With several UDMA 7 capable DSLRs Stabilizing your DSLR video footage can be pretty tricky – especially when working within the constraints of a budget and avoiding spending a fortune on pro video equipment. So what are your alternatives? Which ones work, and which don’t? Here are a few pointers to help you achieve professional quality video without breaking the bank.
1. The more contact, the better.
Create multiple points of contact between your DSLR and the surface it is secured to while recording. While standard tripods may offer the best solution for this, they can be cumbersome to carry around on a shoot and also take up a large footprint during filming. Retractable monopods and suction cup mount setups offer a lightweight, portable and inexpensive alternative.
A video monopod (built with three or more sturdy feet at the base) or the Fat Gecko Triple Arm setup work great to securely fasten your camera onto virtually any flat surface. In cases where you’re forced to use what’s handy in your camera bag, a neck or hand strap can also be used as a crude stabilization unit. Do this by pressing the back of your neck or hand up against the strap – Simply applying pressure to the camera will help to create an extra point of contact.
2. Keep your camera close to the mounting point.
No matter how you choose to fasten your equipment onto a surface or object, allowing too much space between your camera and the mounting point will result in vibration while shooting. Environmental obstacles like wind and g-force can make even the most minimal movements appear as giant flaws in finished video. This is especially true when mounting your camera onto a moving object like an automobile.
The best way to stabilize shots such as this is by utilizing a setup that allows the videographer to angle adjust the unit as close to the surface as feasible. By doing this, the movement of your finished video will closely replicate the movement of the vehicle. Remember, while many shooters will opt to correct the jitters in post-production, using crisp unedited footage is always preferred.
3. Move around the action.
Pick up an adaptable stabilization unit that will allow you to use creative techniques to liven up your footage. For instance, try mounting your DSLR onto the hood of a car and then shooting a moving scene taking place alongside the vehicle.
Make sure that your DSLR remains securely fastened and that the movement in your finished video is focused around the scene- not the camera movement. Creative shots like this one can only be achieved by using a sturdy yet flexible video stabilizer.
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