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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Stabilizing a 5D Mark II for video
Cliff DesPeaux, Photographer
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Shoreline | WA | USA | Posted: 3:08 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> I'm wondering what people are doing to stabilize the 5D Mark II for hand-held video (not tripod) shooting. I've been eyeing the Redrock Micro eyeSpy Standard, but can't find a lot of reviews for it.
I'm not overly-concerned about shooting wide, but does anybody have suggestions for going 70mm+ handheld?
Thanks in advance. |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 3:20 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> http://vimeo.com/5035388
Works pretty well for me, but I live in Idaho. YMMV. |
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Mike Anzaldi, Photographer
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Oak Park | IL | USA | Posted: 3:21 PM on 03.20.10 |
| ->> i use the merlin. it's the bomb-diggity for hand-held shots. i had to make a real estate video where we "flew" through the space to show potential renters what it looked like. very, very cool piece of equipment. |
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Allen Murabayashi, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 3:38 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> mike,
do you find that you have to rebalance the camera each time you attach it to the merlin?
how long can you realistic hold given the weight? |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 4:15 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> Inappropriate?
You WISH you lived here! |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 7:20 PM on 03.20.10 |
| ->> Take a look at Manfrotto's FigRig (www.manfrotto.com/figrig/). I've used it with HDV video cameras and it works really well. |
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Craig Fritz, Photographer
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Albuquerque | NM | USA | Posted: 7:35 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> I have been thinking about the same thing and was leaning toward the Glidecam 2000. Would be interested to hear any real world experience. Curious if it would be too small to mount an LCD and follow focus wheel. Audio will be handled externally.
http://glidecam.com/product-hd-series.php |
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Eric Seals, Photographer
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Detroit | MI | United States | Posted: 8:48 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> We have a glidecam 2000 at my newspaper and it is really hard to use, balance and get the counter weights exact and I've followed their instructions perfectly and even found tutorials online about how to get it perfect.
Craig, depending on if you're using a 5D Mark II or something like it with a 7 inch Marshall screen etc you'd be find but I'm really tempted to check out this Manfrotto's FigRig that Jim Colburn mentioned. It looks great and if there are any little wobbles adding a little SmoothCam in FCP would iron that out good.
Hoping this Manfrotto's FigRig doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
Eric |
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Kevin Seale, Photographer
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Crawfordsville | IN | United States | Posted: 9:14 PM on 03.20.10 |
| ->> Craig, Since the glidecams really take both hands to effectively use, I am not sure how useful a follow focus would be anyway. You really need a second person to pull focus with about any sort of stabilization option. A shoulder rig with a Z-finder or something similar is probably a better setup for a single shooter who needs follow focus capability. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:17 PM on 03.20.10 |
| ->> The FigRig cost around $300. In addition, if anyone buys one and wants a case for it check out a padded cymbal case from your local music store for around $30. |
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Garrett Hubbard, Photographer
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Washington | D.C. | USA | Posted: 10:17 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> I've just started using a device by fellow SS'er Mark Watkins. http://www.markwatkins.com/
I us it so my right hand is holding a grip vertically underneath the right side of the camera leaving my left hand free to focus and zoom. I find the height much more comfortable for my right hand just 5" below the normal spot to hold the grip of the camera. This has really helped stabilize this little camera. I do the usual left elbow and upper arm against my chest for stability. do the same for my right arm too.
hope that helps! |
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Craig Fritz, Photographer
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Albuquerque | NM | USA | Posted: 10:24 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> Eric and Kevin, thanks much for both your comments. I am worried about the weight and my arms just not being up to the task. As for the follow focus, I was trying to figure out how to get it on there just for the times that the glidecam turned into a monopod of sorts. I would not, could not, use it while "flying". I have seen the figrig too before but worry about how distracting it is gonna be to subjects just because of the shape and size. I know, as if any of this seams stealthy, right? oh, and the other thing i'm learning is everything cost and arm and leg with video, suppose I'm just used to it with stills.
craig |
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Mariano Rosales, Photographer
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Montgomery | IL | USA | Posted: 11:35 PM on 03.20.10 |
->> Ken Lab gyros work very well but they are kind of pricey. The good thing is you can rent them if you only plan on using it on an irregular basis.
http://www.ken-lab.com |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 1:15 AM on 03.21.10 |
->> I have been using the iDC U-Boat Commander. I like it because it creates a stable platform that can be used in tight spots, unlike the Fig Rig. It also breaks down and packs very compact unlike other units.
You can check out the U-Boat Commander here - http://bit.ly/c9ALHK |
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Mike Anzaldi, Photographer
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Oak Park | IL | USA | Posted: 7:06 PM on 03.21.10 |
->> allen-
you don't have to re-balance the camera if you reattach with the same lens. you just clamp the camera to the same mark on the stage and you're good. switching lenses means adjusting balance, obviously. i can hand hold the 5d for a pretty long time, actually. i have the vest as well. the vest is critical if you are using the merlin with a bigger video camera like the xha1. it's just too heavy to do any more than a few minutes of work. but, the 5d is much, much lighter, which allows for hand held work with no trouble. |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 7:37 PM on 03.21.10 |
->> You will not be able to use a follow focus wheel with a Glidecam, because in order for a Glidecam to do what it does, you cannot touch the camera AT ALL while shooting. This is why professional Steadicam operators use wireless follow focus / iris systems during shooting.
I think a Glidecam is WAY overkill just for a handheld stabilizer. It takes a lot of skill to balance and operate well (and produces a very specific effect), and when it's operated poorly, you'll make your viewers nauseous.
I'd look at the Redrock (or similar) systems that Cliff mentioned in his initial post. |
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Craig Fritz, Photographer
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Albuquerque | NM | USA | Posted: 8:48 PM on 03.21.10 |
| ->> Guy, I absolutely know what you are saying about the focus. It is just for those times where it will be used while resting on the ground or other surface. My experience with the iDC U-Boat, that Steven had mentioned, is that walking is really not an option. Other than a glidecam/merlin/steadycam does anybody know of another alternative. It will all be done in a documentary manner so none of the shots are going to be controlled/staged. Thanks Cliff for starting this thread, and all the replies keeping it alive. |
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Eric Seals, Photographer
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Detroit | MI | United States | Posted: 9:32 PM on 03.21.10 |
->> Craig,
Besides the ones mentioned it seems the Manfrotto FigRig might be the best option. You could at least set the focus to a certain distance and maintain that distance as you are walking and recording perhaps?
I'm getting a FigRig now but found a cheaper alternative (can't expense it with my newspaper because if budget issues so coming out of my pocket)
I shoot with a Panasonic HVX-200 about an 8 pound video camera and just saw some god rigs on ebay that would work great for a HDSLR. The follow focus thing will still be an issue but here is the link
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_nkw=Camera+Stabilizer+Rig&_trksid=m38
Hope you really find what you are looking for.
Eric |
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Mark Watkins, Photographer
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Acworth | GA | USA | Posted: 11:55 AM on 03.22.10 |
| ->> Thanks Garrett for the mention. The direct url for my plates and brackets is: www.marksPHOTOtools.com or just look for the link in the lower right corner of my photo site www.markwatkins.com . |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 7:57 PM on 03.22.10 |
->> Craig,
For what you're describing (handheld run and gun shooting), I'd seriously consider something like this:
http://www.redrockmicro.com/microShoulderMount/index.html
With a Glidecam rig on (the vest and the arm, etc.), you cannot easily do many of the things you can do with a Redrock or similar rig. You can't easily drop to your knees, you can't transition from following someone walking to sitting (both you and the subject) in a car, you can't set the camera on the ground for a very low angle, etc.
A Glidecam without the arm and the vest is not hand-holdable in the proper position for more than about 2 minutes, unless you have Incredible Hulk arms.
The shoulder mount style braces with counterweights will emulate the feel of a larger ENG style camera, and will allow you to walk with the rig with acceptable results. Plus, the camera will be far more maneuverable, allowing you to set it on the floor, or brace it against other nearby objects (walls, tables, trash cans, whatever) to get stable video while handheld.
Bracing the camera against nearby objects is something I do all the time even when shooting with full-size video cameras. Sometimes the "stabilizers" are already all around you! :-) |
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Cliff DesPeaux, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 7:12 PM on 05.19.10 |
->> (two months later...) Thanks guys for all your suggestions. I'll probably end up getting something soon for the 5D just for fun. I actually ended up getting the new Sony HXR-NX5U because I'm now doing video full-time and figured it'd be nice to having something with built-in stabilization (and XLR inputs, to boot).
Thanks again! |
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Tim Gruber, Photographer
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Minneapolis | MN | USA | Posted: 8:58 PM on 05.19.10 |
->> My wife and I use the Redrock Captain Stubling that has a follow focus unit. We spent the past 17 days shooting in Vegas with it doing some documentary work for the Miss USA organization. Another member of our team was using the Redrock shoulder mount system. I wouldn't necessarily recommend using either of them handheld with a 70-200.
It took us awhile to fall in love with the Stubling but combined with the FF we love it now for handheld video work. It's a different beast than a steadicam so if that's the look you're going for you'll have to buy a steadicam system too. It's also compact enough to make it easy enough to switch between stills and video, which was essential for the work we were doing.
We shot and produced a short-film on the racy Miss USA photo shoot that happened. We shot almost all of it using a 7d and a couple 5DMKiis. We used the Stubling for all the handheld work and used a 70-200 on a tripod for the tight shots.
You can see the video here on Hulu - http://www.hulu.com/watch/149017/miss-usa-waking-up-in-vegas
Redrock isn't the cheapest, but it's built well and is easy to customize and build from. Hope that helps some. |
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Cliff DesPeaux, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 10:24 AM on 05.20.10 |
| ->> Tim -- nice work! The minimal amount of movement when handheld with the Redrock actually looks really good. That's neat you were able to use a HDSLR for commercial work. |
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Dominick Reuter, Photographer
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Cambridge | MA | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 12.09.10 |
->> So, to resurrect an oldie, I'm looking to add at least one more point of contact to stabilize my camera when shooting hand-held.
Most of the options out there like the zacuto and redrocks rigs are simply too expensive and, especially with the zacuto stuff, go too far in making the camera pretend to be a weapon. It's not a gun - it's a 5D.
Anyway, when I saw the redrocks body pad http://bit.ly/fNmvmp I had the idea to combine it with my existing magic arm remote gear. It seems like that would have the same effect as the combatpixelkiller9000 while at the same time allowing me to clamp the rig onto something more stable if I need a longer shot.
So, has anyone already done this? Did it work? Do you think it could work? |
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Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 3:25 PM on 12.11.10 |
->> please, don't anyone throw rocks at me but while I have the merlin steady-cam rig with the vest and all that, I use a simple bungee cord a lot to get steady shots with my 5DM2. many quick release tripod mounts have a loop of metal that you can connect one end of the bungee into. the other end.... and don't laugh, goes through one of your belt loops on your pants.
(time for laughter here)
I know it sounds crazy but this really works. I shot an entire TV commercial at night in a coffee shop with a 50mm f/1.2L wide open and got some amazing footage. Try dollar stores or your local auto parts store for a selection of bungees. You'll need to experiment with length and stretchiness, but once you find the one... I mean, it's pretty cool!
Last, use your heads!!!! What I mean by this is that you must use a viewfinder to shoot anything that looks decent. I use the Zacuto finder all the time. Using a viewfinder gives you a second point of contact with your body. when I use the bungee, there is one point with the bungee, a second with my forehead, and a third with my right hand as I hold the camera. This makes a "tri-" pod of sorts that will get you some great shots without breaking the bank.
try finding a competitive price on a rig from Redrock that will compete with $1.69...
Happy holidays to all, and to all a good night... pm-r :) |
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Glenn Matsumura, Photographer
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Redwood City | CA | United States | Posted: 5:55 PM on 12.11.10 |
->> Vincent Laforet has posted a guide to handheld HDDSLR rigs from basic to ultimate.
http://bit.ly/icKFe1 |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 6:56 PM on 12.11.10 |
->> PMR,
Have a photo or video of that set up :0) |
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Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Dominick Reuter, Photographer
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Cambridge | MA | USA | Posted: 10:40 AM on 12.13.10 |
->> Thanks Patrick - I'd agree a buck fifty sure beats a grand.
From my research too, it seems like I won't be able to dodge the bullet on the viewfinder loupe. Between the VF and the bungee, I imagine I'll be able to at least off-set the effects of my daily double shot of espresso.
Thanks again. |
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