Image Stabilisers at DVinfo.net

Aram Rian · December 27th, 2006, 02:26 PM

hello again.
guys, what would be the best alternative to a track and dolly set when shooting a video with a walking character and the camera following or accompanying him/her? are there any special image stabilisers that can be attached to cameras for avoiding shaky shots? i'm using a sony vx2100e, by the way, if that matters.

Scott Ellifritt · December 27th, 2006, 03:40 PM

I have a DVRIGPRO and although it's good (with practice and your cameras own image stabilizer), you'll never get the rock solid performance of D&T or a SteadyCam type device.

Don Blish · December 27th, 2006, 04:58 PM

Not terribly practical, but I saw BBC doing coverage of the British Open using a Segway scooter. The golfers didn't like it but your talent may well be amused!

Aram Rian · December 29th, 2006, 12:23 AM

but, guys, those steadycams and dvrigpro are nearly in the same price range or even cost more than track&dolly sets! at least, those i've come across via my google search. anything more affordable?

Charles Papert · December 29th, 2006, 02:08 AM

Aram: you probably should have indicated the price range you were looking for in your first post, as you asked for the "best alternative" not the "cheapest alternative".

If you have a lightweight tripod with a center column (photography style), extend the column and spread the legs (but don't extend them) and mount your camera on top. Turn the tripod sideways and balance it in your hand like a tightrope walker. Then grab it just above this point, and walk your shot. This will take out most of the handheld shake, not nearly as well as a Steadicam or similar stabilizer but it didn't cost you a dime.

If you are looking for perfectly steady shots, you will need to spend some money on the hardware. You can always rent if such things are available in your area, if the purchase price is too much. Or, check out one of the homebuilder sites and make your own.

Steve House · December 29th, 2006, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aram Rian

but, guys, those steadycams and dvrigpro are nearly in the same price range or even cost more than track&dolly sets! at least, those i've come across via my google search. anything more affordable?

One 'poor man's camera dolly' alternative has been a wheelchair.

Aram Rian · December 29th, 2006, 05:35 AM

Charles, thanks for the advice. will give it a try.

Steve, i wasn't looking for a "poor man" alternative. i simply thought if track&dolly sets cost around $1000-1500, i might get something less complex at half that price. i imagined there could be a special lens or some additional optical mechanism that could be attached to the camera to improve motion shots.

Randall Allen · December 29th, 2006, 12:32 PM

There are also post- tools such as deShaker. Several people have commented on it here before. Note that it requires Virtual Dub(I think that is the correct name of it) software and then deShaker is a plug-in for it. I have installed it and played with it in the past but have not had cause to use it in about a year or so now.

There is a learning curve and it is very CPU hungry. Also make sure you have plenty of footage before the point where you need to cut in at. Briefly the way it works is that it compares frame by frame and tries to determine which direction each pixel moved and how far. Once it does that it then moves them back even pulling pixels from previous frames to try restore pixels that moved out of frame. I think I got that right.

Randy

Scott Ellifritt · December 29th, 2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aram Rian

but, guys, those steadycams and dvrigpro are nearly in the same price range or even cost more than track&dolly sets! at least, those i've come across via my google search. anything more affordable?

About the only thing more affordable is you'll have to build it yourself.

Try this site. http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/

Mikko Wilson · December 30th, 2006, 10:51 AM

Check out the Steadicam Merlin. For $800 is less than your dolly budget, it's much more versatile. (www.steadicm.com)

A Steadicam is not a dolly - and you won't be able to replicate rock-solid dolly shots (as that would take a dolly!), however you can produce very steady images with a lot more shooting freedom.

There are also cheaper dollies out there for much less than a grand.

- Mikko

December 27th, 2006, 02:26 PM	#1
Aram Rian Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK / Yerevan, Armenia Posts: 93	Image Stabilisers hello again. guys, what would be the best alternative to a track and dolly set when shooting a video with a walking character and the camera following or accompanying him/her? are there any special image stabilisers that can be attached to cameras for avoiding shaky shots? i'm using a sony vx2100e, by the way, if that matters. __________________ "I do detest everything which is not perfectly mutual." Lord Byron

December 29th, 2006, 12:23 AM	#4
Aram Rian Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK / Yerevan, Armenia Posts: 93	but, guys, those steadycams and dvrigpro are nearly in the same price range or even cost more than track&dolly sets! at least, those i've come across via my google search. anything more affordable? __________________ "I do detest everything which is not perfectly mutual." Lord Byron

December 29th, 2006, 02:08 AM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Aram: you probably should have indicated the price range you were looking for in your first post, as you asked for the "best alternative" not the "cheapest alternative". If you have a lightweight tripod with a center column (photography style), extend the column and spread the legs (but don't extend them) and mount your camera on top. Turn the tripod sideways and balance it in your hand like a tightrope walker. Then grab it just above this point, and walk your shot. This will take out most of the handheld shake, not nearly as well as a Steadicam or similar stabilizer but it didn't cost you a dime. If you are looking for perfectly steady shots, you will need to spend some money on the hardware. You can always rent if such things are available in your area, if the purchase price is too much. Or, check out one of the homebuilder sites and make your own. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 29th, 2006, 05:35 AM	#7
Aram Rian Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK / Yerevan, Armenia Posts: 93	Charles, thanks for the advice. will give it a try. Steve, i wasn't looking for a "poor man" alternative. i simply thought if track&dolly sets cost around $1000-1500, i might get something less complex at half that price. i imagined there could be a special lens or some additional optical mechanism that could be attached to the camera to improve motion shots. __________________ "I do detest everything which is not perfectly mutual." Lord Byron

December 29th, 2006, 12:32 PM	#8
Randall Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 192	post production.... There are also post- tools such as deShaker. Several people have commented on it here before. Note that it requires Virtual Dub(I think that is the correct name of it) software and then deShaker is a plug-in for it. I have installed it and played with it in the past but have not had cause to use it in about a year or so now. There is a learning curve and it is very CPU hungry. Also make sure you have plenty of footage before the point where you need to cut in at. Briefly the way it works is that it compares frame by frame and tries to determine which direction each pixel moved and how far. Once it does that it then moves them back even pulling pixels from previous frames to try restore pixels that moved out of frame. I think I got that right. Randy

December 27th, 2006, 03:40 PM	#2
Scott Ellifritt Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 146	I have a DVRIGPRO and although it's good (with practice and your cameras own image stabilizer), you'll never get the rock solid performance of D&T or a SteadyCam type device.

December 27th, 2006, 04:58 PM	#3
Don Blish Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Portland OR Posts: 227	Not terribly practical, but I saw BBC doing coverage of the British Open using a Segway scooter. The golfers didn't like it but your talent may well be amused!

December 30th, 2006, 10:51 AM	#10
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Check out the Steadicam Merlin. For $800 is less than your dolly budget, it's much more versatile. (www.steadicm.com) A Steadicam is not a dolly - and you won't be able to replicate rock-solid dolly shots (as that would take a dolly!), however you can produce very steady images with a lot more shooting freedom. There are also cheaper dollies out there for much less than a grand. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com