These things are great but expensive, in lieu of using one of these I've been using a Cam Caddie with great success. My shots are much more smooth and it was pretty inexpensive.
cool vid and man I know the difficulty of the horizon tilting and how easy it is to "lose control" while steadicamin' Most people don't realize how sensitive the gear is until they try using it.
Where do they get the actors for these things lol? Just training I suppose. Anyways, great footage.
Question: is your spotter another operator wearing a Steadicam arm/vest without the sled on at this time, or is this a special vest for something else?
@coolmanak Haha! The instructors and the students took turns acting the parts. Good eye spotting the vest on my friend who was kind enough to assist me on my run. He had a vest on for convenience since he was the next to get tested when I finished.
@TheGenerationFilms Haha! The man with the Merlin was one of the instructors. He's an outstanding operator. He prefers the Ultra 2 by far to the Merlin. It was just more convenient for him to get our critique footage using the smaller set-up.
@ian9outof10 Haha, thanks! I think I was more nervous about running into the door frame than anything else. One of the people getting certified that day did, but the arm did it's job and you couldn't tell at all when we watched the video that he hit it.
An small notice... The first steep, flying steadicam, is very important. At video, I saw an operating mistake. First, you have to launch the sled, move your body, and become walking with the contraire leg you´ve the rig..
Haha! Rainerfilm, a lot of people agree. The reality is though that there are directors that do that, and our instructor was deliberate in having us hold the last shot for a long period of time because it's common practice to do that. I don't remember the cost of the rigs were were trained in. The one we were tested in (in the video) had some custom work done on it, so I'm really unsure what it's price was.
I'm going to follow a course this week in the fine art of using a steady cam :P Just finished my course as ENG Cameraman and in january I am going to follow the expert class (editing and stuff).... Had that steady cam on last friday... and it is darn havy :P But why is that guy holding you??? p.s. I have a vid of it on my account!
We were taught that it is best to have an assistant, especially when going through doorways backwards. My friend Brandon would tap my shoulder to let me know which way I needed to go to avoid running backward into the door frame. An assistant is also great for going up and down stairs, or any situation where there's a tight fit or safety is a concern.
While doing that course I had a little moment without assistant to take pictures, wich was a very bad timing for I had not seen that I was walking towards a very slippery floor (someone just trew a bucket of water on the floor). And after that I realise that you indeed DO need an assistant!
it is just the control handle that attaches the sled to the arm. he is moving it when he goes through the doorway because its a tight fit and doesn't want to hit his arm on the way through... the steadicam arm that is
Aliasnut4life, I know I always get inspired when I see a great steadicam shot on TV or on film. The pros out there are doing cooler shots all the time.
fkfj16, Oh man, I forget! It doesn't feel quite as heavy as it is when you've got the vest on correctly. Once you let the camera move out and away from you is when you really start to feel it! It'll tire you out too. I can't believe I can't remember how much it weighs... I'll ask the people who did the training with me if they remember how much it weighed.
Thanks Lasseleeten3. It wasn't an official college course, but three pros came and spent a few days with us students showing us the ins and outs of Steadicam. It was a great experience!
I'll be using a Canon XL2, and i'm on a budget. which steadicam system would u use? I wont be using this for a Hollywood movie, but maybe for low budget music videos or videos with my friends. I looked at the ultra 2..its like $60,000 i'm looking at more around the $1000 range or lower.
Haha, yeah, Ultra 2s are pricey. More than my house! I would recommend looking at all the Steadicam models to see what will both fit your need and budget. A friend of mine recommended that your should look at the Pilot. That's what our school has, I believe.
The Merlin definitely has its uses. The Ultra 2 is made for using a big camera, the Merlin works great for using small cameras in tight places (very popular in real estate). I didn't get to use the Merlin personally, but after using an Ultra 2, the Merlin seems like a toy. It works well and is a lot more affordable, but any time I've seen a Steadicam being used in TV or Film they use an Ultra or a similar model.
That was a great post, thank you. Do you have any other videos or techniques you recommend i should watch to become a better steadicam operator (amateur)
Glad to help out anyway I can Spawn4ever. I e-mailed the guy who ran our workshop and have gotten his permission to edit together his run on this same exercise. You can learn a lot more from watching him than you can from watching me. I don't know when I'll have time to edit that together, but as soon as I do I will and post it.
Im little disappointed with steadicam operator performances..The Video almost always unleveled. TOO NOTICEABLE UNLEVELED = BIG FAIL
vuilang 3 weeks ago
These things are great but expensive, in lieu of using one of these I've been using a Cam Caddie with great success. My shots are much more smooth and it was pretty inexpensive.
AlkimyDeal 6 months ago
i would love to be a steadicam operator,
smuge123 1 year ago
hmmmm this is a good training for new learners...
Murad from Afghanistan
spandhasib 1 year ago
is this the school in PA?
jimmyhooha 1 year ago
cool vid and man I know the difficulty of the horizon tilting and how easy it is to "lose control" while steadicamin' Most people don't realize how sensitive the gear is until they try using it.
TRE1275 1 year ago
Why is the spotter wearing a vest? It's hard to do anything but fly when wearing a vest.
texabyte 1 year ago
'
steadicam on a man body is too heavy weight
bestamerica 1 year ago
Where do they get the actors for these things lol? Just training I suppose. Anyways, great footage.
Question: is your spotter another operator wearing a Steadicam arm/vest without the sled on at this time, or is this a special vest for something else?
coolmanak 1 year ago
@coolmanak Haha! The instructors and the students took turns acting the parts. Good eye spotting the vest on my friend who was kind enough to assist me on my run. He had a vest on for convenience since he was the next to get tested when I finished.
miffy126 1 year ago
Congratulions for the video!!!
joaolaiopms 1 year ago
The guy with the steadicam Merlin has made a better footage... funny
TheGenerationFilms 1 year ago 2
@TheGenerationFilms Haha! The man with the Merlin was one of the instructors. He's an outstanding operator. He prefers the Ultra 2 by far to the Merlin. It was just more convenient for him to get our critique footage using the smaller set-up.
miffy126 1 year ago
I really admire your doorway handling in this video, seeing you bring everything in line makes me understand how challenging doors must be!
ian9outof10 1 year ago
@ian9outof10 Haha, thanks! I think I was more nervous about running into the door frame than anything else. One of the people getting certified that day did, but the arm did it's job and you couldn't tell at all when we watched the video that he hit it.
miffy126 1 year ago
wow i got a Brazilian one ...
claudioagmfilho 1 year ago
Could have been balanced better :\ Great vide tho! :D
Zipper771 1 year ago
Good work! What did you think of that shot??? Haha... The golden question, to always be answered by I liked it, it would be great if
We could ....... I just finished my first Steadicamp Atlanta 2009!!!!
DBDP3 2 years ago
@DBDP3 Congrats!
miffy126 1 year ago
Is this the Steadicam Ultra?
formaset 2 years ago
@formaset We used a customized Ultra 2.
miffy126 1 year ago
no good!!
planvsergio 1 year ago
Nice to watch this video. For a first shot at trainnig is good. Never forget to practice, and practice...
Nice
Amandocrespo 2 years ago
An small notice... The first steep, flying steadicam, is very important. At video, I saw an operating mistake. First, you have to launch the sled, move your body, and become walking with the contraire leg you´ve the rig..
Amandocrespo 2 years ago
Good eye, Amandocrespo! You're absolutely right!
miffy126 2 years ago
2nd guy was much better than the first
napoleontigon2 2 years ago
Haha! Sorry, napoleontigon2, the second run is the exact same run as the first and third, just a different primary view.
miffy126 2 years ago
looks hella heavy.
What i see by the Merlin footage is,
seems like you should "manhandle" the sled a bit more. say just like dancing with a woman, you want to be gentle but still want her to feel you.
smanettonipuntonet 3 years ago
I think you're right, smanettonipuntonet. My whip pan particularly was wimpy. Always room for improvement. 8 ^ )
miffy126 2 years ago
I find if stupid that a directors always take so long to say cut, AAAAAAANNNNNNNNNDDDDDDD CUT. What is the price for that steady cam?
rainerfilm 3 years ago
Haha! Rainerfilm, a lot of people agree. The reality is though that there are directors that do that, and our instructor was deliberate in having us hold the last shot for a long period of time because it's common practice to do that. I don't remember the cost of the rigs were were trained in. The one we were tested in (in the video) had some custom work done on it, so I'm really unsure what it's price was.
miffy126 2 years ago
$8,000.00 to as much as $60,000.00 for Tiffen Steadicam products. The Merlin is around $800.00 For cams less than 5 lbs.
aviatormxpilot 2 years ago
I'm going to follow a course this week in the fine art of using a steady cam :P Just finished my course as ENG Cameraman and in january I am going to follow the expert class (editing and stuff).... Had that steady cam on last friday... and it is darn havy :P But why is that guy holding you??? p.s. I have a vid of it on my account!
Petitprox 3 years ago
We were taught that it is best to have an assistant, especially when going through doorways backwards. My friend Brandon would tap my shoulder to let me know which way I needed to go to avoid running backward into the door frame. An assistant is also great for going up and down stairs, or any situation where there's a tight fit or safety is a concern.
miffy126 2 years ago
Yeah it is!
While doing that course I had a little moment without assistant to take pictures, wich was a very bad timing for I had not seen that I was walking towards a very slippery floor (someone just trew a bucket of water on the floor). And after that I realise that you indeed DO need an assistant!
Petitprox 2 years ago
what does the Handle he is turning with his right hand do?
Antilopax 3 years ago
it is just the control handle that attaches the sled to the arm. he is moving it when he goes through the doorway because its a tight fit and doesn't want to hit his arm on the way through... the steadicam arm that is
kellers5 3 years ago
Ah I see! Thanks for the reply! :)
Antilopax 3 years ago
Exactly! Thanks, Kellers5!
miffy126 2 years ago
nice insight to the SteadiCam. These type of shots fascinate me, Paul Thomas Anderson's opening to Boogie Nights by SteadiCam is simply amazing.
aliasnut4life 3 years ago
Aliasnut4life, I know I always get inspired when I see a great steadicam shot on TV or on film. The pros out there are doing cooler shots all the time.
miffy126 2 years ago
I've noticed that there are 3 types of steadicam operators - those that lean to the left, those that lean to the right and those that go both ways...
I'm not sure if it's sexual or political, but I think someone should do a survey.
:)
parkvillepictures 3 years ago
Wow... damn!
How heavy was it?
fkfj16 3 years ago
fkfj16, Oh man, I forget! It doesn't feel quite as heavy as it is when you've got the vest on correctly. Once you let the camera move out and away from you is when you really start to feel it! It'll tire you out too. I can't believe I can't remember how much it weighs... I'll ask the people who did the training with me if they remember how much it weighed.
miffy126 3 years ago
Okay, I talked with JimBob and he said it weighed 45-55 lbs.
miffy126 3 years ago
Nice!
Is this a class you got or something?
Lasseleeten3 3 years ago
Thanks Lasseleeten3. It wasn't an official college course, but three pros came and spent a few days with us students showing us the ins and outs of Steadicam. It was a great experience!
miffy126 2 years ago
nice, although you was abit tilty, it was still a good effort!
borderlinemedia1 3 years ago
Thanks borderlinemedia1! I definitely need to be careful of that tilt.
miffy126 3 years ago
I wanna go back now!!! Thanks for sharing!
DVideography 3 years ago
Go back? Dave, is that you?
miffy126 3 years ago
Yes - Dave Williams.
DVideography 3 years ago
Ah, I thought you were Dave Svenson.
miffy126 3 years ago
No but I did a workshop with Dave a few years back. He'll remember me as "Local Dave" :-)
DVideography 3 years ago
I'll be using a Canon XL2, and i'm on a budget. which steadicam system would u use? I wont be using this for a Hollywood movie, but maybe for low budget music videos or videos with my friends. I looked at the ultra 2..its like $60,000 i'm looking at more around the $1000 range or lower.
theVirus7 3 years ago
Haha, yeah, Ultra 2s are pricey. More than my house! I would recommend looking at all the Steadicam models to see what will both fit your need and budget. A friend of mine recommended that your should look at the Pilot. That's what our school has, I believe.
miffy126 3 years ago
so in your opinion how does the merlin compare to pro rig?
theVirus7 3 years ago
The Merlin definitely has its uses. The Ultra 2 is made for using a big camera, the Merlin works great for using small cameras in tight places (very popular in real estate). I didn't get to use the Merlin personally, but after using an Ultra 2, the Merlin seems like a toy. It works well and is a lot more affordable, but any time I've seen a Steadicam being used in TV or Film they use an Ultra or a similar model.
miffy126 3 years ago
That was a great post, thank you. Do you have any other videos or techniques you recommend i should watch to become a better steadicam operator (amateur)
Spawn4ever 4 years ago
Glad to help out anyway I can Spawn4ever. I e-mailed the guy who ran our workshop and have gotten his permission to edit together his run on this same exercise. You can learn a lot more from watching him than you can from watching me. I don't know when I'll have time to edit that together, but as soon as I do I will and post it.
miffy126 4 years ago
thanks for posting
iwasbornindudley 4 years ago
No problem, iwasbornindudley.
miffy126 4 years ago