Use Your Tripod as a Steadicam/Stabilizer!!

[justinisfilming]

Hope you guys find this helpful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eX-SdLgn9U

 

[IndieBudget]

You had some good moves and some were jerky. Mostly good moves. Thank you for sharing. I have seen some directors using wheelchairs and monopods for dolly shots and stabilizers. Cheap tools can work, you need to master them and make them work as well as the pro stuff.

 

[Powerkicker]

That was a pretty cool trick. I may well end up using that one a bit.

Paint that front porch trim. It's getting out of hand.

 

[josh-ozirigpro]

Thank you for sharing. I have seen some directors using wheelchairs and monopods for dolly shots and stabilizers.

Wheelchairs??!!
Welp, that settles it, I'm gonna go visit Grandpa Josh!

 

[justinisfilming]

Paint that front porch trim. It's getting out of hand.

Is it that bad? Tell my parents that! lol.

 

[Zensteve]

Handy trick/technique, yup

 

[Kinsman]

Works pretty well. Velcro/tape two or three pounds to the bottom part and smooth it out even more.

 

[ChrisWoodFilms]

Thanks for sharing. I tried to do this very thing when I first got my camera and tripod but didn't think about using the legs to counter the weight and balance it. Good to know

 

[justinisfilming]

Works pretty well. Velcro/tape two or three pounds to the bottom part and smooth it out even more.

you can do that as well! good idea.

 

[TheArtist]

How do you handle the focus if you're following someone for instance ?

Nice work there. I'm curious, what tripod is that ?

 

[Dreadylocks]

How do you handle the focus if you're following someone for instance ?

Nice work there. I'm curious, what tripod is that ?

The old fashioned way is to tie a string to the actor and the camera operator. Set focus for that distance and don't let the string go slack. It'd probably be a good idea to still keep a wide DOF.

 

[justinisfilming]

The old fashioned way is to tie a string to the actor and the camera operator. Set focus for that distance and don't let the string go slack.

That's the first time I've heard that! Cool trick!

 

[TheArtist]

Me too, will be useful. What would you consider as acceptable aperture on say a canon 50mm ? I feel like i've always read bad reviews about closing too much (and opening too much).

Seriously though Justin, what tripod is that ? Looking to buy one after I realized how important it was.

 

[justinisfilming]

Me too, will be useful. What would you consider as acceptable aperture on say a canon 50mm ? I feel like i've always read bad reviews about closing too much (and opening too much).

Seriously though Justin, what tripod is that ? Looking to buy one after I realized how important it was.

For the aperture, it just depends on what look you're looking for. If you want everything in focus, close your aperture (just make sure you have enough light), if you want that shallow DOF, open it up. There's really no right or wrong answer. EXPERIMENT.

The tripod is a Sony VCT-60AV. I wouldn't recommend you buying it UNLESS you have a compatible Sony videocamera because it does have a remote in the handle and if you can't use it, why bother pay for that feature? But yeah, any tripod would do. Just depends on your budget

Hope this helps!

 

[afaloth]

Just tried this today and seemed to work alright, not absolute pro, but definitely usable, thanks for the tips!

 

[justinisfilming]

Just tried this today and seemed to work alright, not absolute pro, but definitely usable, thanks for the tips!

Yeah I wouldn't expect pro results from this. But with practice, I think you can achieve very pro-ish results.