Camera Stabilizer Advice
Archive for July, 2010
Video Camera Tripod
For most of your video production work the video camera tripod is essential. The most important features in a video camera tripod is to support your camera, enhance the compost ion, force perspective and provide smooth pan and angle movements. A professional video camera tripod consists of a head, legs, (sticks) feet and a spreader. Heads allow movement that is smooth and fluid so we get the name fluid heads. The operator can fine tune the resistance or drag to his or her preference. Effectively positioning the video camera tripod parallel to the ground allows for natural composition and balanced panning. Some tripods have a levelling bubble to balance the tripod. Unbalanced camera rigs have a tendency to tip over, or at the very least cause movements rough and jerky. To remedy this, professional tripod heads often employ counterbalance systems to keep your camera, lens, audio equipment and other accessories balanced above the apex of the sticks. Tripod legs take all the weight of the camera gear, and come in a variety of configurations. Stages refer to the number of locking positions on the legs. A single-stage tripod has 1 locking set combining 2 sections. A two-stage tripod uses 2 locking sets joining 3 sections. Since single-stage tripods contain fewer components, they are typically more stable than multi-stage sticks. However, two-stage tripods tend to collapse shorter for easier packing and transport. In choosing a set of sticks, you ought to consider minimum/maximum height and weight capacity. Make a list of the shooting heights that best fit your project or style. If you take your camera production seriously, it is important to use a stable professional video camera tripod.
Camera Stabilizer Body Positions
The body position is important for a video camera stabilizer. The forward operating position (missionary position) by positioning the video camera perpendicular to your body so you can follow somebody, go around some trees and follow your subject. But what happens if you want to be in front of your actor by walking backwards you could trip and fall. The best solution is the reverse mode (don wan) position to twist your body to the side then you see the ground and now you are safe. The reverse mode is essential on steps you can see the steps and can follow the actor up the stairs. The video camera position stays level with the actor as you move up the stairs. When using the Glidecam in windy conditions try to find a natural wind break or what is suggested is a 4×4 double net that will not allow wind swirls around the wind break protecting the video camera stabilizer.
Camera Stabilizer Makes Video Magic
Mix up your shots by not adhering to a routine, make wide, medium and closeup shots using your camera stabilizer, camera mounts and tripod. . Be creative and put your camera on the ground, by using a camera bean bag a handy part of your equipment. Use your macro setting on your video camera get close to a object as possible. Be a king of the cutaway moving from the action to a painted face in the crowd, the scoreboard, the coach, and the cheerleaders. Cover your transitions with a cutaway with your standard videos. Keep a little notebook keeping track of your shots to help you determine if enough video is taken when it comes time for editing. Pre Planning your shoot with a storyboard will determine everything is included in your video. If you plan to produce a stimulating emotional video, having a plan in place before you ever hit the record button will make your ending much easier. Videographers are just storytellers using their equipment, tripods and camera stabilizers to produce magical stimulating videos.
Camera Stabilizer Glidecam X22AB
Looking for camera stabilizer system for a much heavier camera . The next camera stabilizer in the series about camera stabilizer system kits the Glidecam X22AB Stabilizer with the Anton Bauer battery mount, LCD monitor, sled and base vest, and docking bracket. The Glidecam X22AB Stabilizer is a professional camera stabilizer system designed for film or video cameras weighing from 10-22 pounds. This camera stabilizer has out performed all it’s competition in this class. By this economical.camera stabilizer smooth footage will be the norm. The GLIDECAM X-22 System incorporates advanced engineering and precision machining, making it the most sophisticated and versatile system in its price range. Included with camera stabilizer system, x-22 support arm, support vest, x-22 support sled, docking bracket, arm posts, hardware and operation manual and 90 day warranty. This is Glidecam’s next arm. A three spring dual section arm system will feel comfortable and will behave much better than a single arm system. The X-22 camera stabilizer is a lighter exceptionally well built and robust, it looks fantastic that, will compete with the Steadicam Flyer at a lower price range.
The Video Camera Shot
There are rules for framing your shot but remember rules can be broken to achieve emotion and interest. The closeup shot of a sports action revealing the face emotion and the long shot for all the action. By using a video camera stabilizer camera angles can be changed which will prevent a jump cut The head and shoulder shot for an interview about the game showing the subjects lips and expression of the face. The bust shot needs to show the detail of the face and something the subject is doing as well and middle shot showing hand movement. When there are two subjects the over the shoulder shot is very important moving from one subject to the other. The high angle shot taken taken above the shoulders used to create a sense of smallness in the the subject or to show that the audience has a sense of looking over the subjects from a superior position. The opposite low angle shot can make the subject larger but is a great way of creating relief from the main action. Many articles talk about camera tilt, pan, zoom, and dolly movements. The camera tilts with the moving subject, pan goes to one subject to another, zoom pulls in and out to reveal information, dolly movements for long continuous shots and the ideal shot for action subjects the video camera stabilizer.
Video Production Rules
Following up with some sport videography rules, that will apply with any sport. When editing the project select only the main highlights so you keep the video camera rolling in position to get all the action. Too much video is better than not enough especially when using hand held camera. Get to the game location about hour before to find the best shooting location. Avoid setting up too close to the sideline for your own safety. Keep both eyes open because the action may come too close to your location without you realizing it. Get a lot of cutaways, your audience will tire of your video watching the same action all the time. Include shots of the fans, coaches on the side line, scoreboard (many times) or any unexpected activity along the sideline, in the stands and sometimes look up in the sky. Ground camera footage is the best for the average viewer where as the coaching staff will like high-angled shots. Because the action moves so fast a tripod can be a hassle. Using these simple rules will keep your audience interested. The techniques presented can be used with any subject matter. Trying your hand held techniques could give shaky footage which is not professional so better yet use a camera stabilizer system.
Digital Video Stabilizer
Glidecam HD-4000 Digital Video Stabilizer
The lightweight and innovative Glidecam HD-4000 hand-held digital video stabilizer will transform your challenging to watch, shaky camera footage into smooth, professional footage. The Glidecam HD-4000 offers features that have degree of refinement never previously seen in a line of Hand-held video camera stabilizers. The Glidecam HD-4000 capacity is 4-10 lbs has three basic components, the vest, the spring-tensioned support arm and the sled. This digital video stabilizer has all the qualities and value just as more expensive Glideacms such as the Glidecam Gold Series. The Glidecam HD-4000 has new technological advancements from the Glidecam 4000 Pro making the balancing much easier. Except taking some time balancing this digital video stabilizer for the first time. Once balanced the Glidecam HD-4000 is easy to set-up and use. This Glideam HD-4000, K-10 Stabilizing Kit is just one of the best values for any digital video stabilizers.
Digital Video Stabilizer
Glidecam HD-4000 And X-10 Stabilizer KitFor Hand Held Cameras Quick Release X-10 Kit 4-10 lbs Capacity
The X-10 digital video stabilizer is very similar in design to the Glidecam Smooth Shooter; however the X-10 comes with both sections of its support arm being able to move vertically, whereas the Smooth Shooter comes with only the front section of its support arm being able to move vertically. Also, the X-10 comes with a trimmable Arm-to-Vest Connector, whereas the Smooth Shooter’s Arm-to-Vest Connector is not trimmable. The GLIDECAM X-10′S Support Arm can be boomed up and down, as well as pivoted in and out, and side-to-side. It is the combined booming and pivoting action of the Support Arm that isolates your motions from the camera in a way that creates smooth camera footage
Upgrading Game Film
Anyone who has ever had to watch game film from a high school sporting event knows how middling the results often are. Most of the time these games are shot by a volunteer parent with a camcorder that was state-of-the-art before most of the kids competing were born. For years I was forced to analyze these subpar tapes in preparation for next week’s game, often not even being able to tell who was who.
When I moved on to college athletics everything changed. Instead of grainy video that was constantly bobbing up and down, we were supplied with a glut of crystal clear film from cameras that never seemed to deviate from their assigned position. At first I assumed that this jump in quality should be attributed to the professionals shooting the video, but I quickly learned the equipment played the more pivotal role. All of our games were filmed with HD camcorders and a camera stabilizer system.
Camera Stabilizer
Glidecam Smooth Shooter Camera Stabilizer
Perhaps you are a person who wants a camera stabilizer system for your home family video’s and travelling experiences. The original Glidecam 2000 or 4000 pro with the Smooth Shooter is a perfect system. The Glidecam 2000 Pro will support any video camera or movie camera weighing up to 6 pounds, 4000 pro 4 to 10 pounds. It is quick and easy to set up and balance. Allows unrestricted booming and unrestricted 360 degree Panning. These two Glidecam camera stabilizers are 14.5″ and 18 ” tall. made of precision Aluminum. You can easily attach a small LCD monitor to the base monitor mount hole if needed. At a lower price point the Glidecam 2000 Pro I find is in reach for a first camera stabilizer purchasers.The Glidecam Pro systems has a no-tools telescoping center post, a sleek and lighter base which allows you to quickly attach and dynamically adjust the counterweight disks, a foam handle grip, a lighter gimbal with a more compact main bearing assembly and a new yoke design. With these benefits the Glidecam Pro camera stabilizer that works so gracefully and professionally, you’ll see why the idea of making a camera glide through the air isn’t just a dream, it’s a reality. By adjusting the counter weights at the bottom and moving, back and forth, and side to side, quickly allow you to adjust the cameras horizontal balance.
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