Any effective ways to isolate a tripod from ground vibrations?
 

I was wondering what I might use that might be effective against unavoidable ground vibrations from transmitting up through the sticks to the cam. Instances like close proximity to heavy machinery, or passing trucks, yet not compromise the tripod stability.

What have you done? Suggestions?

Steve

The purpose of a tripod is to anchor the camera to the ground. Because in general the ground is considered your frame of reference. IOW, it shouldn't be moving.

But in your case, the ground is moving. So you don't really have a steady frame of reference.

And that.... is what steadicams are for. Basically, you decouple the camera from the ground by taking it off the tripod, then you have to decouple it from you because your muscles are constantly firing and making the image slightly unsteady, and that's what the steadicam damps out.

Another way to accomplish more or less the same thing would be to fly a camera -- like with one of the small electric helicopters. This too would decouple the camera from both the ground and from you.

If you don't want to go the steadicam route or fly your camera, about all you can do is turn on your camera's image stabilization solution (if available), and/or use image stabilization software in your NLE.

Try this:

VIBRATION ISOLATOR

Re: Any effective ways to isolate a tripod from ground vibrations?
 

I haven't used them but maybe these :
Orion RockStable Anti-Vibration Pads | Orion Telescopes

Re: Any effective ways to isolate a tripod from ground vibrations?
 

I don't have these particular ones, but I use the ones made by Celestron for my telescope. They work very well when viewing through the scope using high magnification so they should work for the camera as well. Keeping in mind that nothing is perfect, these come close.

Re: Any effective ways to isolate a tripod from ground vibrations?
 

For mild vibration such as in a car, I've successfully used furniture foam....2" or more depending on how heavy your rig is.