I am looking for some advice about buying a stabilizer for topside shooting on a small rocking boat. I was wondering if some of you could tell me what you use. A shoulder mounted one would be ideal. I have used steadicams but they are only suitable for land based work. If anyone has any success in making their own I would love to hear about that too. There are many on the internet, but its hard to tell what is too flimsy or too heavy. Currently I am shooting with a Sony Z1.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Julia
There are a stack or different shoulder mounts out there, I Sony do a specific one for the Z1, but it is expensive for what it is. Have a look at a product called spiderbrace, it's cheap and works well. Other than than you hit the Zacuto and Cinegear products that are all over $1000 at least.
The Sony shoulder brace was too flimsy for me. The part that sits on your shoulder finally sheared right off from repeated use.
Hi There
I am looking for some advice about buying a stabilizer for topside shooting on a small rocking boat. I was wondering if some of you could tell me what you use. A shoulder mounted one would be ideal. I have used steadicams but they are only suitable for land based work. If anyone has any success in making their own I would love to hear about that too. There are many on the internet, but its hard to tell what is too flimsy or too heavy. Currently I am shooting with a Sony Z1.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Julia
Best stabilizer on a small boat is your knees. Keep them bent and move with the boat, surf-rider style. If you watch the horizon in the viewfinder and stabilize your upper-body to keep the horizon straight, you'll get an acceptable clip.
I suspect that if you rely on a stabilizer, your audience might become seasick...
Regards
Peter
Thank-you all, I appreciate the comments.
I have been shooting little bits topside far too long and have been using knees, poles, elbows, railings to steady myself and I am just "over it". It has to be better. So I will look into the spiderbrace. After spending zillions on a steadicam, for land based stuff, I am not going to fork out too much more.
Thanks
Julia
Best stabilizer on a small boat is your knees.
Regards
Peter
Trying that on UK waters is not advised unless you are strapped down, have a safety net and a bucket
Dive safe
DeanB
Trying that on UK waters is not advised unless you are strapped down, have a safety net and a bucket
Dive safe
DeanB
Yes, but you guys who dive in the UK are much tougher men, with much larger kahunas, than us wimps who dive in the tropics...
If you can't afford gyro stabilized heads like a Makohead or Kenyon, try shooting overcrank and then slow it down. Usually works for medium shots on a subject, so long as your subject says in the frame, all sorts of swaying seems like it's part of the animal's movement. Building a brace with straps to hold your body steady also helps.
Some people prefer a bit of sway to give the feel of the sea. YMMV.
unless you are strapped down, have a safety net and a bucket
