Kakiat Park - Canon HV30 Showreel

Filmed in Kakiat Park in Suffern, NY.

Camera & Editing: Jason Checkla

Equipment:
Canon HV30 Vixia
IrvB Focus Wheel - http://www.irvdesign.com/product/mfr/
MiniDV Steadicam - eBay user: pjbalvanz

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• canon
• hv30
• vixia
• showreel
• jason
• checkla
• irvb
• focus
• wheel
• minidv
• steadicam
• steadycam
• kakiat
• park
• suffern
• new
• york

[sonicballer8888]

Amazing footage. Do you recommend this Steadycam for someone using a light camera like an HV30 or perhaps a JVC Everio?

Please reply if you can.

[JasonCheckla]

Yes, absolutely. The engineering behind this steady-cam makes it a much better choice than some of the other less-expensive steady-cams on the market. Be careful about the weight though, mine seems to struggle with the balance a little when I add accessories to my HV 30 (microphones, lens hood, focus wheel, etc.). It works wonders with the camera alone though.

[sonicballer8888]

I just tested my JVC Everio on it. and the bottom keeps swaying alot. I'm guessing that it is too heavy on the bottom? But the funny thing is that my JVC everio may be TOO light for it. I'm using the JVC Everio gz-ms100, and it is VERY light. I don't know how to balance it with this camera.

[JasonCheckla]

It takes some practice to find the perfect amount of weight and weight adjustment to get that perfect balance. I believe there's a video on the ebay seller's page with an instructional video, right?

If it's swinging around too much, you probably have too much weight on the bottom. The camera can't be too light, because you can balance the steady-cam itself without a camera on it :). You'll get it, just keep adding/removing weight and moving it around til you find the sweet spot.

[sonicballer8888]

@JasonCheckla

I finally got the hv30. and wow, it's so much better than the jvc by far. I love this camera. When looking at the test footage i uploaded, i was like "there is no way that I actually made this video" because it just looked so darn good. haha

[AfroNinja720]

how did u get this amaing quality? i have the same cam... i use a mac, what program do u use to export and what are your settingS?

[JasonCheckla]

Haha that's not exactly how it is designed to work..but if you're getting good results then do whatever works for ya. I'm going to PM you something that the creator of the tutorial video said to me.

[sonicballer8888]

I just found a nice balance for it a few minutes ago. I have 3 big weights on the top connected to the tripod screw. I have 1 big weight and 2 middle weights inside the mounting area. And I have 2 small weights on the front of the bottom mounting area.

I tested it and it performed pretty well. And I'm only 15. :)

[sonicballer8888]

Really? So far, my best results were when I put all of the weights in the top area, and screwed them all to the top, and I left the bottom empty, and I held the steadycam horizonaly, and the steady cam still tilted down to the bottom.

I'll keep practicing though. I just got this a few hours ago.

[sonicballer8888]

thanks. I already ordered it. I can't wait for it to arrive.