Rate my first day with the Steadicam JR
 

I am using a Steadicam Junior (I refuse to say "JR") to shoot a short flick that takes place in the mountains/woods. I can not understand why I am not a pro the very first time I am using this (yes, that was supposed to be taken "tongue in cheek"). Anyway wandering around mountainsides in the wilderness really does present an additional challenge, in addition to being a Steadicam newbie. Check out and critique my awful style! :)

http://12.151.50.47/steadicam.html

what camera are you using and are you using the lcd that came with it?

matthew

well i posted the reply while i was waiting for it to download.

the playback quality was pretty murky so it was really hard to tell.

it looked fairly smooth.

matthew

The first part was a little bouncy (side shot), but the second part (where you see the guys back) was very steady!

The side shot looked like the camera was swinging a bit. The second part, shot from behind, was liquid smooth (and on my monitor, the video didn't look murky at all). The actor, though, looked like he needed a stabilizer after he walked into the tree. ;)

I was really impressed, but perhaps I'm easy. They always say
it takes forever to get results with a gimbaled stabilizer. Maybe you're a natural. Huge improvement over what you could get handheld -- or atleast what *I* could get.

The first shot was a little wobbly, the second shot was better.

It gets some time to learn to use it, but the second part of the clip looks realy good!


poor guy! ;-)

I watched and was very impressed with your results. If you look for sway and bounce, that is what you will find. If you watch this, as a viewer would, it looks pretty damn fine. If you would like to experiment with what I am saying, just watch tv. When you are watching for the entertainment value, it looks smooth, if you start evaluating, that is what you see.

Example of the Steadicam shows me that there is some value to be had here and I will consider, now more than ever, making a purchase.

And for his first time out. Yah, seems like there's some value! I'm gonna be getting the Flowpod soon and hope it works as good. Flowpod ain't cheap neither but I've heard it's well-built and users are glad they got it. Even easier to balance, they say, than the Steadicam.

Ted,

How hard is it to use the JR? I have been thinking about getting one and just wanted to know from someone first hand. I thought the second shot looked pretty smooth...seems you are on the right track.

Clay

The JR is pretty tough. The worst part is balancing the camera in the first place... once you do that, it's better. You can use it one-handed using your index finger and thumb to aim the camera, our you can use the index finger and thumb from your other hand (like I did) to aim while the other hand holds everything. It gets heavy.... QUICK, even though you are only holding a 7 pound mechanism total. I had to add a lot of extra weight for the DVX100 to balance.

The sideways walking scene (first scene) was tough because I was walking forward (just like the second shot) but with the camera aimed left. I don't care what ANYONE says, you can't see that monitor in the daylight, especially with it turned at an angle. I eventually convinced myself "It's better than doing it handheld with no stabilizer at all". I think at a few points I got my foot caught on dead branches, etc. Not sure if that's one of the shots where that happened or not. I got a sideways shot of him running (not shown) and that didn't come out too bad, amazingly.

Here's a tip: Only use the JR for 15 minutes at a time, or your arm will turn to mush. Take breaks!

I forgot to mention this in my original post, but if you zoomed in a little closer to cut out the tree line in the background (where the tips of the tree touch the sky) you probably wouldn't notice the stepping over the branches so much. Just a thought. With all that aside... Excellent work for your first day!

Zoom will also tend to accentuate any movement, vibration, bouncing etc. . .

Hey Ted, which of the 9 holes did you use to mount the camera, and what were the fore/aft and left/right control positions? How many dials of the gimbal collar?

Anyway, if you think this is heavy, you ought to try a pd150 + custom bracket + external monitor + 4 C batteries + obie light. My friend is attempting this in January.

The DVX mounted on hole #9. The LCD must be swung open on the camcorder for it to balance. As far as the positions of the left/right and fore/aft trims, it depends. If you want the camera to be pointed down then it'll be different. It always varies depending on the situation. The Z-axis is only two steps down, though.

Not much to add on the first shot. The only thing on the second shot that I noticed was the horizon issues near the end. Since the steadicam is heavier on the bottom than the top, quick side to side motions add a horizontal angle. You can fix this with some slight english during any acceleration or decelerations.

Hi Ted,
Just got my Steadicam JR last night! I agree that setting up the steadicam with the DVX100 is the hardest thing to do, but once you get it working correctly, it's pretty amazing how well it's balanced.

You said you used the #9 hole? I am using #8...might try 9. Did you use ALL the weights on the lower spar? That's what I am using right now. Also, are you sure you have to have the LCD open? I think I am doing okay with it closed....not sure yet. Still gotta practice.

Also, is there a setting you have to do inside the camera in order for the video to play in the Steadicam Monitor? i hooked up the cables right and everything, just can't get the video to output. Yea, I got the batteries in there too:)

<<<--

Also, is there a setting you have to do inside the camera in order for the video to play in the Steadicam Monitor? i hooked up the cables right and everything, just can't get the video to output. Yea, I got the batteries in there too:) -->>>

At work right now, but the composite video connector on the dvd100 should be bi-directional. Thus there must be some menu setting that forces it to the out direction. I thought this was automatic when you have the pwr switch in record mode (i.e., camera mode). Also check the on switch buried in the spar of the steadicam jr.

Consult the section in the manual on dubbing if you have the power switch in the play setting. You want it configured for dv -> vhs.

Ted:

OK, you want a critique, I'll give you a critique!!!

It sounds like you haven't spent that much time with the rig--was that actually your first day? it was a little unclear if that's what you meant. If that's the case, you are doing very well.

Shooting sideways presents unique challenges. As you have seen, there is more of a tendency for the rig to swing out left and right. Part of this has to do with the rotated position of the fingers and the wrist. It also looks like you may have been "over-controlling"--clamping down too hard on the guide during the first section, which I think you did much better on in the second section.

The first part of the second shot is just lovely. Good framing and nice smooth shooting. Want to get into subtleties? Because you are operating with the rig slightly below eye level, it makes it more challenging to hold consistent headroom. After the actor walks into the tree, notice that he drops lower in the frame. This is because of the slight tilt up applied to maintain headroom as you approach. A better way to work is to use the booming capability of your arms to adjust headroom. As you get closer to the subject, boom up until you are at eye level--when you separate, boom down. This will keep the proper headroom and it's much easier to make subtle adjustments with booming than with tilt. In fact, the only time the second shot "loses it" is after he gets away from you--the horizon goes kaflooey as you swung right to go around the tree. Practice this sort of shot at home, weaving left and right and playing around with your finger grip to reign in the forces that try to get the rig to lose level. Be aware that when accelerating sideways, your bubble level is all but useless; it will only read "true" when moving at a constant speed, not accelerating.

Harry Settle:

<, If you look for sway and bounce, that is what you will find. If you watch this, as a viewer would, it looks pretty damn fine. If you would like to experiment with what I am saying, just watch tv. When you are watching for the entertainment value, it looks smooth, if you start evaluating, that is what you see.
>>

Uh oh! I hope this observation was not borne out of watching any shows that I have worked on!

Seriously, there is a wide variety of skill level being demonstrated in episodic television, but there are many great operators there delivering top-level work that holds up with virtually no "sway or bounce", regardless of the level of scrutiny. We all have our bad days, but for me and many of my colleagues, level horizons are status quo if we are to justify our paychecks.

You guys with the DVX100: Not to scare you or anything, but you are pushing the rated weight limit of the JR. I heard of one guy with the DVX who had the JR snap right at the handle and his cam went crashing to the pavement. If I'm not mistaken, the company wouldn't honor the warranty because he was exceeding the weight limit.

The DVX is PUSHING the weight limit of the JR. I don't have any accesories attached to it besides the wide angle lens. That's it. The Canon A1 Digital (it's NOT digital! I don't care what anyone says!) was even heavier than the DVX100. A friend of mine actually had a film camera mounted on the JR, and it was way heavier than the DVX100. He called the manufacturer and they said they have tested it with even more weight and it worked, but that he should be VERY careful and they didn't condone doing that. But it worked!

I am betting that Steadicam operators, the ones who use the REALLY BIG ONES will develop back issues later in life. With the JR, I don't use it for more than 15 minutes at a time without some rest.

From my understanding, you are actually *exceeding* the weight
limit of the JR, which I think is 4 pounds.
That DVX weighs 4 pounds in itself. Then you add a 1 pound wide angle and ....

Ted:

The "back problems" issue is mostly rumor, although there have been a few operators that have dropped out for this reason. Others have worked continuously for 25 years without health problems. The full-size rigs do not inherently damage your back. It's a very different setup than the JR. In fact, I would rather wear mine for half an hour than carry a fully loaded JR for four minutes!

I rate the first shot as really good and the second as awsome. Who was it the said :Walk softly and carry a Steadycam JR"?
Or was that "a big stick....."