Tremulous videos are one of the most dreaded problems of any filmmaker, and unless you're ready to invest in a camera stabilizer, it's highly unlikely that the problem will disappear on your own. Follow our advice and guide to find out everything you need about camera stabilizers.
First of all, what is it, exactly? These are devices that you can use to support your camera, which will allow you to avoid shaking and jerking when you hold it. There are several types of stabilizers, but the best known are probably Steadicams, tripods and portable devices.
• The Steadicam is a stabilizer that mounts on the body and has three main elements: the arm, the sled that holds the device, and the support vest. Steadicam balances the camera and absorbs shock while helping to produce a smooth, stable image.
• The tripod is portable and, as the name suggests, often three feet. It helps reduce blur and shake. It is perfect for framing if you're doing photography, and will help you with stabilizing still or panoramic shots if you're shooting.
• The portable device is probably the best option if you have a light camera. It stands with one or two sleeves and allows you to shoot more stable shots without having to carry a lot of bulky equipment with you.
Stabilizers can be used for different purposes:
• For Action Scenes: If you're shooting fast-moving movies that you need to move and run, your Stabilizer will let you capture all those images without losing any quality.
• For close-ups or far-off scenes: filming objects from the ground or from high can be very difficult, but with your stabilizer, you'll just need to tilt your camera up or down.
• For vehicles: If you have an adventurous spirit and want to film from a vehicle, such as your car or boat, a stabilizer is absolutely essential for not having shaky images and a completely smooth video.
• For long exposures: For long exposure shots, you will need a stabilizer (preferably a tripod) in order to make a successful shot.
After deciding to jump into the water and buy a camera stabilizer, there are still some questions to ask yourself:
• What is your budget? It goes without saying that a higher budget will allow you to buy a more versatile model with more features.
• How much does your camera weigh? Different types of stabilizers can handle different camera weights, you will probably pay a little more if your camera is quite heavy.
• What mobility do you need? Are you standing and motionless or do you have to move around? Need an aerial view? Want to attach your camera to a vehicle? A whole lot of questions to take into account before choosing your stabilizer. From Steadicam to three-axis support, the type of stabilizer you will buy will depend on the mobility you want.
• How much time do you have to mount your equipment? Another aspect to take into account when making your choice is the installation time. It would also be wise to know how much room the stabilizer takes if you need to travel with it.
• Do you really need a stabilizer? To be honest, not everyone needs to buy luxury equipment to stabilize their camera. If you cannot afford it, it may be better to think of other options. For example, there are tutorials for After Effects that will teach you how to stabilize your video even after you've filmed it. This solution will require more assembly work but will cost you less than a quality stabilizer.
You can find camera stabilizers in many places. First of all, you can opt to buy it online on big brands like Amazon. You can also go to specialized sites like dronesandimage.com. Finally, you can directly at the source on stabilizer manufacturer sites like Joby, Tiffen, CobraCrane.
Want to bring some support to your camera and videos smooth and stable? Now you know what you have to do to buy and choose your camera stabilizer.
Hasan Root, a dream lover.