage.


Something else that may interest you: The Merlin works for still photography too!
Check out This and This pic, both taken with the Merlin. Both with very slow shutters, first with the Merlin moving, 2nd with the Subject moving (but camera held on the Merlin.


Other than the Steadicam advice, sousnd liek you are set up for a very interesting project. I think you might be trygin to be a little abitious based on the length, but I really don't know the topic. Most documentaries fit into an hour though, or possibly even 30mins. Quality not quantity :)


EDIT: I think I see the JR on e-bay you were looking at, if it's the one that just topped $500 it's getting past it's value. At that point it's definatly worth just getting a new Merlin.


- Mikko
 
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As for your documentary I just finished comething very similar about car modifiers. The personallity drive and personal back ground to modify ones car into a peice of artwork in motion. Looking at it all from a very cultural perspective. If your interested in my experience as it seems we are both looking at things the same way feel free to PM me.
 
go for the glidecam pro 2000, hard to balance, but when you get it, its golden in performance. Take my word for it. A quarter the price as the merlin.
 
For shooting out of the door of your car, you might like to look at the saddlecam from Cinekinetic. Works a treat.
 
mikkowilson said:
What did you end up getting?

- Mikko
Click to expand...
Sorry for the delay in replying. I just turned on email notification. I got a steadycam JR, should be here by Friday or Saturday. My first day of shooting with it will be Saturday, July 8, so I will have some time to practice. any advise you have, or pearls of wisdom, would be appreciated.
Thanks!:dankk2:
 
Cool, congrats.
My main advice would be: Don't be frusterated when it's tricky at first. With practice it will get much easier and soon become fun. :thumbsup:

- Mikko
 
Thanks, I will keep that in mind, between the cussing and stuff! I really do feel very lucky, I have seen them go for a lot of money, even non-working ones!
thanks!
Tom
 
Sticky Pod

Sticky Pod

In Over My Head said:
I do plan on doing some shooting out the open side door of my van. It would not be hard for me to fabricate a boom that would be balanced camera on one end weight on the other. Even if I had a steady cam on the end of the boom, (still easy for a guy like me), would I need to make something to isolate the rig from the van to avoid vibration?
Click to expand...

Unless you do this just right, sounds like a good way to lose an expensive rig and maybe cause a traffic accident... just teasing.

But seriously, do a search here for "sticky pod". Have not used one myself, but other people here seem to like them. Just remember- any time you strap a $3000 plus cam to the exterior of a moving vehicle, trust no one but YOU and your own gut.

Good luck...
 
Shooting from a moving van

Shooting from a moving van

I recommend the Merlin for moving vehicle shots if you can isolate it from wind.
I shot from the side and rear doors of a van with the steadicam with great results.
Always strap the van door open so it doesn't slide shut on you. We put a plywood panel across the bottom of the opening for safety. I was also strapped into a windsurfing harness anchored to the floor of the van. Coordination of the vehicles was the hard part. During the moments that the van was gliding along next to the motorcycle, the shot was really smooth.

-M
 
Well, I have been playing with my steadicam JR, and boy are you right about PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! I think mine may have a slight problem with the gimble, it tends to like to balance just left, or just right, even when the trim is set to make it balance centered. It is very slight, so it may be me. I can get it balanced centered, push it over gently to the right and it will balance just off to the right, then do the same to the left and get it to balance there. More practice is in order to say the least. Once I get a reasonable command of the steadicam, I will look into this more. Any comments from you guys are appreciated.
Thanks!
 
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