Steady Shot, Smoothcam, both or what? at DVinfo.net

Dave Morrison · July 7th, 2009, 10:20 AM

Is there any general agreement as to which of these approches works best? Either using the EX1's Steady Shot function OR shooting it clean and applying Smoothcam in Final Cut. Or, what happens if you use both in combination? I have a series of handheld tracking shots coming up and wondered what others have found.

Omar Idris · July 7th, 2009, 10:47 AM

The in-camera OIS is miles ahead of anything you can apply in post for the simple reason that it's optical, not digital.

Doug Jensen · July 7th, 2009, 12:36 PM

Not only that, but Smoothcam doesn't work all the great in a lot of the situations I wanted to use it for -- and the render times are really long.

SteadyShot is, by far, your best bet for handheld shooting, but don't use it on a tripod.

Mike Marriage · July 7th, 2009, 02:04 PM

Smoothcam can be brilliant for certain things and hopeless for others. It's can't get rid of motion blur which gives a funny look and you obviously sacrifice resolution.

If you want smooth tracking without a dolly a Steadicam would be your best bet if you can afford it. Far better than OIS or smoothcam.

David C. Williams · July 7th, 2009, 03:43 PM

Rent a wheelchair, OIS on, job done. $5-10 rental?

Nick Wilson · July 7th, 2009, 04:35 PM

Using FCP Smoothcam on shaky EX footage provides a graphic demonstration of rolling shutter! Fix part of the image and the rest quivers and wobbles just like jelly.

N

Keith Moreau · July 7th, 2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Wilson

Using FCP Smoothcam on shaky EX footage provides a graphic demonstration of rolling shutter! Fix part of the image and the rest quivers and wobbles just like jelly.

N

Correct. Smoothcam with the EX1 rolling shutter will produce jello. The one drawback with the EX. It can be used but it provides a dreamy watery effect, which can be nice but is also perceived as 'not real.'

Dylan Morgan · July 8th, 2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

Not only that, but Smoothcam doesn't work all the great in a lot of the situations I wanted to use it for -- and the render times are really long.

SteadyShot is, by far, your best bet for handheld shooting, but don't use it on a tripod.

Doug can you explain what advantage you gain over not using steady shot when on a tripod? I know you don't necessarily need it on a tripod, but switching it on and off.... Well I'm guessing that picutre might be slightly sharper?

Charles Newcomb · July 8th, 2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Morgan

Doug can you explain what advantage you gain over not using steady shot when on a tripod? I know you don't necessarily need it on a tripod, but switching it on and off.... Well I'm guessing that picutre might be slightly sharper?

If you don't switch it off it will try to keep panning or tilting even when you've stopped. Try it and you'll see. It'll make you nuts.

Doug Jensen · July 8th, 2009, 05:52 PM

Yeah, what Charles says is correct. Anytime you pan, tilt, or zoom the camera, SteadyShot will try to dampen your intended movement -- and it is noticable.

Of course, if you're shooting on a tripod and the shot is locked-down, then SteadyShot can be your friend. I've done some shooting outdoors in windy conditions, on a tripod, with the camera locked-down, and SteadyShot did an excellent of cancelling most of the wind that was buffeting the camera.

Dave Morrison · July 8th, 2009, 06:03 PM

My original reason for starting this thread was because I have some shoots coming up where I'll be doing model home "walk-thru's" handheld so I was curious to see what you all thought of either of these motion canceling options. I'll also do some more of my own tests before this project begins, but I really appreciate the input everybody has offered here. There won't be any tripod shots in this project. Also, since I'll be doing these shoots alone, a wheelchair won't be an option, either.

Keith Moreau · July 8th, 2009, 07:02 PM

If you're hand-holding relatively steadily, I would recommend using the in camera steadishot for sure. Avoid fast shutter speeds, use 1/60 or longer. If there isn't a huge amount of movement you might be able to further smooth it with smoothcam. I sometimes use 1/30 for hand-held (I shot 30P) and this further smoothes things out.

Charles Newcomb · July 8th, 2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

with the camera locked-down, and SteadyShot did an excellent of cancelling most of the wind that was buffeting the camera.

Wish I'd thought of that a couple days ago. Shazbot.

Charles Newcomb · July 8th, 2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Morrison

My original reason for starting this thread was because I have some shoots coming up where I'll be doing model home "walk-thru's" handheld

You mean like this? Hangers in Smooth Cam on Vimeo The guy's not using an EX, but he did use Smooth Cam.

David Herman · July 9th, 2009, 01:51 AM

smack in the middle of a steadyshot dilemma. (I think) Shooting 25p with a 50 shutter speed, hand held but with a very stable combo of dm brace and steadystick. My pans, however slow, are incredibly grabby. I must try again with steadyshot off and see if that was the problem. Any other ideas?

July 7th, 2009, 10:20 AM	#1
Dave Morrison Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: West Central Florida Posts: 762	Steady Shot, Smoothcam, both or what? Is there any general agreement as to which of these approches works best? Either using the EX1's Steady Shot function OR shooting it clean and applying Smoothcam in Final Cut. Or, what happens if you use both in combination? I have a series of handheld tracking shots coming up and wondered what others have found. __________________ EX1, Nikon D750 http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.com

July 7th, 2009, 12:36 PM	#3
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,415	Not only that, but Smoothcam doesn't work all the great in a lot of the situations I wanted to use it for -- and the render times are really long. SteadyShot is, by far, your best bet for handheld shooting, but don't use it on a tripod. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

July 7th, 2009, 02:04 PM	#4
Mike Marriage Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE of London, England Posts: 788	Smoothcam can be brilliant for certain things and hopeless for others. It's can't get rid of motion blur which gives a funny look and you obviously sacrifice resolution. If you want smooth tracking without a dolly a Steadicam would be your best bet if you can afford it. Far better than OIS or smoothcam. __________________ www.mikemarriage.com

July 7th, 2009, 03:43 PM	#5
David C. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: melb.vic.au Posts: 447	Rent a wheelchair, OIS on, job done. $5-10 rental? __________________ www.davidwilliams.com.au

July 8th, 2009, 05:52 PM	#10
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,415	Yeah, what Charles says is correct. Anytime you pan, tilt, or zoom the camera, SteadyShot will try to dampen your intended movement -- and it is noticable. Of course, if you're shooting on a tripod and the shot is locked-down, then SteadyShot can be your friend. I've done some shooting outdoors in windy conditions, on a tripod, with the camera locked-down, and SteadyShot did an excellent of cancelling most of the wind that was buffeting the camera. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

July 7th, 2009, 10:47 AM	#2
Omar Idris Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Middlesex, UK Posts: 28	The in-camera OIS is miles ahead of anything you can apply in post for the simple reason that it's optical, not digital.

July 7th, 2009, 04:35 PM	#6
Nick Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 259	Using FCP Smoothcam on shaky EX footage provides a graphic demonstration of rolling shutter! Fix part of the image and the rest quivers and wobbles just like jelly. N

July 8th, 2009, 06:03 PM	#11
Dave Morrison Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: West Central Florida Posts: 762	My original reason for starting this thread was because I have some shoots coming up where I'll be doing model home "walk-thru's" handheld so I was curious to see what you all thought of either of these motion canceling options. I'll also do some more of my own tests before this project begins, but I really appreciate the input everybody has offered here. There won't be any tripod shots in this project. Also, since I'll be doing these shoots alone, a wheelchair won't be an option, either. __________________ EX1, Nikon D750 http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.com

July 8th, 2009, 07:02 PM	#12
Keith Moreau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane, California Posts: 530	If you're hand-holding relatively steadily, I would recommend using the in camera steadishot for sure. Avoid fast shutter speeds, use 1/60 or longer. If there isn't a huge amount of movement you might be able to further smooth it with smoothcam. I sometimes use 1/30 for hand-held (I shot 30P) and this further smoothes things out.

July 9th, 2009, 01:51 AM	#15
David Herman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: gloucestershire uk Posts: 93	smack in the middle of a steadyshot dilemma. (I think) Shooting 25p with a 50 shutter speed, hand held but with a very stable combo of dm brace and steadystick. My pans, however slow, are incredibly grabby. I must try again with steadyshot off and see if that was the problem. Any other ideas?