help with shot stabilization

[Perry Cheng]

April,

Do a web search for video stablizer and you may be surprised of how many links come up. Some cost $$$$ (or more) while others cost 2$ (home made). I personally own a glidecam 2000 (do a search for their link) but heard some great feedback for “Spider Brace’ (6$) https://www.spiderbrace.com/ (Your best bet for the money).

Perry

[Skaterguy]

Hi,

Yes to a Monopod or Chestpod.

I’ve got a Bogen Monopod, and another make Chestpod (with custom made handles). Both are modified for using an IF Remote thru fiberoptic cable to the Cam for Zooming. Also the Monopod can be set up to connect to a waist receiver if desired.

Can send you Pics, but not sure how to do it on this Forum. If you can E-Mail me I can send Pics to you directly.

Skaterguy

[Saya Hillman]

Thanks, gotten lots of suggestions and links, think I’m on the right track!

[Doug Graham]

There are lots of alternatives, but they break down pretty much as follows:

1. Monopods. After trying various shoulder braces and chest pods, I like the monopod best for its combination of portability and stability, but that’s a personal choice. Some monopods have little feet for added stability, and/or you can mount a fluid head on them for pans/tilts. In a pinch, your tripod can double as a monopod…just collapse the legs together.

2. Shoulder braces. These help, especially the ones that also have a chest brace. However, even a simple stick that rests on your shoulder will give some additional steadying, and the simplicity allows you to move the camera for Dutch angles, or tuck the stick in your armpit for a lower angle shot.

Neither of the above will help much for moving shots. For that, you need:

3. Stabilizer rigs. The simplest of these are supported by your arm alone. The camera is gimbaled and counterweighted so that it doesn’t shake (as much) when you move. These rigs tire your arm quickly; the alternative is to support the camera on an articulated arm that’s attached to a rigid vest that transfers the weight to your body. Such a full-up stabilizer rig will run you $3,000 on up to $20,000 for professional Steadicam equipment.

There are a few outlying gadgets, such as the FigRig (a steering wheel with your camcorder mounted at the hub) or the TortleRig (a pole that sticks up over your shoulder, with the camera suspended on a bungee cord from it).

If you want to experiment with a stabilizer, I like the Varizoom FlowPod. This is a nice monopod, but also has a gimbaled handle and can be used as a hand-held stabilizer.

Regards,
Doug Graham

[Mark Perez]

Markp_92647 here

if you not mind sending me some pics, they would be greatly appreciated

markp_92692@yahoo.com

thank you
mark