The Truth About Filming Handheld - Do Camera Rigs Help?
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 22. 08. 2024
- Are you really ready to film handheld? Does rigging out your camera make your handheld camera work any better? How do you know when you've got the skills to do fully handheld camera work? I take you on a journey from being a beginner with little camera skills to a professional ready to film anything!
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âĄïž This video is not sponsored and these are all my own opinions.
đĄ Who is Chadwin Smith? I am an aspiring cinematographer. I love creating videos and showing others how to light and shoot better videos! I also review tech and gear. Based in Arizona, USA
When did you start filming handheld? Was it right away or did it take time to warm up to it? Personally, it took me years to feel comfortable doing it.
I started with a GH4, which has no IBIS. So I had to get a gimbal. I started with the OG Crane V2. I then got a GH5, and the IBIS on that is so good that I stopped needing the gimbal almost altogether. I used it only for specific shots that needed it.
Once I started really getting into rigging it up, I basically put the gimbal in my closet for good lol
I recently got a Crane 3S with the SmartSling package on sale for $350 (!!!), so I'm going start using it a lot more
@@AfoteyAnnum thatâs awesome! I really think having a camera with IBIS is necessary if youâre doing a lot of handheld work! I liked my Crane V2, good and Very light gimbal. Havenât tried the 3 yes but Iâm sure itâs also good! I only use my gimbal now for shots that absolutely call for it, otherwise I use most other forms of stabilization.
I personally don't like handheld, for a number of reasons. If the shots are short it can work, but keeping level and steady for longer shots is almost impossible unless the rig is heavy. Then you have a expensive heavy rig to carry around, so might as well setup a gimbal. Gimbals can be left on as the run time is incredibly long these days so you just pick it up and you know the results will be good. Steady cams are also a great option that require no batteries. So many times i have been disappointed with handheld when i get back to work with footage in post. It is to risky for live shots, i.e. weddings etc.
@@waynosfotos yeah, I agree-handheld is definitely not the right tool for every job! I typically do handheld with a mix of tripod and gimbal shots also. Itâs only another tool in the tool belt and I donât do it all of the time. Especially for weddings I stick to a gimbal and slider cause brides always want the most steady, perfect shots! đ
Great video. Iâm somewhat new and never understood why cage rigged cameras are called handheld.
I fully agree with your passion for handheld and rigging up your camera. I used to do the very same, adding one piece gear after another to my Lumix S1H.
But, this came to a stop right a way after exchanging the very lightweight Panasonic 16-35mm F4 lens with a Sirui full frame anamorphic lens and taking my camera along on a Sunday walk, expecting some nice scenes to capture. The complete setup had become so heavy that I had no power left in my arms and hands to keep the 'machine' stable for shooting.
So, I tried out the very opposite, and bang, it works so well:
I stripped down the setup to camera, lens, cage, top handle, and a nice handstrap for my right hand that allows to let my arm even hang down with no force required from the holding hand to hold the camera.
And then, oh miracle, I tried out the internal viefinder, holding my setup against my right eye as for shooting stills - all shakiness was gone, manual fokusing so precise, and panning as from a tripod.
You also have to be careful when youâre using different styles like handheld and then switch to a gimbal. Iâve done that where the very next clip looks too dramatically smooth Compared to the previous
Very true! It can be Very jarring to switch from handheld to gimbal, so it has to be done tactfully for sure. Iâm always trying to find a better way to cut between different forms of stabilization to make it more natural
Shooting handheld is a decision. A stylistic decision. The goal shouldnât be to reproduce gimbal stabilization levels. Handheld footage when done right, can introduce the appropriate amount of camera movement/shake to make the viewer feel. Lots of shake paired with a narrow shutter angle and fast camera movement feels chaotic and scared, where as slower and more minimal shake on longer lenses can feel voyeuristic. A bit of movement on a 35mm lens can feel like youâre in the scene. Donât shoot handheld as a default. Make it a choice.
Great tips! I skipped the tripod and went handheld with just the camera. Then I backtracked to a gimbal, before investing in a handheld rig. All have benefits and helped my work!
that's awesome! some people are just naturally really great at handheld work! The gimbal takes some time to master. Heck, I remember spending countless hours playing with my Glidecam HD2000 before that! haha!
@@chadwin good observation ! Haha hours?! That's true dedication đđœ
Nothing beats than the organic handheld look. đđ„
Amen!! Iâve absolutely come to love the handheld look as Iâve gotten better at it. Early on it was all slider and gimbal shots for me đ
I think there's still no substitute for a good shoulder rig. Technically, it's "hand held" but the shoulder is the third point of contact just a "tri"pod. Get a really good rig like a Zacuto or Tilta and you'll have a rig that's well balanced with a comfortable shoulder pad. You still should master the "Ninja" walk but the shoulder helps relieve stress on just the hands and arms.
I know it will probably be personal preference. I can't decide wetter I should buy a left or right handle for my GH5 rig. Noticed you are using a left rotating handle.
could you provide some reasoning behind your choice for a rotating left handle? Thx
Hi Chadwin. I'm not a pro, rather a high end amateur. Older amateur. I can get hand shake, which is very annoying. I agree with you, get a tripod and a good video head. A decent set, they will last forever and do a good job, don't skimp on this. Gimbals work but don't take out vertical judder without a z axis. I've found that the image stabilisation in my XF400 (don't need SDI) does an amazingly good job. Mass, as you said, is a two edged sword. The extra inertia helps but it has to be carried which makes arms shake ..... I'm contemplating a dolly for some indoors work on hard surfaces and maybe a short arm camera crane. I suppose another possible option is a shoulder mount but that can get very expensive very quickly especially for a properly balanced set up - the viewfinder is usually the problem there. A counterbalanced arm vest is another, but can be clunky to put it mildly. Thanks for posting, the use of a slider would be a good value add for me and I'll bump it up the list.
Yeah, you make a lot of great points here! Itâs sounds like youâve got a setup that is working well for your XF400. A slider is a great way to add dolly motion but without all of the large and cumbersome parts of being a dolly. I donât do easy rig/body mount stabilization stuff either cause it ends up being so heavy and less agile than just quickly going hand held.
Finally I've been waiting on someone to say this. Thanks!!
Haha I said it!! There, now at least 2 of us think the same way.
I started handheld back in 2011 with some glidecam shots but now i only shoot with a gimbal, which is probably lighter than ur rig, it is the Weebill S, so convinient to pack or to keep the camera on it all day... Also as far as lenses, I managed to make my 20mm2.8, my 35 f2 and my 85 f1.8 all the same weight (step up rings, lens hoods..) so when i switch lenses, I have zero balancing to do... Clients are always impressed with smooth shots ;)
I live on my gimbal. Just bought a top handle for hand held, when possible.
Nice, You can get such great shots on a gimbal! It was my go-to for a long time. I think youâre gonna like using a top handle for handheld as well.
For âBeginnersâ, this may seems like a good tip if you shoot on Dslrâs or small Cine cameras. However, if you shoot on e.g.: an Arri Alexa you wonât be able to capture the shots you want Handheld
Check out Reed Morano. She is a DP cinematographer. Small woman who had cancer and she still picks up an Arri Alexa with a heavy anamorphic lens, puts it on her shoulder and shoots the scenes she wants.
@@barefootuptomysoul Haha yeah. I think you kinda got the wrong point. I am talking about Handheld filmmaking, not a Shoulderrig
Super nice, I do this with my FX6, but it gets heavy. I thought getting assignments, turning up with a FX3 might have a negative effect on the client, but with a mattebox in front, it still does the trick hehe. If for nothing else I'd put it on just for that.
yeah, the FX3 really does have such a great image, almost identical to the FX6. i find that most clients are clueless to the camera tech, so throwing a mattebox on there is enough too look professional without the full cine cam haha!
Wow very informative and I might need to get that gimbal after all.
Excellent video man! Great info
Hey thanks! Hope itâs helpful
I am really considering a shoulder rig. There is something that I see in most handheld videos (mine and other's) and that is the camera angle. I belive that shoting from tour chest comes with limitations and lose connection with the people line of sight. Depends obviously on what u want to shoot. Plus I am not very tall either...
Donât forget that catalyst browse for newer Sony bodies that keep gyroscopic data.
Catalyst Browse is your friend for handheld shots
This was very useful; thank you.
Hey thank you! Hope it helps with your handheld work
Love rigged camera :)
That fxlion nanoone actually really light, mostlikely front heavy..
Thanks! Yeah, youâre right the FX Nano 1 is such a light battery. Could better balance with one of my massive 160wh batteries instead. đ
How come no one talks about a balance rig or steady cam. It still needs balancing but gives you more free control. It gives a very unique look that gives a floating appeal, but people don't talk about them much. They are also relatively cheap and don't go flat. Lol.
Yeah, steadicams do provide a unique look as well! I used to run the the glide cam HD2000 and that was it! But when gimbals came out, they just worked better for my needs
I have the Sony ZV-E1 and the jitter in 24fps footage is killing me. I don't have any of these. And I noticed that the heavier the camera the smoother it looks. (also I don't like using gimbals) so I will make a rig like this.. Thanks!
Real question how to MF as solo , when we do handheld while half running
manually focusing while moving is not easy! but, i've done it many times. basically how I did this entire video. czcams.com/video/7PMXJBJ6mPU/video.html
Do you really need a side handle (i.e. smallrig handle with a trigger: I feel like it's another thing to plug in, etc.) or is it redundant? I have a gimbal that's collecting dust because just the thought of balancing it makes me procastinate its use. lol.
My opinion is that it's only good to shoot handheld when you follow a walking person, to create tension or a loose atmosphere.
Hey Chadwin, could you do a video about how to properly setup a rig to be powered by a v mount battery? I want to add a v mount battery to power my Canon R6 and Atomos Ninja V but Iâm afraid of frying or short circuit my camera.
Yeah man, Iâll have to talk more about how to safely power your camera and other accessories off a v-mount batter in a future rig video! For the most part, just make sure youâre plugging into the the right voltage for each accessory. Also, best to plug everything in including HDMI first, before powering anything on.
Awesome thanks for the tip!
Great advice
Hey Chadwin great stuff!! Lots of good information. I have a lot of trouble shooting 24p as it is very choppy and jittery especially when panning! I have seen many shooter complain about this so I know I am not alone. I shoot either 30p or even 60p for much smoother motion as there are more frames to work with. Of course then the trick is you have to edit in a 30p timeline or a 60p timeline to stay real-time - not 24p to slow it down. Hey it works for me! To make it less âsoap operaâ or video-like and add a little more motion-blur I do what Gerald Undone suggested and at 60p break the 180 rule and slow my shutter to 1-60. What do you think? I did side by side comparisons and panning in 24p is so juddery and choppy for me. Am i missing something???
Thanks! Yeah, youâre definitely right that 24fps doesnât necessarily look as smooth and has much more motion blur or rolling shutter (depending on the sensor) 60FPS or higher does look a lot smoother with the additional frames, it also looks less natural to the eye and more video-ish as you said. I didnât know Gerald suggested doing that, itâs definitely an interesting approach to the problem. I have broken the 180 shutter angle rule and done something similar from time to time, but donât usually. Either way, it sounds like you have a method that you like to use now! Maybe just use 24 or 30fps for things locked off on a tripod and everything else you can go higher frame rate đ€·đŒââïž
@@chadwin Thanks for answering!! FilmicPro says the 180 degree rule was invented for 24p and if youâre using high frame rates, then you can safely ignore the rule. Gerald seems to agree! As to your suggestion, not sure I want to start mixing frame rates then my sequences will get complicated. I was hoping you could tell me if I was doing something wrong with the 24p - something I missed. Either my cameras moves show choppy frames when panning at 24 or look unnatural and video-like at 60. Itâs one or the other. I like the immersive real/life nature of the 60p more than the choppy frames of 24p I guessâŠTHANKS BUDDY!!
i have a question about matteboxes. how do you find the right size? like I just started filming from photography and there are so many things that are new and complicated to me.. i figured out most of the things, but im very confused of matteboxes and how to get the right size..?
Yeah. Making the transition from photo to video can be overwhelming at first! Thereâs a lot more to consider. You need a mattebox that has the right adapter to thread onto the front of your lenses. Most matte boxes come with multiple thread size adapters. The most standard being 77mm, 82mm, 72mm, 67mm. The SmallRig mini mattebox and Tilta mini mattebox are both great ones to start with.
@@chadwin Thank you so much! I found your video where you transform your a7s to a cinema rig!
@@chadwin hi, i apologize for another question. For the video you posted on Jul 19, 2019. WHere you turned your sony a7s into a cinema camera.. I have a sony a7iii. Could I buy the products you linked them in the description and have the same setup?
Thanks for the video
you can even get micro jitters on a tripod, like the Aloe Vera on the table is proofing đ
yep, micro jitters are always there to haunt the camera man. lol!
Do you turn off the ibis when doing handheld with a rig
Which Slider Do You Recommend?
I think SYRP Magic Carpet Pro is still the best, although Iâve been unhappy with their customer support. Mine broke and theyâve not been good about repair options at all.
Don't get the Jason Bourne reference, are you implying they screwed up? đ€ I'm sure that crew did an amazing job!
Bourne is notorious for the shaky fight scenes where you cant make anything out that unfortunately became a copied look for many years following. Not the shot he specifically showed. Not knocking on the movies they're amazing, nor on the shaky look, it worked for those films. It's a knock on the influence it had on the industry afterwards.
May I ask what was your baseplate model?
it's a Niceyrig baseplate. Baseplate geni.us/baseplate2 sorry the slow reply, hope that helps!
Your table needs stabilization đđ
haha it's just a table top on top of 2 saw horses, so yeah--not very stable
@@chadwin honestly made the video a bit nerf wrecking to watch đ€Ł
@@SyntheticFuture sorry haha!
Whatâs wrong with Jason Bourne?
Nothing. I really love the movies. But the extreme handheld look def isnât right for every project.
LOL 2:23
Like watch your videos :) But please, don't use footage without focus and show really smooth motion, not sheaking (1:38)
Hey thanks for the feedback, Iâll keep that in mind! đ€đ»
I am so sick of dudes going on and on about needing a rig to look "professional." This is a myth being parroted by so many men in the industry. Stop it, get some help.
So what
So....I can't get close to my subject with a gimbal and then back up for a wider shot on my gimbal in seconds? Interesting. Fluff piece
You can of course do that on a gimbal. Not as easily done on a tripod or slider though, which were also mentioned.
i bought a gimbal for second time.. and i just get boring using it.. staying handheld again.. but now stabilizing with gyrodata
Lol I feel this! I BARELY touch my gimbal anymore. I use it maybe a few times a year. Iâm almost always handheld or on a tripod/slider now. Gimbals are often too robotic and strangely smooth. I still need to try out stabilization with in camera gyro data!!
Hey man !
Thanks for those advices ! Just left a follow, is there any way we could talk in dm ? I have some small questions and need some advices of a experience creator for my next investment đđŒ
yeah, thanks for subscribing! just hit me with a DM on Instagram @chadwin and I'll try to answer your questions the best I can!