The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

skettalee

skettalee

Well-known member
produced how? Im trying to find the cheapest way to get the best steady shots I can find. A friend and I have been working on our own which a video link of how it came out is here :


Video Link : http://www.damienbenoit.com/stable.wmv

Also here is a kinda blurry image of our unit :
http://www.damienbenoit.com/forum/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=10986

I WANT BEST RESULTS, CHEAPEST PRICE. Please help you guys!



What do you guys know about this unit here :
http://www.cameracranes.us/steadytracker.html


Also can anyone else tell me something better? Thanks a whole lot. We really want to get this going to start shooting movies with the DVX100A maybe some Sony DVCAMs and the XL1/2 Cameras.
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

Not too bad Sketta

Something that makes a stablizer really work is WEIGHT on the bottom. My Glidecam 2000 Pro uses little steel washers and can be added or taken away on the bottom plate forward and aft. The more weight you can apply the steadier the shot; there is a fine line between how much weight is added for performance and weight that is just too damn much. THe weight should be distributed equally and at its widest possible allowance to create the natural 'centered' base.

Another idea you might want to explore is a gimble of sorts that will allow you camera to 'swivel' or 'turn' left and right on the platform it sits on. Im not talking about the PLATE the camera is attached too but underneath that PLATE you camera should be allowed to move freely; the Glidecam Pro is designed to allow one ot use their thumb and forefinger to gently move the camera left and right on its base while staiblized.

This option would prevent the sudden jerkiness noticible in your clips (The shots where the camera 'jerks' to the right suddenly to compensate for moving out of the shot.

That being said? Your shots are not bad at all. There is a difference between the 'with' and 'without'. Im not sure about the product you linked as I have only used the GC 2000
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

How much does that cost? I was checking it out on ebay. I would probably be willing to spend under $200.00 US to get something to perfectly steady my shots and help me out. Can any other people suggest things also. Thanks alot for the input JohN!
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

You don't want a disproportionate amount of weight on the bottom. You want to get it balanced such that you hold the stabilizer at the center of gravity. If it's too bottom-heavy the thing will rock like a pendulum as you start and stop. If you grip it exactly at the center of gravity then it will eliminate the pendulum effect.
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

Exactly.

The camera should be balanced perfecty. Pull the camera back and let it swing back to its orginal position, tilt right, left back and from and it should always come back to center.
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

I use to use the ole 2 sec drop time when I had a Steadicam.
After piling all the crap on the camera, ie.. filters, focus pull, batteries and so on, I mounted it to the cam plate, and with a broom handle that I cut to the length of about 1ft, a would sit the cam on the broom handle until I could fine the center of gravity and then mark the rear and front of the camera plate before I mounted it to the dove plate on the Steadicam.
Then, adjusted  side to side. Now the gimble was mounted on  my docking bracket which was on a stand, therefore I could let go and see which direction the unit was tilting. Side to side or for and aft. If you tilt the entire system downward, where your cam is ..lets say 9 oclock  amd the other end of the sled is at about 3 oclock, you can let go of the unit and it should take aprox 2 to 3 sec before it is back at its orig position. This is where either weights need to be added, come off or extend the sled either out for a little more length or shorten the sled. THIS TAKES ALOT OF PRACTICE. Even a different size tape stock or film reel can throw the entire balance off, not to mention if youre going to add a wireless rec to your DV cam. I will see if I can hunt down some old info I use to have as far as tips on this and will let you know.
Its been aprox 7 yrs since Ive used steadicam so Iam kind of forgetfull of some terms. I still stay in touch with a few out in LA and and BC Vancouver. Jerry Hill over at Hill Products has quite a few of gagets that you can take a look at for additional support. He can be found on the Web. Makes my back ache just writing this. BUT IT WAS FUN ! :D
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

Lol, thanx, whats the website? Anyone know of a really good and cheap setup instead of building one?
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

Aaargh!! I've got two days of back-to-back Steadicam operating coming up this Tuesday and Wednesday with a ProVid 2+.

In Oct. 2002 I went to the Maine Workshops and took their Steadicam workshop instructed by Paul Taylor. In the year following I did tons of Steadicam work, but it's been nearly a year since I've strapped that bad boy on. I'm gonna be sore by Thursday.   :'(

Sketta - A Glidecam isn't bad for the price, but it's your arm and shoulder that becomes the support/shock absorber. Meaning one of your arms (most likely your right one) will wind up looking like the Hulk.  ::)
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

Oh well, aint nothing new to me, i do (just like everyone else) masterbate sometimes LOL..... specially in my younger years, I can handle it!
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

[quote author=CaptainMench link=board=Offtopic;num=1090688149;start=0#9 date=07/24/04 at 21:25:35]Where's that cover, Airmen!

CaptM[/quote]


Hehe, yeah where is it huh? Nah im the guy in civilian clothes, but actually the one without the cover got Airman of the Year at our base and even got BTZ....
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

Hey now... that's GREAT!! Must have been a great 1206!

Good on em.

CaptM
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

sry, but i wanted to bump this topic because im veryinterested in buying a steadycam system of some sort as soon as possible.

Has anyone tried this steady tracker system? its not very expensive and i have only maybe $200 to go to ths. they have a sample video from austrailia and i was actually really impressed. For under $200, for me, this is in the lead, but i'd love to hear from anyone whos used it.

Do ppl like glide cams? 2000 or 4000? CMON PPL! I NEED ANSWERS HERE! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

:-X
 
Re: The Perfect Cheap Steady Shots are...

I don't have time for a long answer but here's the short one:

The Steadytracker did not work for me, its stabilizing abilities are extremely limited.

My Glidecam 4000 is awesome but it requires a tremendous amount of patience to balance it which you can do once and then use a Bogen quick release plate to mark where the balance occurs.

Once you balance this puppy, you will start getting beautiful shots immediately. The gimbal is what makes this so much better than the Steadytracker.

No matter what handheld unit you buy, you are dealing with arm fatigue issues so be prepared to shoot short shots. Invest in the arm brace for the Glidecam if you go with the 2000 or 4000, it will make all the difference.
 
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