{"id":37654,"date":"2021-03-18T10:20:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T15:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=37654"},"modified":"2021-03-18T17:28:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T22:28:45","slug":"a-quick-guide-to-steadicams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/a-quick-guide-to-steadicams\/","title":{"rendered":"A Quick Guide to Steadicams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once mastered, Steadicam is a handy way to get professional stabilized footage. In this post, pick up a few tips for Steadicam success.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The world of Steadicams and stabilized footage has drastically changed over the last decade. At one point, the costly tool was reserved only for professional broadcasts, TV, and cinema. Yet, with new filmmakers born of the DSLR revolution yearning for something similar, we also saw the birth of inexpensive stabilization tools that followed the principle of Steadicams, but the results weren’t as successful. Further into the decade, we then saw the birth of the consumer-priced gimbal<\/a>, and now everyone can obtain smooth footage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Steadicam<\/a>
A gimbal in action. Image via\u00a0Monkey Business Images<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Steadicams have seemingly reverted to professional productions only, whereas low-budget and new filmmakers opt towards a gimbal like the DJI Ronin-S<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s have a quick look at what Steadicams are and why they’re still vital in the world of film production.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is a Steadicam?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, we should perhaps cover the fact that Steadicam is the brand name for the camera stabilization tool from Tiffen<\/a>. Quite like Hoover for a household vacuum, and Velcro for the hook and loop fastener, Steadicam has become a generalized word that people give to camera stabilizers. Still, it’s just one of many professional brands on the market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, we also need to acknowledge there’s a difference between a Steadicam and a gimbal. But, we’ll cover that in a separate segment further down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, a Steadicam is a camera rig that’s uniquely designed to stabilize camera shake. It mechanically isolates the camera from the operator’s movement, allowing for a smooth shot, even when moving over an asymmetrical surface. First created in the 1970s, the Steadicam quickly took Hollywood by storm as a better option for shooting smooth tracking shots. Haskell Wexler<\/a> was the first to use the Steadicam in the 1976 film Bound for Glory<\/a><\/em>, that year’s winner of the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Steadicam allows filmmakers to walk with the camera without the visible and noticeable handheld shake, it opened up a world of cinematic possibilities. Takes involving movement could become longer\u2014action scenes more dynamic. It also allowed the camera to move into areas that were otherwise impossible because of the dolly and track size. Perhaps one of the most recognized and celebrated Steadicam shots is that from Martin Scorsese<\/a>‘s Goodfellas<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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