(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best professional video stabilizers

yeah, i'd do that with any camera tbh and keep the in-camera audio as a back up, just because the pre-amps on consumer cameras tend to generate a lot of hiss.


if that's the case-- if you want sharper video and 60p for slow mo/a better camera for whenever you want to shoot stills, either the a6000 or its cheaper sibling the a5100 are great options. the a6000 is a little easier to use ergonomically because of its hotshoe and viewfinder, and only about $100 more. The a6000 doesnt have a mic jack, but there's a pretty decent shotgun stereo mic that sony makes that plugs directly into the hotshoe to work for about $100.

i'd also definitely recommend going for the native 50mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.8 with OSS in them-- they're not too pricey, especially used, and the stabilization and video AF in both are surprisingly decent.

Panasonic also has some really good options, namely, you can get a used GH2 or G6 for under $300, both of which do great video.



But I'm not going to recommend either of those. Instead, I'm going to recommend the EOS M. You can get one with the pancake 22mm f/2 kit lens for under $300, easily. Yes, it's soft 1080p, but:

>1: it has a mic jack and hotshoe, and with magic lantern, you get pre-amp control, audio levels, and focus peaking to fix its ergonomic failings


>2: its image quality in stills mode is excellent


>3: that leaves you with as much as $250 (even less!!!) for other lenses and or lights + mics + etc


>4: it's mirrorless, so you can adapt basically any mount for it


>5: its the canon menu system, so you're used to it, and if you're shooting for web, soft 1080p is ok-- basically all video on the web is upscaled 720 at best with Youtube's garbage compression & Vimeo's very wise move to default at 720p for streaming. More importantly, canon has great out-of-the-box skin tones, decent 3rd party options for flat profiles, and does skin tones better than anyone (though samsung comes close).

>6: with the amazing 22mm pancake lens, you can literally fit it in your pocket, with a sharp, fast, wide lens. don't underestimate that. I'll never, ever be getting rid of my EOS M for that very reason.

if you're willing to chance it with a no-return ebay listing, this is an insane deal for it at $200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-M-18-0-MP-Digital-Camera-Black-Kit-w-EF-M-STM-22mm-Lens-Extras-/301852333911?hash=item4647cd1757:g:xmcAAOSwUV9WntSq


edit: here's a listing that does offer returns and isnt expiring in 25 minutes: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-M-18-0-MP-Digital-Camera-w-EF-M-STM-22mm-Lens-SN401090-Near-Mint/252261698510?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150604093004%26meid%3D9cc556ced6ae4eb2988415606b2afa1e%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D321987815557&rt=nc


Edit 2:

If you go with the eos M + 22mm at $250, that leaves you with:


-$125 for a solid ravelli video tripod (less if you search CL or ebay)


-this Takstar mic for $30-- it's 90% as good as a Rode/AT, and its actually easier to work with in post (which you'll need to do with in-camera audio) http://www.amazon.com/Takstar-SGC-598-Recording-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E1D2LTA

-this 50mm f/1.8 manual focus lens for approx. $30 http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANON-LENS-EX-50-MM-1-1-8-/262261014275?hash=item3d0ff97f03:g:oHMAAOSwNSxVdKLd (requires a cheap adapter for an additional $16: http://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-AEMFD-Mirror-Camera-Adapter/dp/B00ACYTWFI/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1453854045&sr=8-2&keywords=ef-m+fd)

this LED camera light for $30: http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic/dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453854327&sr=8-3&keywords=led+camera+light

This hotshoe extender for $12: http://www.amazon.com/Movo-HVA20-Heavy-Duty-Accessory-Microphones/dp/B00HTWF7MS/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1453854366&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=hotshoe+extender&psc=1

and finally, this cold-shoe grip + extender, for using this tiny camera on the go with a mic for $30:
http://www.amazon.com/Movo-SVH6-Stabilizing-Extender-Olympus/dp/B00YQD94RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453854193&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=cold+shoe&psc=1

This is a little over $500, so you could drop 1 or 2 of the accessories, but this will do way more for you for your money.

What kind of shorts do you guys do? Action, comedy, drama, all-of-the-above?

If you do a lot of action/ handheld stuff, then you might not need a really solid tripod. Or maybe you do a lot of drama stuff and would benefit from a dolly.

For tripods, this is what I own. I don't get a chance to use it much, as most of my freelance work is handheld stuff, but it's great bang for your buck.

I'm not an expert on tripods, but I can say that I do know quite a bit about shoulder rigs and stabilizers.

The Film Riot shoulder rig ( I think it was called "the 50 cal") is the first one I owned/built. It worked fine, but once I started doing weddings and concerts I felt like I needed to upgrade to something proper. Here's a rundown of all the rigs I've owned and used.

Manfrotto Fig Rig: I've had this guy for about 3 years now. You might recognize this rig from reality TV shows. I see it in practically every episode of What Would You Do?. It's nice when used with a wide lens. I pick it over my Steadicam when I just need something simple, or when I prefer to have a little shake in my image. They're kinda pricey, so if you prefer, and if your camera is small enough, you can build something similar out of PVC.

Mantis Folding Rig: Easy to use, easy to store, really inexpensive, but not a great built quality. Works well enough, and kinda looks cool.

Filmcity DSLR Rig: More expensive, but built very well. Currently using this one.

Jag35: Used this in film school. It's way overpriced, but really solid.

and lastly,

Redrock: I've used most or all of their systems. They are very nice, maybe even the nicest, but I can't get over the price. I used to own the Redrock Micro System, but I sold it to buy some nice lenses. Even though it was the best I ever owned, I couldn't justify using it over the cheaper options.

No problem. I see in a comment below that you might just be working with a phone for now - this is a great, frequently overlooked option because this can be such a gear-oriented field, even (sometimes especially) at the hobby level.

So maybe disregard my advice about completely avoiding cheap gimbals. Since the weight of a phone is more constant than a DSLR/mirrorless camera, you might just get enjoyable use out of a lower end model such as the one used to shoot the feature "Tangerine," which has lovely cinematography. I wouldn't spend too much at first, but eBay will be your friend here. The Steadicam Smoothee is a sub-$200 traditional gimbal designed for phones. It was used on "Tangerine" and it's been out for a minute, so you should be able to find one used for at least a bit less than the Amazon price.

I'd still consider a slider and a tripod before I purchased a gimbal; those two cover way more ground in terms of video application. The Konova K2 is OK for the price if you're talking about using a phone, but it's slightly overkill if you're trying to spread your budget most effectively. I'd look at a Neewer model that's similar but only $50.. Anyone here will tell you not to lowball on a slider, and they're right - the things work on machined bearings and cheap manufacturing will give terrible results - but Neewer is a popular Indian maker of knockoffs that are reliable enough in a Walmart kinda way, and while I wouldn't bring their stuff to work, and wouldn't plan for it to last under heavy use, it might represent a better use of your money as you get your feet wet than sinking $200+ into a higher-end unit.

If you do get a slider or tripod (and if you only get one, I'd recommend the slider. With a little creativity it can be elevated and locked off just like a tripod, but it can also move), you'll need one of these or something like it.

Lastly, consider getting a lens adapter for your phone. "Tangerine" used anamorphic adapters by Moondog, but they're probably priced above your needs right now ($175 ea). A cheaper kit looks like this, and will immediately expand the creative range of shooting with your phone.

Read reviews and make sure you can return something before you buy it, but the actual weight of your phone makes stabilization much cheaper than an interchangable-lens camera body. Maybe watch "Tangerine" to get a sense of what can be done with a phone. It squeezes footage out of an iPhone 5 that compares favorably with $80K cameras.

$1000 is a lot of money to pay for a fixed lens camera with a 1" sensor and no mic jack.

Instead, for results like this:

• [Studio Enna - Wedding Sample by Park Enna] (https://youtu.be/AuzE4ffzRpQ)
  
  
• [One Hand Gimbal by Park Enna] (https://youtu.be/2z9hziB6lYs)
  
  ...you might want to look at gimbaling a large sensor, interchangeable lens camera such as the [$1185 1080/120 fps Samsung NX1 with the 16-50mm power zoom] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=252001961706&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg) on a [$699 Beholder DS1 pistol-style gimbal] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01983K0SQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B01983K0SQ&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20).
  
  With this $1884 setup, you can share adapted Nikon/Canon mount glass between your A and B cams - and you will have a B camera with an APS-C sensor, which will make it easier to match DoF with your FS100.
  
  Plus, the NX1 is a pretty good 4K video camera in its own right.
  
  At full 4096x2160p 4K, it has 4 times the video resolution of a 1080p camera. At 1080p, it can record at up to 120fps, and it has a bright electronic viewfinder plus a headphone jack.
  
  This camera can give you results like that look like this:
  
  Narrative
  
  
• [Yvonne] (http://vimeo.com/125077025)
  
  
• [ALL FOR ETERNITY by Philip Leclerc] (https://vimeo.com/127236375) (shot with the NX1 and the Sony A7s)
  
  
• [(The Quiet Escape) - a Short Film. 2015.] (http://vimeo.com/121238971)
  
  
• [Syringe - NX1 LowLight Test (4K)] (https://youtu.be/5UC-3ERlzHE) (shot at up to ISO 4000 with no noise reduction - please watch at 2160p at your monitor's highest resolution)
  
  
• [Samsung NX1 test scene. 2 person dialogue at night by a fire.] (http://vimeo.com/112974046)
  
  Music Video
  
  
• [Alolay - Fedog (live video) by Alan Alborov] (https://vimeo.com/145777922)
  
  Travel/Documentary
  
  
• [Enchanted Land of Ice by VDOLAB] (https://vimeo.com/120755700)
  
  
• [Alaska from the Sky - NX1 4K by Philip Leclerc] (https://vimeo.com/126319495)
  
  
• [Portrait of a Dancer by N.A. Bowser] (https://vimeo.com/145661084)
  
  Slow Motion
  
  
• [Samsung NX1 120fps] (http://vimeo.com/118529486)
  
  
• [Samsung NX1 - Super Slow Motion] (https://youtu.be/G-NygVgyA04)
  
  
• [Samsung NX1 120fps Slow Motion, Danyang Paragliding, Korea] (https://youtu.be/NrkaYCqs91M)
  
  
• [Guys in Broumov - slowmotion with Samsung NX1] (https://youtu.be/c8BEkQJyxXc)
  
  It's a great still camera too, with a 15fps continuous frame rate. Here's the still image quality you can get from this 28.2MP camera: [Flickr Samsung NX1 Pool] (https://www.flickr.com/groups/nx1/pool/)
  
  The NX1 also has a new and more efficient type of video compression, h.265, which [Power Director 13 Ultra editing software] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NQIB41C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NQIB41C&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) and [Blackmagic DaVInci Resolve 12.2] (https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) will read, but if you prefer to use another editing package, you can use the [free RockyMountains Movie Converter] (http://sourceforge.net/p/rockymountainsmovieconverter/wiki/Home/) to transcode your footage to ProRes or h.264 (until the other software manufacturers catch up).
  
  In my view, this would be a great complement to your FS100.
  
  Hope this is helpful, good luck with finding the right B cam and Happy New Year!
  
  

I would ask for gift cards, i.e. Amazon and B&H, or money. You can save these up and get nicer equipment or build your own rigs. But a nice Tripod can make a huge difference. But honestly, it all depends on what you film. Such as me, I often shoot on locations so lenses with a faster aperture do more than a set of studio lights. Here are my recommendations for basic stuff to ask for Christmas:

CN-160 LEDs - about $30 (http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic/dp/B004TJ6JH6/) and of course some NP-F970 Batteries go along well for about another $22 (http://www.amazon.com/Halcyon-Replacement-NEX-EA50UH-DCR-VX2100-HDR-FX1000/dp/B008X9L6ZS/)

Extra batteries - The off-brand batteries work well. I have two and they are great

Extra Memory Cards - I highly reccommend Lexar as my SanDisks don't work insanely well anymore.

Stabilizer Rigs - The Mantis Rig Is A Great Rig for everything (especially starting) and is only $33 (http://www.amazon.com/Mantis-Folding-Rig-Fotodiox-Transformable/dp/B00AUKBV7G) Or if you want to get a glidecam-style I suggest the Laing P-4S stabilizer which is like $275 and includes a bag and weights (http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Release-Plate-Laing-Stabilizer/dp/B00G3TCYQK/)

And My Best Piece of Lighting Equipment - A Reflector which you can get for like $20. (http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-43-Inch-Collapsible-Multi-Disc-Reflector/dp/B002ZIMEMW/) There's plenty of different sizes, too.

Copy of first image description for mobile gallery type users:

I do a bit of pro video work on the side, but I don't own much equipment myself. I've got a small breifcase of toys I carry around, and I recently added the Lumix G5 to my kit with a couple lenses. Its crazy how great the footage is from such a small package! But when I want to use it to get video, it can be a infuriating no matter how much I suppress the shakes. A large normal rig isn't to my tastes, and I want a small version to fit in my briefcase. So I built one my experience with other stuff to make my own simple version.

• Hand grip from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Handle-Support-Digital-Camera-Camcorder/dp/B014WISX6I , a simple but well built handle that is threaded on both ends. The end with the threaded post is just an insert and is removable.
  
  
• L Bracket handle grip: http://www.ebay.com/itm/361532714203 , This one had a good mix of size, comfort, and portability. Its actually reversible to right hand if you dremel the handle a bit.
  
  
• Chest stabilizer: http://www.amazon.com/Brinks-Home-Security-665-83001-Door/dp/B00KAXBRXQ , finding one that would work and was not expensive was difficult. This one worked perfectly and was very lightweight. To attach to the hand grip, I added a long bolt with its head ground down. I shortened the length of the pipe a bit more from this photo, and added an end cap from the hardware store to finish it off. This item won't go in my case, I'll keep it with my tripods and lighting stands.

I agree with what's said already the Yelangu is a great shout. I picked one up a while back and love it. I made this video with it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpdwvw--_jM&t=44s and it turned out pretty good. It's a great introductory steadicam.

I'm from Ireland so I bought it here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/YELANGU-S60T-Stabilizer-Steadicam-Steadycam/dp/B01G1JDS9S/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1524390474&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=steadicam&psc=1

Hope that helps!

I use auto settings for aperture, it's really useful when the disc goes from an open area to a shaded area. Auto focus works great on camcorders for tracking discs.

The main difference is that with a camcorder I have to track the disc, and zoom. With a DSLR you need to focus, zoom, adjust aperature, and track the disc. It's near impossible to do all 4 things at once perfectly. The best at it is McFly, and even he has issues at times.

The ring on my camcorder can be set for aperture if you want to do it manually.

Lens is not interchangeable it's fixed.

Also Bokeh is not for round coverage, it's for artsy vids/highlight vids. When's the last time you saw bokeh on and NFL or NBA broadcast.

Thanks! BTW check out neewer shoulder mounts on amazon. 25 bucks, and they're amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0095DBBPQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Skateboarding filmwork

if you want to do any amount of follow or low closeup shots you will need a wide angle/fish eye lens and an underslung grip. Sigma makes a beautiful 10-20mm lens that would be a good pickup, I think they made a version for your lens mount

If you are planning on doing panning shots [you stationary tracking the rider] any tripod will do but you will likely want a fluid head, fluid heads are video specific designed mounts for the video camera so you pan [move camera left/right] without it jerking or shaking.

As for shooting:

I would say you can break most shots down into 1 of 4 types of shots

B-roll is pretty much all the non trick/skating shots, police rolling up, post bail recovery, sizing up a spot, ect. This is stuff that is good to create "breaks" in a sequence. Trick after trick after trick hardly ever works in a video part

artsy trick shots this is actually a pretty broad group of shots but I think you'll understand what I mean. These are the shots where your rider is on the rail but you are filling your entire frame with just the board and their feet, showing a ton or rail riding detail but no context, this type of footage should be used with a shot that shows the entire story.

static shots This is any time your camera is on a tripod. You may be panning or zooming or any number of things with the camera but physically the camera isn't going anywhere. a few shots fall into this group. "Static Static", where the camera is set up for the shot and you don't touch it, usually this is something I do with my 2nd camera. "static follow" you are panning and keeping your subject in frame through the trick.

follow shots this is the big cheese of the footage usually, it used to be even more the bread and butter of the shots a while ago. These are low, fast, wide angled/fisheyed shots. They are usually a little jerky/bouncy because you are riding behind/front/side of the rider and trying to keep the shot in frame while cruizing. These take a while to get used to, and require actual planning with your rider.

General info regardless of what shot you are doing:

• when possible shoot from the chest side of your rider, ass shots don't make money in this business. If you have to shoot an ass shot, follow the rider's feet.
  
• have your rider enter your shot from one side of the frame and leave the other side of the frame, don't always do this but it will help a lot when you are editing and it will make the rider look faster [which is better]
  
• some of the best follow shots are when you aren't actually following the rider
  
• a shotgun mic is probably a good pickup, it will help keep the camera from capturing you[breathing/walking/riding], and more of the skateboarder's wheels/deck/trucks. Audio is more important than you probably realize.
  
• be prepared to shoot the same thing about a million times, it will be tedious
  
• when you get the shot, get it from a 2nd angle, you will thank yourself later for that
  
  edit: watch this like a thousand times and pick it apart as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBgbBrxj2to&t=588s

Hi ssnomar - As I mentioned in the post above, I fly a heavy [$278 Flycam 5000] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C2Y034/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005C2Y034&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) with a [Glidecam Body Pod] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001GJF1S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0001GJF1S&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) [Referral Links].

My Flycam 5000 has great workmanship, a bubble level and the quick release works perfectly - but it costs over twice as much as the [$105 StudioFX S-60] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E5OO4T0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E5OO4T0&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) [Referral Link] and sits in the closet most of the time.

If I had it to do over again, I would be willing to deal with a sticky release plate to save over $170 - but that's just me. Your mileage may vary :)

Hope this is helpful,

Bill

I went with the cheapest one I could find and I’m honestly pretty thrilled with it! It’s the camvate modular system:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BPVIROS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QpxZDbYV3K006

I have a battery grip on my camera so I also got the 197mm side rail so that it would fit but the cage is very sturdy and both grips are quite nice!

Edit: I’ve also heard smallrig is quite good as well, if you’re willing to spend $40-50 more.

I own the 18-35 but it's just too heavy for prosumer gimbals. It's possible to balance (...and I've gotten some good shots with on my Pilotfly H2) but the 12-35 flys SO much better. You'll have a much better time all around with the 12-35 if you wish to use a gimbal that costs under $2k.

Thanks for the tip, a slider looks handy. Is this something I can cheap out on a bit and still get decent results, or should I cough up for better equipment/consider renting? If it's more for establishing shots I'm considering going the Amazon route.

I think I've ruled out renting the DSLR gimbal. Still might get the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 - it's pretty reasonably priced and some shots with the iPhone/Pixel 2 might round things out nicely (I've been very impressed with the video I've gotten from them!).

I bought this one a couple of years ago and it's been great. It's $249 - so about half way between the cheapos and the glidecam. It does have micro-adjustment knobs and I've found I can balance it in about 5 minutes or so. It's very well made and I've been very happy with it. I can't imagine what the glidecam does better that justifies it's higher price.

I definitely would not buy one that didn't have the micro adjustment knobs though - you will never get it to balance. Just a mm or less change on these things will completely throw them off balance.

If you already have a tripod, you can try spreading the legs as wide as they go and holding at the top of the tripod for some stabilization. Film Riot shows off another technique.

Another option might be a coldshoe handle, which I saw for $25 on Amazon, or if you're afraid of damaging the camera hotshoe, you can get something like the Opteka X-GRIP. A slight step up from that would be a cage with two grips on the sides and a top handle, or something like a HaloRig, which goes for $150.

For better stabilization and to fly through the scene, at $200 or below, you're probably looking at a counterbalanced stabilizer, similar to a Glidecam or Steadicam Merlin. Though I wouldn't recommend this alone for hiking, as you arm will quickly get fatigued from all the weight; you'll want to a shoulder rig for added support and better stabilization.

If you can budget around $600, you're getting into gimbal territory, like the ikan Beholder MS1 or which would give you a much lighter active stabilization rig compared to counterbalanced systems.

I do a lot of travel as well have tried out various methods of stabilization over the years. Personally, I think a gimbal is the way to go. It's lighter and way easier to setup than a counterbalanced stabilizer, though the counterbalanced stabilizers usually will give you more fluid motion (gimbals can be pretty robotic with movement, especially with panning left/right). I've gone on hikes with my Nebula 4000 Lite gimbal, and my arm hasn't felt tired at all, probably because I had the rig on an R-Strap and let it hang when not in use.

the 2 daddies at the moment are the Dji Ronin S and the zhiyun crane 2 (amazon referral links). Don't confuse the crane 2 (the latest model) with the crane V2, although if your budget can't reach then the crane v2 was a good gimbal and certainly powerful enough for your sony.

If you want to go oldschool and not worry about carrying a battery, or lengthy rebalancing if you take the camera on and off then flycam steadicam can be excellent after learning how to use it

I have a Ronin S that I will be using with it most of the time.

Do you have any experience with this?

I imagine I will still something like a smallrig cage with a support attachment for the adapter like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/SMALLRIG-Adapter-Support-Metabones-Compatible/dp/B07KXVBBN3/ref=sr_1_6?crid=E1XEPA28PCZT&keywords=smallrig+cage+bmpcc+4k&qid=1559242116&s=gateway&sprefix=smallrig+cag%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.ca/SMALLRIG-Blackmagic-Design-Pocket-Cinema/dp/B07KLYGGV7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=E1XEPA28PCZT&keywords=smallrig+cage+bmpcc+4k&qid=1559242116&s=gateway&sprefix=smallrig+cag%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1

Then I'll have to figure out how to balance it lol

It's actually cheaper than $300 now.

I don't have one but my friend does and I've used it. It's actually pretty incredible for the price. I would add, though, that it's kind of annoying that it's specific to the GoPro Hero. It would be nice if it was a bit more futureproof and/or could be modified to work with a phone.

Yes :) here they are:

Handle: link

Mounting plate: link

Manfrotto Quick Release Plate : link

Follow focus: link

Rods(16" & 6") link

Handlegrip: link

Lens support: link

Shoulder pad: link

Rod clamp: link

Cold Shoe mount: link

To hold the battery I used this rod clamp: link and this plate: link

Battery: link

To connect the battery to the BMPCC 4k I used these cables and the charging cable from the camera to make an adapter: link to cables

Magic arm to hold the monitor: link

Samsung SSD 500gb: link

SSD holder: link

Monitor: link

HDMI cable: link

BMPCC 4k cage: link

I'm using the Sigma 18-35mm (Nikon) and the Viltrox 0.71X Lens Mount Adapter: link

I think that's it :)

Hi /u/sanityrepresent - I built a rig around the pistol grip handheld setup seen here: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f3hbYYV_y8o/VHDp77GMxoI/AAAAAAAAJF8/xnHRvNcCm5o/w724-h543-no/P1020575.JPG

By adding a couple of rails, a cold shoe extender and a shoulder pad, I was able to provide mounting points for a mic, a ring light and, when I can afford it, a rail mounted battery pack.

Here's what the rig looks like: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K2Z7iz5-bRw/VHqL3cK9OrI/AAAAAAAAJH4/OYrYg70RQ0E/w724-h543-no/P1020685.JPG

Here's the parts list:

• Light is a [$199 F&V R-300 ring light (on sale right now for $179)] (http://www.adorama.com/FVR300.html?KBID=66297) with a [$40 rail mount] (http://www.adorama.com/FV15RMR300.html?KBID=66297)
  
  
• Viewfinder is the [Kinotehnik LCDVFBM] (http://www.adorama.com/LCDVFBM.html?KBID=66297)
  
  
• Mounting plate is the [$40 SmallRig Camera Mounting Plate] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082TO9TO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0082TO9TO&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• Shoulder pad is a [$33 Dual use DSLR Shoulder Pad & Shotgun Rest for 15mm Standard Rigs] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=281140063894&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)
  
  
• Quick release is the [$30 Giottos MH621 Quick Release Adapter with Short Sliding Plate] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010SIAV2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0010SIAV2&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• Shoe extension is a [$30 Kamerar 20 cm Black Hot Shoe Extension] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7QQ91U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B7QQ91U&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• Pistol/trigger grip is a [$24 JJC HR-DV Remote Handle Pistol Grip for Blackmagic design pocket cinema camera] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=221603818145&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)
  
  
• Rods are [$20 40cm (16") 15mm black rails with end caps] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUK1K3I/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DUK1K3I&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• The shoe on top of the camera is a [$10 SmallRig cold shoe] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJFBUCQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HJFBUCQ&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• When I can afford one, I will get a $165 Ikan rail mounted BMPCC battery mount for either [V-mount] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LPJ1XJM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00LPJ1XJM&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) or [Anton Bauer] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LPJ1XL0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00LPJ1XL0&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  With the latest firmware upgrades and this rig, the BMPCC is a real joy to shoot with. And when I want to go back to putting the camera in a jacket pocket, I can.
  
  Good luck!

Thanks! I used the Pilotfly H2 for the entire thing. It was a little tricky to balance with an external recorder mounted as well... the HDMI cable jutting out the end did weird things to the weight, which kept throwing it off.

...but it led to a fun discovery of the balance getting thrown off at the end of the 'zoom' shot which turned into a fun transition to the jumps :)

Yeah, I bought the Laing P04 stabilizer, which is similar to the one you were looking at, but I ended up returning it within days. It's a fine piece of kit but balancing it without a c-stand and mount is almost impossible and it really does matter what the weight of your gear is. My camera and lens was supposedly just within it's range but I found that the weight limits on these things are grossly overrated. It worked much better on my BMPCC but on anything heavier I couldn't get a sustained camera move without yawing and after two takes it felt like my arm was about to fall off.

Depending on where you live you might be able to rent a gimbal system for one day and pack all your tracking shots into one day on your schedule. Otherwise, you could be judicious and use a tripod to stabilize your shots. I did this for two shots and it works better than expected. Just shoot wider than you want your shot so you can run it through motion stabilizing in After Effects or Davinci Resolve and then punch in for your framing.

Just keep in mind that none of these options work Out Of The Box. They're all professional equipment that require some experience. I was once on a show that ordered a SteadiCam for a day and thought they'd just slap it on and shoot. Five hours later they started the first take. By the end of the day they only got three shots, all of them dodgy. Don't be those guys.

As long as you've got reasonable amounts of light (normal overhead room lights have been sufficient) the Canon Vixia R series captures good HD video, have a mic input, and you can regularly find them in the $200 or less range. We use R700s at a small community TV station I work with and they've done very well for interview type setups. I've seen Canon refurb models go for around $170. You can get an XLR to 3.5mm cable and use a handheld mic like a Shure SM-58 or you can go with a shotgun mic. Be aware that the way most of those XLR to 3.5mm cables are wired can cause some weird problems, the simple fix is to turn off the right channel when you pull the video into your editing app.

The current "ENG" rig the station uses is a Canon Vixia R700 mounted to an inexpensive "scorpion" frame (like this) with an inexpensive shotgun mic in the cold-shoe. I've tried a Takstar Shotgun Mic and it works well for the price. You can spend a bit more and get one of the R0DE mics instead.
If you already have a Zoom H4n you can take the line out of it and plug it into the mic in on the camera, although you might need an attenuation cable to match levels.

We mount the whole thing (handle and all) on a tripod when we need stable shots. I set this up as something I could send out with people with no experience and it's worked well. With only a few lessons in framing, being aware of lighting, and how to plug in the cables we've gotten some good results.

Check out the Yelangu S60T. I’ve been using it for over a year and it works great. Also seen a number of people on other subs recommend it.


Here’s a neat video on it

I have this cage w/ top handle and I like it a lot. $85

Left handle, as well. I've been using that for over a year and it's great.

https://www.amazon.com/CAMVATE-Camera-Handle-Canon-Panasonnic/dp/B01BPVIROS/

You can make do with the 18-55, though just be aware of the limitations:

• Your focus will change when you zoom in and out, so crash zooms
  
• Your aperture will change when you zoom as well, so the more you are zoomed in the darker the image will be
  
• It's not a particuarly good performer in low-light
  
  At the very minimum the three bits of kit that I'd recommend for your use cases would be:
  
  
• A half-decent video tripod
  
• A cheap shoulder mount
  
• A 58mm variable ND filter (especially if you're shooting outdoors)
  
  It would also be worth installing Magic Lantern to give you some advanced video features like zebras and focus peaking.
  
  

For a cheap system, I use these together:

- Phone Tripod Mount, $6 - https://www.amazon.com/Rotatable-Adjustable-Compatible-Camcorder-Microphone/dp/B072KNBV21

- Camera-mounted Grip, $10 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014WISX6I

This is allowed in the park since it doesn't extend (selfie sticks are no longer allowed, so if it extends they won't allow it), and it has a nice weight to keep it in hand while still giving you some distance. The rotating mount means you can hold the grip at any angle while the phone remains in the orientation you want.

That said, I've seen a lot of pop-sockets, grippy cases, and even $100+ electronic gimbals at the parks that seem to work fine for photography and videography. Only you know what is and isn't too bulky for your needs.

​

> Should I invest in a Shoulder Rig?

That depends entirely on the type of work you plan on doing and the style you are going for. If you are planning on doing event videography it might be a good investment. Obviously one of the main reasons to use a shoulder rig is the ability to quickly relocate yourself without the hassle or footprint of a tripod. Personally I prefer a monopod as it has a very small footprint and results in steadier footage than a shoulder rig.

If you just want something to try out, I would recommend this Neewer Shoulder Rig. I started out with it for my T3i and it was surprisingly solid for the $20 price tag. Plus it looks a lot more professional than a bunch of PVC pipe taped together.

Down the road you may want something more sophisticated that supports a rail system, follow focus, etc. but that comes with price.

The best "cheap" is absolutely this Neewer Hand-Free Shoulder Mount Stabilizer Support Pad for Video Camera DV / DC Camcorder HD DSLR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095DBBPQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xh5Hzb076F4JX

Sure, that's standard. What I think you need though is a gimbal stabilizer, that you can mount a DSLR on and stabilize it as you go.

Would recommend the Sony A6300 w/ 16-50mm as a good travel video camera - mount it off your car mount and onto the gimbal when you get out of the car and you're golden.

True, thats why im kinda curious of your planned design. Ive been looking at something like this: https://www.amazon.com/CAMVATE-Camera-Support-Camcorder-Stabilizer/dp/B014WISX6I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511201837&sr=1-4&keywords=handle+grip+1%2F4

You're gonna love it. Now on your Christmas list, replace the camera with a decent gimbal for steady footage. Will save you a bunch of time in post-processing. Feiyu G3 seems to be the favorite around here, but GoPro just announced their own which is coming soon.

And if you're really into underwater filming, you may want to grab a dome.

Laing Handheld Stabilizer


Here's an awesome review by Nitsan.

EDIT: Another review!

Shot in 4K except for slow motion.

Sigma Art 18-35mm F/1.8

Used this cheap but pretty handy cage, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QI6Y3X0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Graded and stabilized in Premiere CC

ive been debating on doing that, then using the gift card to help pay for this gimble or for the Mic.

It depends on of course, what mm lens you use, but here's a short video (1.6x crop 50mm). All handheld, and shot with that cage. The video is 2 years old, and I think it's the first time that I ever shot with a cage. Most of my videos are handheld with that cage. Link to Cage

​

cheers

This one is really cheap.

This one is a bit more.

I've used similar low end camera supports, and I've always found them a little difficult to get balanced correctly and get smooth shots. You'd probably be better off finding a good shoulder mount.

>The video is most shaky when we are just trying to get shots where we are running around the outside of the car.

You may be better off getting a motorized/stabilized gimbal mount with a GoPro or other action cam or a nice mirrorless ILC such as the Panasonic GH4 over getting a camcorder. For example: https://www.amazon.com/Feiyu-Ultra-3-Axis-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B00SUWMIQY (Note: Do check reviews, this was the first Google result for me so I used it as the example)

Using a gimbal mount will let you get low down shots and such much easier.

I got this guy recently. I love the portability of it so much better than the big ronins or glidecams.

I got this cage and I love it - and it's soooo inexpensive...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPVIROS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Zhiyun Crane 2 will work well and it has enough capacity for that camera plus a good sized lens (up to 7 pounds).

• Here's a video review of the crane 2.

If anyone can recommend a good rig that is relatively cheap to use instead of a tripod which can be limiting. Something along the lines of this: Amazon | Mantis-Folding-Rig

I like to run mine on the helmet for calmer less aggressive trails and then for the DH stuff I run a chest mount and a Feiyu Gimbal for stabilization.

Add stuff to the camera.

I work at a fancy pants high end custom guitar shop and they just hired someone to do video and lo and behold the guy shows up with a dslr with a rode video mic on top, all on a tripod. The guys getting paid good money.

Another story:

I used a cheap small consumer camcorder (HV20) with a rode mic on top to shoot a friends proposal, and someone else there asked for my card in case they needed videography done. I think the mike basically did it there.

Just trick out the camera a tiny bit- lens shade, mic and dead cat (even if you're not capturing audio), use a tripod, and if you go handheld use a cheap rig of some kind.

Something like this with a mike on top would probably say "pro video" to most folks:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LKK99QA/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00LKK99QA&pd_rd_wg=W7NNl&pd_rd_r=DHYH2C7WQ4PX8H53J47A&pd_rd_w=btSCs

Do what you can.

Thank you for the advice!

What do you think of this one

We are also looking for something that can easily used in a car because there’s a lot of shake there with speed bumps and pot holes in the road.

So, with documentaries sometimes the natural shake can be helpful for effect. That being said, here's a super cheap stabilizer I picked up. It takes a lot of practice and will never look as good as a ronin, but it gets the job done.
Here

What's your thoughts on handheld gimbal stabilizers for no-budget filmmaking?

I'm old and faintly suspicious of them for some reason, never seen one IRL... but that BBC BTS showing them using a MōVI made me realise I might be missing out on something! Especially when she said they never even got their cranes/dollies out of the box at all, only used the MōVI!

I shoot entirely outside, lots of adventure sports with DSLR and GoPros... I see stuff like This for DSLRs and This for GoPros...

...so yeah, are they a good tool? Do they have limitations I might not be aware of? (IDK, worsen rolling-shutter effects or something?)

This one sound good?

Feiyu Tech G4-QD Quick Dismantling 3-Axis Gimbal for GoPro Hero3, 3+ 4 and similar shaped action cameras https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXB01UU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ars.AbGP8KESN

How does this compare to something like the Feiyu G3 that is 100 cheaper?

any recommendations for something cheaper?
i was looking at something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Aluminum-Camera-Making-include/dp/B00QI6Y3X0/ref=sr_1_9?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1478647618&sr=1-9&keywords=dslr+stabilizer

If you're using a DSLR the Beholder DS1 is a popular choice.

https://www.amazon.com/Beholder-Handheld-Stabilizer-Brushless-Support/dp/B01983K0SQ?tag=t9r-20

Here is a list of everything I bought to mount to the rails:

Smallrig GH5 Cage

Smallrig Top Handle

Smallrig Cheeseplate

Camvate V-Lock Mount

Koolertron D-Tap splitter

Smallrig D-Tap Power Cable

D-Tap to GH5 dummy battery

It's changed. GoPro is launching a handheld gimbal with a battery life of two hours, and there are already a few others on the market already with greater capacity. This one, for example, is $200 and about 3.5 hour battery life.

(This)[https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00LX1ERI6/ref=pe_386430_203512110_TE_dp_1] is the one i currently have. Would like to spend up to $350

Personally I would recommend this one ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXB01UU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4CWvybKY99A2K )

I second this. Never film in portrait, always landscape.

It can also help the guy filming to get a handle for the phone you're shooting with, something like: https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Smartphone-Filmmaker-Traveler-adjustable/dp/B01EBEPDO8

Or for easier low angle work you would get a tripod adapter and low angle grip (the grip linked above also works as a tripod adapter, so if you buy that first you can get just the low angle grip later):

• https://www.amazon.com/Vastar-Universal-Adapter-Samsung-Tabletop/dp/B00WFNNNCC
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Zeadio-Stabilizing-Stabilizer-Accessory-Camcorder/dp/B00LKK99QA
  
  Or if you have some more cash and want something more compact for low angle camera phone shots:
  https://www.amazon.com/Original-Handle-FreeRide-Combo-Smartphones/dp/B01N8XYIZC

About 200 dollars on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Feiyu-Ultra-3-Axis-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B00SUWMIQY

This is what I have - http://www.amazon.com/Laing-Handheld-Stabilizer-0-15kg-Steadycam/dp/B009YY5ESQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412607742&sr=8-1&keywords=laing+p-04

It's supposedly better than an actual glidecam, I've only ever seen one glidecam in person and this one was nicer for a lot of reasons, the biggest being that you can easily do "Poor Man's Low Mode" (IE: Fly upside down to get low shots).

Here is the Cheesy Cam Review (Note: I did not purchase the vest yet, but I am looking at it if this stedicam flys my next camera purchase (Sony FS7)) - http://cheesycam.com/review-laing-x-15-vest-arm-kit-with-laing-p-04-video-stabilizer/

idealy, this is what you are looking for ($750)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1200662-REG/ikan_ds1_beholder_gimbal_for.html

closer to your price range that would work with your gopro ($200)
https://www.amazon.com/Feiyu-Ultra-3-Axis-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B00SUWMIQY

what's actually in your budget, this requires a lot of practice to use, as it's passive, not active ($60)
https://www.amazon.com/OFFICIAL-ROXANT-camera-stabilizer-Smartphone/dp/B00K67QUQK/ref=pd_lpo_421_bs_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=H9NET5P44Q52FD1MDTQA

He could have had this (doubtful, for jogging)... https://www.amazon.com/Feiyu-Ultra-3-Axis-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B00SUWMIQY

PS: more time now, my gimbal, there may be newer/better ones now, but this is a start:

http://www.amazon.com/Feiyu-Ultra-3-Axis-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B00SUWMIQY

Does an owl cost more than $682?

Here's a handheld gimbal: http://www.amazon.com/Feiyu-Ultra-3-Axis-Handheld-Gimbal/dp/B00SUWMIQY

Video of it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOuMNiSc8Qw

I'm thinking I need one of these now...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YY5ESQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered from the above link. It says P-4S but I think it may be a typo for P-04S.

No it won't, but this one certainly will. http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00QI6Y3X0

I got this for christmas and my 6D with battery grip just barely fits inside. But it fits.

Lumix g7

25mm 1.7

Shoulder Rig (raids are from it as well)

Variable ND

Matte Box

Cage