STEADY VIDEO RULES
Most TV is done steady-cam style. In other words, the camera rarely moves. Movement and action happens within the shot but the shot itself is locked down.
HINT! Examine the edges of your screen while watching TV, that’s where you’ll see movement if you’re not used to noticing such things. Even the tiniest of movements are noticeable if you stare at the edges of the frame.
Steady cam is the rule almost all novices break. In fact, this mistake is so universally that we pros have a few nasty terms for it, earthquake video and vomit video were two of my favorites. 
One thing steady cam does is help your viewer forget there’s even a camera involved. That’s a good thing. Let your viewer concentrate on your message, not your shooting style.
PROFESSIONAL VIDEO MOUNTS
Professional video is almost always shot off a tripod or other camera mount. Some camera mounts are extremely elaborate and can swoop fifty feet.
Professional video mounts ensure any movement you do get is fluid and smooth, not jerky. This is achieved by having a hydraulic mount, or fluid head. Inside the head of the tripod is a thick fluid that makes it impossible to jerk the camera around quickly.
A fluid head tripod can cost a bit more, but the smoothness of movement it gives you is worth it for most professional video photographers.
However, if you need a tripod for $25 or less, you can get one at Wal-Mart and a cheap tripod will held your camera plenty steady. You just won’t be able to get smooth movements out of it.
A cheap, non-fluid head tripod. You can not get great camera movements with a tripod like this, but it will hold your camera steady.
Achieving steady video with a tripod is easy. From one set-up location, you can get enough shots to fill a visually appealing story.
Learn to be observant and visually survey the area. What are your eyes drawn to? Take close-ups of those things. Shoot everything in a 360 degree radius off a tripod placed in one strategic location. If you stand there long enough, you’ll blend into the scene and people will act more naturally.
Steady-cam and shooting off a tripod is one of the easiest and most basic of techniques. This one simple step will raise the level of your video quality tremendously. Novice camera operators are notorious for moving the camera wildly and this is considered a BIG no-no.
However, there’s no doubt that moving video can add to the drama of your story. The camera, and therefore the viewer, can “walk along” with the action. If you grab a video camcorder and walk along with the action, you’ll get moving video alright, but it will bounce along with each step you take. Most people consider that TOO MUCH movement. That might not be so bad, but maybe you’re more picky than that.
ENTER THE STEADY-CAM MOUNT
Beginning with the movie Rocky, filmmakers used a special bounce-free camera mount that enabled the cameraman to follow the action and still get a fluid, steady movement. It was as though the camera were floating in space. This type of mount is called a steady-cam.
A steady cam mount is worn, or held by the camera operator. The bigger ones strap over both shoulders and your waist.
Here are three of my best high school students, Jonathon, Robert and Josh. Robert, in the middle, is holding a camera on top of the $125 steady cam mount we had. It was cool, but we never got it balanced well enough to get super awesome floating shots. To do that, you have to get a bigger steady cam. But this little one was still worth it. Using it got much better shots than simply walking and holding the camera on your shoulder.
Today, steady cam mounts are common and popular. You can get them in styles ranging from $100 simplistic to five-thousand dollar mega-mounts.
The simplest steady cams are hand held and require some strength, but not much. You attach your camera and balance the weight out by adding metal discs. In my high school TV production class, we were never able to get the $125 model completely steady, but it was close. It is pictured above.
To get a steady shot, steady-cam mounts require precise balancing.
As you spend more money, steady cam mounts get heavier, yet much easier to balance. There is not doubt that using the better models get you better shots. A good steady cam shot makes the video look like the camera is floating. It looks positively awesome.
No doubt a young person of average strength could operate virtually any steady cam mount.
As a fifty-year old lady, I’d be huffing pretty quickly with most of them, but I’d grunt and get the job done!
If you are serious about video production, I think a steady cam mount is a must-have tool.
VIDEO EQUIPMENT
If you are looking to buy or research video production equipment, we recommend the largest video equipment supplier on the planet, B&H Photo. They carry everything imaginable and have very competitive prices. B&H Photo is truly a legend in the video production industry.
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2 Comment(s)
By Eric on | Reply
The Panpilot Steady Cam and Tripod is great for movement shots and locked shots. Its a steady cam plus a tripod all in one unit. For all video or DSLR’s 8 pounds or less. Also, the biggest 7 inch HD LCD monitor is available with the Panpilot.
By Internet Video Gal on | Reply
Hi Eric.
I went and looked at your site and the panpilot does indeed look like a wonderful camera mount. I love steady cam shots.
Lorraine