Shaky Footage

O

Ocross

New member
Yesterday I took my Sony Handycam HDR-CX12 up to my local hill in hopes of creating an edit. All day I followed my friends through the park filming them (holding the camera low like in skate edits). When I looked over the footage, I was disappointed to see how shaky it was. I was wondering what i need to do in order to create that smooth, flowing look that I see in the professional productions. I don't have the money to buy a glidecam either. By the way I had a 0.7X wide angle lens adapter on the end. Thanks for any suggestions!
 
dude... did you read the op?If you have the money for a flycam nano its much better than handheld (like $170). Or maybe do a DIY glidecam.

you can also stabilize it in post (warp stabilizer in premiere pro)
 
For skiing I don't think you should be trying to hold the camera low like in skate edits, it might also be easier getting steady shots if you hold it a bit higher. Also do you have a tripod? If you do mount your camera at the tripod and extend the legs to where it feels like its in balance and then just hold at the top of the tripod while skiing giving you a glidecam looking shot. I did this last year with my 7d and it worked pretty well.Also if you don't have a tripod maybe try making a fig rig or something, I haven't tried it but just search diy fig rig camera stabiliser on google to find a tutorial on how to make one.

Exsample:

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false, flycams can yield good results if you balance it right, plus they are way cheaper, the build isnt awful, and the dynamics are the same as a glidecam, not sure why more ppl on ns dont use them

I use a flycam, and hand full of shots can be seen in here (though most of them are handheld/tripod) , all the shots at the pink ledge are flycam...its obviously not that great, and I still have a lot of fine tuning to do,(first chance ive had to use it), but it still beats handheld

/images/flash_video_placeholder.png

 
As sweet as Glidecams are, they definitely have their pro's and cons.

Pros (in my opinion):

-Super fluid shots, due to Continuous and smooth velocity of the camera

-Makes you look like you know what you're doing with a camera

-When operated correctly and in some situations, can replace tripods and even ziplines (chasing bikers through woods?)

Cons (in my opinion):

-Heavy

-Relatively expensive (relative to using a tripod/handle/DIY steadycam)

-Super fluid shots (if this is not what you're looking for, then yes, it is a CON)

-At this point, footage produced from Glidecams can sometimes make for too generic of a video (think Westward VS Hood Crew). Its the same idea as cookie cutout barbie babes. They're super fine, sexy, and would be siiiick to get down with but at some point you're gonna start hating the bitch.

-Hard to pass off to a friend to film without expecting the shot to get blown.

The latter is THE BIGGEST con in my opinion.

I am not a film bitch, and will always put skiing first. When I bring my camera on the hill, I make it clear to the crew I'm riding with that we're passing the camera around. With a Glidecam, many people will blatantly blow the shot (especially snowboarders).

Solution(s):

Build a decent DIY steadycam, use a tripod with the neck extended as a steadycam (works pretty well), or get one of those steering wheel thingys.

Shane McFalls is a great example of someone who makes BANGER edits with the wheel thing.
 
But why don't you try and use a foot and make fix shots, you can alway pan in every direction and if you put your foot on a snowboard you can try and make slow smooth travelllings
 
Sorry for dub post

It's always better to have net and precise shots than sketchy ones regardless of the the edit.
 
You cons are more like whiny complaints, especially sayings its heavy, are you kidding me? $200 is not expensive either and if you're paying less than $300 for a tripod whats the point? Yes, people do get stale with their glide cam shots, guilty, but its also very easy to create new POV and such with a small amount of brain activity. Saying something is too smooth is stupid, if you want something to be shakey then make it shakey but who wants to watch a shakey follow cam? I get what you're saying but I think thats just bullshit. Passing off is really your only decent excuse here but shit, teach your friends how to use it, even first timers could get a better shot with the glidecam than handle head, as long as they try. if they dont want to use it, put it away? i dunno, sometime i dont understand this because i usually have a car to put my shit, but i could see if you're under 16/dont have a car or friends with cars where this could suck.

Wheels arent for everyone, everyone is different. A great example is me, I hand held cameras for 2-3 years and really only improved slightly with my steadiness when following, i just have a hard time with it so I got a glidecam. Some people can hand held cameras and follow people and make it look good, but in the end glidecams are the best solution to shakey footage unless you'e magical like shane.

Honestly OP, save up, its worth it. A flycam can be a cheaper solution, but they aren't built as well. Everyone bitching about the flycam being a piece of shit needs to stop really, yes its lower quality but it does the same thing as a glide cam and if you really cant cough up more then $200 it could be a solution. To me, its just like tripods/lenses, theyre something that you will use for years, why cheap out? buy the best you can, even if its only $100 more. Cheaping out will bite you in the ass. I've used my glide cam HEAVILY for 3 years and that thing is still holding so damn strong, i would have definitely trashed a flycam by now, they use plastic parts and plastic breaks, metal doesnt. Why do you think the best tripods and lenses are made of metal? or the best ski bindings? starting to see a pattern maybe.

 
DING DING DING. With camera's where you thrown an external lens on em, if the image stabilization is on it'll fuck it self over trying to correct the lens.
 
Pump the breaks that wasn't meant to be a personal attack, homie.

The main part about passing off to friends is that, believe it or not, I like to get shots of myself as well. I realize that might not be a very high priority for you, but for many people on this site that own a camera it is.

Personally I prefer snowboard/skate style edits (Baker 3, Shake Junt, Thorblood, FootiFiend). I think watching quick cuts with hella hijinx and shit is awesome, and way more interesting.

That's why I prefer Danny's editing of Hood Crew stuff.

^off topic rant.

Sure, buy a Glidecam. But that's not what I would do. Just realize its not for everyone.
 
Stop acting like you know what you're talking about.

Seriously, who the fuck wants to watch shaky ski follow cams.

I don't mind skate follows but only if its by a cinematographer who knows what hes doing and has a steady hand.

I myself have a very shaky handheld problem im not sure why, but I need a glidecam.
 
No body wants to watch them, but he can create things DIY , that are more cost effective then a Glidecam. Yes your glidecam shots are amazing im am just stating what alot of people dont understand, you need to turn steady shot off, because if using lens attachment the steadyshot will overcompensate on the vinnety. which will create a shaking around the outside of the lens......

dont get mad
 
Holy shit thats a good deal. Might just buy it and sell my flycam for that (which I got a week ago and have not even used). OP go for this if you have the money, its a great deal.

 
is that supposed to say vignette?

holy fuck you're dumb. everyones dumb.

back to my point. glidecams work well. smoothcam/steady shot in post looks horrible and is more noticeable than a shaky hand to me. i would rather see a glidecam shot with small amounts of shake and movement rather than a glidecam shot with smoothcam on it that makes me feel like the rhcp three years ago( i took many a drugs)

 
It's really not all that bad if you don't over do it. Obviously if you get total shit shots and try to make them usable with the warp stabilizer (or whatever fcp calls it) they will still look like ugly shit, but if you have a decent shot with a bit of shake, you can get some pretty good results. It is pretty overused though, and a lot of the time it looks really bad.

 
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