TZ05 - Camera Stabilization Equipment

In this episode, we dive into the expensive, or, at the least, tedious realm of camera stabilization equipment. This ranges from the all-powerful, all-knowing fluid tripod head, to the much used and often abused dolly. We don't own and operate an actual Steadicam or a jib or a crane, but hey, we'll mention them, too.

We'll cover: * Track dolly, Fluid tripod head, Homemade Fig Rig, Car mount, Zooming

To compliment this episode, we're making a very short film that will employ as much of the above equipment as possible. We should hopefully be able to post it on Friday.

We've also opened a forum over on our homepage at: http://www.takezer0.com/forum come and check it out!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• camera
• stabilization
• equipment
• take
• zer0
• zero
• 0
• film
• movie
• movies
• video
• tutorial
• tutorials
• guide
• how
• to
• make
• fig
• rig

[smilingseal]

Thanks guys. What woud you recommend for a solo kayaker, like a helmet cam ( but too bulky ) something small. Or mounted on the front of the kayak. Keep in mind there is some water splash ( but not lots )

Thanks.

[esotericsean]

Hmm, that's a tough one. What type of camera do you use? I'd be scared to get any of my cameras anywhere near a boat without some sort of underwater housing :)

Maybe you could modify a car mount? They often have 3 vacuum cups with rails that hold a mounting plate. Perhaps instead of the vacuum cups, you could mount it some other way? What's the kayak made of?

[beerborn]

Are you guys from M.I.T.?? Cause this is the kinda stuff those guys build for competition. Too much stuff to build just for a small camcorder.

[esotericsean]

The stuff they build is much MUCH more complex. This is super simple stuff that lots of indie filmmakers around the globe can build.

[mikosoft]

For an ocassional use you can use your tripod as a quick steadicam/glidecam. All you need to do is put the camera onto the tripod, fold the legs and extend the center pole so that the folded legs provide counterbalance for the camera. You have to find center of gravity and hold your "rig" there. It is quick and crude but surprisingly effective.

[esotericsean]

That's some good advice, I've done that when I filmed a wedding once and it worked pretty well.

[SanitySource]

good video but very akward, u guys need to get comfortable with being on camera

[sndmann5]

Thanks guys. Well done. I learned some useful stuff. Ignore the critics. I like your style.

[lawnceWOO]

thank you for the info!! i just started making videos myself.

ive learnt alot, i hope i can improve in time

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[mYOzZyKaT]

the best dolly I have ever used and seen outside the multi thousand dollar professional ones are in fact my old Titleist golf cart. It rides really really smoth and theres a lot of places to attach tripods, arm and fasteners. An electric golf cart also works really really well and with a trtipod mounted with some elastic spiders bungee cords it looks totally fluid.

[RoadRunnerLaser]

Nice contrazoom. The dolly makes all the difference. My first attempts at a contrazoom were performed hand-held.... Total crap.

[smilingseal]

the camera is an old sony 5.1 Mpix DSC-W1 . 3X zoom ( 3.5" x 2.5" size)

[smilingseal]

Thanks,

It is made of hard plastic or epoxy. Things can be revitted into it. I was thinking of using the bean bag method and wrapping the bungie cords in the front of my kayak, to hold it.

I used a head light gizmo with elastic straps around my head, and mounted a small camera on it with rubber bands. I kept our of the water. It worked. but I love the steady cam look

Just dont know how to accomplish it. I made I vid with it, Dont know how to show it 2u.

Thanks

[globalarte]

Thanks for share this info ... very cool.

I'm working on a DIY steadycam project.