How to make the camera more stable?

Shooting smooth video is probably one of the most basic skills for good video production. If your camera is not stable, the effects of your camera will be unwatchable. Unless you provide some seasickness medicine with no side effects to the audience. In this column, we look at the various ways to shoot stable video, whether it is static or dynamic shooting. We'll start by adapting to handheld camera recording, and then describe how to use complex electronic assistance methods to ensure smooth shooting.

Basics of shooting:

Shooting with a handheld video camera is perhaps the most difficult method of recording images onto tape. Even if you think you have it perfectly stable, your breathing may cause your camera to move or shake. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to use a handheld camera, here are a few things to remember:

One very important thing to remember about cameras and lenses is movement Emphasis on movement. The closer you move, the greater your movement. Because of this, when you're shooting with a handheld camera, you should get as physically close to the subject as possible and pull away from the subject so that the subject is included in the camera's frame. This will make shooting more stable.

The second step to good hand-held photography is maintaining good posture. The back should be straight, the legs should be separated, the distance between the legs should be equivalent to shoulder width, the knees should be slightly bent, and the elbows should be close to the body. If you are using a small camera with an LCD screen, hold it in front of your chest with both hands. Keep your elbows close to your body. If you are shooting from the shoulder, bring your elbow to your side, support the camera with your right hand and arm, and control the focus and iris with your left hand.

If you have to move during an event, do it slowly and smoothly. Keep your subject calm and composed during the video and keep it in a good position throughout the shoot.

The world around you:

If you find yourself without a tripod, any fixed surface can serve as a platform for your camera. You can place the camera on a rock, fence post, or parked car, or lean it against the edge of a tree or building. Use a table or chair to stabilize your camera. If you are shooting at the beach, first place a piece of plastic on the sand and then place the camera. Or place the camera on the steps of the lifeguard tower.

When shooting from a fixed platform, you will most likely have to tilt the camera to get the best shot. At this point, objects around you come into play: credit cards, cardboard, newspapers, pencils, and even gum boxes can be used to stabilize the camera. Once you've positioned your camera, you can press the record button and take your hands away.

Tripod:

Every videographer should have a good tripod. A tripod allows you to take steady shots without much effort. You should always pay attention to the following issues when using a tripod. Always set up the tripod and camera with one leg of the tripod facing the subject. This way, you can stand between the other two legs. If you plan to shoot a group of panoramas from a specific angle, you can place the front legs of the tripod at the midpoint from the far left to the far right of your shooting range, so you don't have to carry the camera around. There’s no need to step over the back legs either.

When adjusting the height of your tripod, use the subject you are shooting as a guide, not what is comfortable for you. Adjust the tripod to a position so that the camera is perfectly level and pointed at the subject's neck. Unfortunately, this puts you in an uncomfortable shooting position, but it's a small price to pay for stable shooting.

If you don't have to shoot moving footage and your subject doesn't need to move, you can fix the tripod at a certain height, press the record button and walk away. If you do need to move, you can either move yourself with the camera so that you are as smooth and comfortable as possible, or you can move in the direction you want. Always plan and rehearse how you will move before shooting.

Monopod:

A monopod is like a climbing stick with a top that protects the camera. Originally it was an auxiliary tool for cameras. But gradually it also needs to be applied during video recording. You'll often see photographers using this monopod on the sideline at football games or other games. Water chestnut tripod, it is lighter and easier to take care of. Although the independent stand cannot control the vertical movement of the camera, controlling horizontal and tilt movements is not a problem.

Flying stand:

If your wallet is still rich, you may be ready to take a look at the flying camera stand on the market. These handheld gimbals allow you to move freely while shooting and produce smooth, free-shaking footage. The most famous flying stand is Steadicam, and this brand name has become the abbreviation of the entire production team. In addition to simple handheld devices, you can get many sophisticated vests and tethers to help you hold the camera steady during long shoots. Professional glide camera stabilizers are so smooth, you'll almost have to say there's no need for a tripod.

If you're thinking of buying one, try it out first to see if it fits your camera.

You can create a flying camera support by mounting your camera to a tripod or monopod and using the weight of the legs to balance the camera vertically. You will be pleasantly surprised by this.

Image stabilization:

Image stabilization is a gift from video engineers to amateur photographers. Your camcorder's built-in image stabilization seeks to make manual recording more consistent and minimize camera shake. Image stabilizers are found in most video cameras today. There are basically 2 types: electronic image stabilizer and optical image stabilizer. Optical ones are usually better, and are mainly used in high-profile cameras. While they are useful in situations where you have to shoot manually, they do have some limitations. First, electronic image stabilization reduces the total number of pixels on the CCD used to capture the image. This can result in a general softening of the image. Second, when the stabilizer is used for a shot, the sequence may jump slightly as the stabilizer attempts to correct for your unintentional movements. However, an image stabilizer (either electronic or optical) can be a lifesaver when shooting manually.

Keep it steady:

Sometimes it needs to move, sometimes it needs to be stable, but unless you are trying to create an earthquake effect, there are very few times when shaky video is considered good video.