Using steadycam - the 5 best tips

If you are using a steady cam for filming for the first time, the following tips will help you. Learn how to balance your steadycam or a tripod in this guide and take a clean tracking shot.

Steadycam: 5 tips for a clean tracking shot

Give yourself enough time to balance your steadycam the first time. You will be rewarded with a stable camera and a clean ride. The following tips make it easy.

1. Tip: Mount your camera on the tripod as you need it to rotate. Battery, SD card, correct lens and other structures should already be on it. Even take off the lens cap. Every gram counts!
2. Tip: Balance the steadycam with the 3-second rule. How long does the camera take to pan from the horizontal to the normal position? Use the tripod length and the weights to balance the camera until the tripod takes about three seconds from the horizontal for the 90 ° angle.
3. Tip: Afterwards, check whether your camera is skewed to the side. The horizon should be straight in the viewfinder. Otherwise, move the camera on the mounting plate to the opposite side. Some steadycams also have small counterweights. Tip: Simply place a small spirit level on the mounting plate.
4. Tip: Now you can start. Avoid jerky movements and walk as evenly as possible and in comfortable shoes. Hold the control hand of your Steadycam loosely so that no running movements are transferred to the tripod.
5. Tip: Always move the camera first when starting, then your body will follow. In this way you avoid jerking when starting. When braking, it works the other way around: brake first and carefully extend the movement of the camera with your arm while you brake gently.

Steadycam: Solve common problems

Setting up a steadycam is a tricky business. Here's what you can do if it sticks.

1. If the camera does not want to stay up during the 3-second test, even though you have already extended the tripod to its full length, you need more weight. This can happen if you have mounted a heavy body with a large lens. Put on enough weight until you can pull the tripod out halfway to find the balance.
2. The camera leans to the side, even though you have already mounted everything in the opposite direction as far as possible? Try a few large washers and machine screws with nuts that you can attach to the mounting plate. Little can have a big impact.
3. No matter what you do: after setting the camera always tilts to the side in a spindle movement. The problem can be solved as follows: Align the two weight arms of the tripod exactly in the axis in which your lens also points. If it still wobbles, mount the camera a little further back or front on the mounting plate.
4. Don't let your lens protrude too far over the mounting plate. The center of gravity of the camera should be as central as possible above the tripod. This prevents you from wobbling while running.
5. If you despair and don't find the fault, take a deep breath and start over. Set everything as symmetrically as possible: same weight on both sides, central mounting plate, center of gravity of the camera. Small changes can do a lot, feel your way slowly.

In the event that you don't trust your mounting plate: In another practical tip you can read whether camera insurance is worthwhile.