steadycam handling

Faizbell

Faizbell

Member
Hi guys sorry juz asking 4 tips on how to operate a steady cam! Pls advise me coz i'm in the process of handling steadycam thank you!
 
Faizbell said:
Hi guys sorry juz asking 4 tips on how to operate a steady cam! Pls advise me coz i'm in the process of handling steadycam thank you!
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What type of Steadicam?

If you're operating one of the full-on rigs without training, let us know what hospital you'll be staying at, so that we can visit and/or send flowers.

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
Faizbell said:
yup full on rigs mr david my work does not have training more hands on experience
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Good luck!

While I'm all for hands on experience, carelessness & inexperience with these rigs can cause serious problems for the user.

There are many great Steadicam workshops out there hosted by Steadicam; I would strongly urge you to see if there are any that you can attend.


David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
Faizbell,
What rig specifically will you /are you using? What level of experience do you have? Tell us a little more and we'll be able to help.

As for Steadicam workshops, they are offered multiple times a year around the US and the world. For an up to date list visit www.steadicam-ops.com

Silver, the closest workshop to you is the SOA workshop, considered one of the best ones, up in Chester Springs (just west of Philly), PA. I attended the other year and it was fantastic. I'm awaiting my next chance to go.
The course is a week long and is normally held every May and October. It runs about $2200 for the week long course.

I STRONGLY recomend a workshop for anyone serious about operating with any full rig, and defiantly for anyone who will be operating a larger rig.

- Mikko
 
How heavy?
I belive the curent max for a rig is to the tune of just short of 90lb total. :shocked: But that's very rare (we are talking IMAX type stuff here)

Most big rigs weigh somewhere around 50lb-70lb. Of course there are lighter rigs too, there's something for every weight from less than an lb (Merlin) all the way up to the big rigs.

- Mikko
 
Hi guys thanks 4 ur reply ! ok honestly i'd love to go 4 steadycam courses but in my country we only have 1 qualified trainer and boy he's a hot demand ! my company use to hold workshop 4 upgrades but it stopped during economic slowdown ! Ok letsay i weight 100kg my body and height is really suitable for steadicam operation, but after practising afew rounds wif the steadycam it seems that my thigh aches and i tried to rebalance the steadycam coz it's swinging outta control ! :embarasse it makes me look like a kiddo and i have always in awe whenever steadycam operators makes it look so simple
 
WOW, steadicam with no training. I would REALLY advise against this. I'm a certified glidecam operator and also have training with the steadicam. It takes years to become comfortable with the full rigs.

An inexperinced operator could do SERIOUS harm to themselves, the camera, or both. Be careful.
 
Faizbell,
Please please stop right now before you hurt yourself or someone else. I'm beeing deadly serious. You need some training.

What rig are you trying to Fly?

- Mikko
 
davecon said:
WOW, steadicam with no training. I would REALLY advise against this. I'm a certified glidecam operator and also have training with the steadicam. It takes years to become comfortable with the full rigs.

An inexperinced operator could do SERIOUS harm to themselves, the camera, or both. Be careful.
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I agree-- I'd rather hire an op than try to wing it. But the original poster didn't seem too keen on anything OTHER than doing it him/her self.

And in a situation like that, I'd be inclinded to suggest a course.

Just my two cents... I don't like to see people get hurt!

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
hi guys thanks 4 the advice! i forgotten to state that i'm being trained by the watchful eyes of the d.o.p's and senior cameraman in my camera unit they all went 4 the couse b4 and handled the steadycam b4 ! wat i would ask is do ni need to do back and leg excercises to have the lower body strengh to operate the steady cam?
 
WTF....What you really need to do is STOP what your doing right now before You, The Equipment and Other People get seriously injured. Steadicam is not a toy that you can just pick up and start using.

As others have advised in earlier posts, get a workshop under your belt or at the very least get an Owner/Operator to help you understand the basic fundamentals.

I'm surprised your camera crew are allowing you to fly the steadicam with no experience. You are literally setting yourself up for a major fall (no pun intended). As for excercises, don't waste your time, get a workshop under your belt first.

Rich "responsible steadicam owner/Operator" Steel


www.steadicams.com
 
Steadicamsteel ,

I'm not a steadicam operator but you said he should get a "Owner/Operator to help you understand the basic fundamentals.". Well from reading his post I thought he said "i'm being trained by the watchful eyes of the d.o.p's and senior cameraman in my camera unit they all went 4 the couse b4 and handled the steadycam b4". That wouldn't meet the requirements that you stated ?
 
Faizbell,

It does sound like you are beeing helped out by someone.
I cant' really judge them and their skills from here, but if they can't answer these question for you, you shouldn't trust them to train you either.

Once again: STOP! Go take a workshop before you hurt someone. (or the gear, but I don't care about that)

- Mikko.
 
Silverwolf,

In answer to your question.......erm NO. Just by taking a steadicam workshop doesn't qualify you being an Operator therefor falls far from having the requirements to teach steadicam. As Mikko mentioned if they (his camera crew) can't tell him where he's going wrong (by the sounds of his posts) then he should not be trying to fly a rig.

It's like asking someone who's taken a helicopter flight introductory course to show you the ropes in how to fly a helicopter. It just doesn't happen, period.
 
I'm sorry maybe my understanding of Owner/Operator was different because for example if I own a car and I'm able to drive or Operate that vehicle then i would be what you stated ,now it appears from your response that Instructor would have been a more appropiate term to use. I'm only stating this for clarification purposes and not to say that your statement was incorrect.
 
Your analogy for driving is perfect......Would you consider taking a driving lesson from someone you know who has maybe taken a lesson in the past and maybe knows how to drive a car? or indeed have just past there driving test. Just because they've past there driving test doesn't necessarily make them an experienced driver.

We digress from the initial topic.

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
 
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