Some of you already own a DSLR that shoots pretty good HD video. A lot of you barely have the budget to afford an extra SD card and the lights to properly illuminate your shot. So what happens if you want to go beyond the static, stationary shot of a camera on a tripod? Or… what if you find yourself in a situation where you are outdoors, you do not have your tripod handy and you want to affect a smooth pan?
How about this: what if you want to create an effective tracking shot but you don’t have the means to acquire or rent dolly tracks, a SteadiCam, etc.? Turns out, the solution can be homemade, DIY, or at worse, may be as simple as utilizing the stabilizer strap attached to your cam. So I took it upon myself to experiment with a few things after doing a little bit of research on the internet, to see what others have suggested and find out what works or works reasonably enough but may require some post production magic to get you to that “perfect” place.
What is camera stabilization?
Camera stabilization means that your camera is moving smoothly through space. This can be as simple as using a tripod or as complex as all the engineering that goes into adjusting the sensor to counteract a sudden unexpected movement so that your subject remains with the same or similar framing. Camera stabilization can be software or hardware. Its goal is to make sure unwanted camera movement, such as camera shake from handholding, doesn’t get introduced into the footage.
How to stabilize a camera without a stabilizer
There are several ways to get more stable footage without using an external stabilizer. One of the easiest ways is to have a camera and/or a lens that comes with stabilization built in. This means you are already on your way to removing some of the unwanted camera jitters by using what is already built in to your camera equipment. As time goes on, in body stabilization as well as lens stabilization keeps getting better. Another way to get more stable footage without a stabilizer is to use your body carefully. Try to keep three points of contact, two hands and an eyepiece can already make for a more stable shot.
How to Stabilize Videos
1. Pan without a tripod
Probably the most common way to pan without a tripod is to simply point your camera while slowly twisting your torso from side to side. But that may not achieve the maximum amount of stabilization for your shot. The YouTube channel Filmora Video Editor offers some camera hacks in this video, demonstrating the use of household items like string or a rubber band. The tip that intrigued me the most involved incorporating the strap attached to your camera:
Using the technique illustrated above, I took out my Canon T5i and a 50mm prime lens, then stood in front of a block-long wall adorned with graffiti art. Although it was pretty windy outside (you still see some camera shake), with enough practice I could see the potential in coming up with some smooth pans.
2. Track without a crane or dolly tracks
It’s practically impossible to achieve a smooth tracking shot without the use of a jib or dolly tracks. And a reasonably decent slider can be an investment if you’re just starting out. DIY enthusiasts have offered plenty solutions for a cam stabilizer, including the use of skate boards, shopping carts even the application of a sheet of cardboard as featured in this video by Film Riot. But one of easiest hacks I’ve encountered involves the camera tripod. I couldn’t tell you how I first heard about this trick as it has turned up in a lot of how-to videos (including the one I’ve linked to in this category). But it goes like this:
- Raise one of the sticks on your tripod. Keep two of the legs unfolded, planted on the ground and front of the camera.
- Keep the tripod from falling over by holding on to the pan head handle. You will use this handle to control the movement of the tripod. Make sure the tilt mechanism in the pan head is loose.
- Push/pull the handle forward/backward per the illustration below:
I tried this technique while shooting a quaint, toy village in my parent’s basement. Like the pan demo, I think I could use a bit more practice in achieving a smoother shot. But the potential is definitely there as well.
3. Track without a SteadiCam
Since Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, every filmmaker has wanted to capture that smooth, uninterrupted take as the camera follows a subject from room to room. The SteadiCam made this possible because it eliminated the need for cumbersome dolly track setups. However, the use of such a device can be prohibitively expensive although there are some cheaper options on the market created to work with smaller and lighter cameras. Another option is to create your own. There are plenty of blogs offering simple construction tips using anything from metal pipes to household weights. Some will coast you less than $30. I myself created a makeshift SteadiCam out of PVC tubing.
To be honest, none of these DIY stabilization devices will result in the graceful tracking shots achieved by an actual SteadiCam or a gyro engineered tool like the Movi. However, with a little patience (and a whole lot of practice) you can come up with something creative.
The trick is to apply a weight at one end of your device so that it balances the weight of your camera. You will also have to adjust your walking style as one of the problems encountered with a homemade device like this results in the natural swaying back and forth of a person’s step. Another option is to use your tripod like a monopod. Just squeeze the legs together and hold them close with one hand extended as you record your scene. It’s not perfect but it will appear more stabilized than if you just carried the camera around with no weight attached.
4. The modified towel slider
This trick has been around for a long time. You place a towel underneath your camera on a smooth surface and pull it along. This keeps the shot very smooth once you can get the hang of it. A messier version from Instructables uses a book and some flour or other powder with the same concept. You put the powder on your flat surface, put the book on top of the flour, and your camera on top of the book. The powder acts to smooth the surface even more letting you get a smooth shot.
This final version comes from YouTube channel balsamstreet, and requires some DIY, but gives you the most flexibility. It works on the same towel principle, but adds a wood base covered in a towel. You then add the tripod to the top of this wooden base with some bungee cords attaching the tripod to the wooden base for more rigidity. Then with some PVC you add “dolly handles”. It is a very easy build, and the results are very stable as long as the floor is very smooth.
5. Camera setting for post
Shooting with higher frame rates will help you smooth out the bumps and jitters as it spreads them out over a longer-than-standard amount of frames. So try to shoot at least 30p, but more if it makes sense with what you are shooting.
Another way to be able to get a more stable image is by using the stabilization tool that already comes with your editing software. I use Adobe Premiere Pro CC and it has Warp Stabilizer, which is getting better and better. However, notice that it does have the word “warp” in there. While it can smooth out small shakes, if the frame shifts too much, you can get some pretty warped results, with foreground or background looking very unnatural.
So in order to set you up for success when you know you will be using this software, use some of the tips above to already have decently smooth footage. On top of that, shoot a little wider than you normally would. The stabilizer crops in once it stabilized your footage, so having a bit of room for it to use around your image will get you close to the framing you actually intended to capture.
Conclusion
So if you don’t have access to dolly tracks, a crane and a jib, a SteadiCam or gyro powered device, hopefully some of the above tips will open the doors for some budget-minded opportunities. Remember: in some cases all you need is some PVC tubing. Or the strap attached to your camera.
