Follow cam stability

[jibpig]

so i use a home made follow cam. Ive seen in edits cameras have little weights on the bottom on a pole. What are these? how can I make my shooting a little stabler? +k for good answers

 

[JamesH]

Counter weights, try

http://www.glidecam.com

 

[jibpig]

thanks +k

 

[Tbrazier]

They are called stedicams. The basic principal is pretty much the same behind all of them, your camera sits on a stage with counterweights on the bottom while you hold the device with a handle attached to a gimbal so that the movement from your hand and body does not transfer over to the camera. There are tons and tons of different DIY versions out there that rage from $15-60 bucks. But none of them can beat the manufactured ones like glidecam. They can be quite pricy but look around because there are literally hundreds of different brands. For example, a glidecam 1000 HD is around 300-400 bucks. A flycam is practically the same thing (just not as good a build quality and harder to balance) but is 100-200 bucks. Like I said, look around and do research. It is definitely worth investing!