Digital Video - February 2009 - (Page 29)

bilizer tool: isolating the operaManfrotto/Bogen. The Fig Rig tor’s movements from the camdisperses the camera’s weight latera. These simplified rigs are erally by putting the camera in merely a step up from my old the center of a steering-wheelfriend’s hand-carried tripod techlike configuration where each nique as they alter the camera’s hand is off to the side of the center of gravity to a more neucamera. This device, although tral position and they incorporate incredibly fatiguing to hold for a gimbal handle for more fluid any length of time, is surprisingly movement of the camera. effective to smooth out handheld Products in the third category camera operation. A similar Sachtler’s Artemis stabilizer system device is the Quad-Pod, which of camera stabilizers are the most features a carbon-fiber arm. simplified, eliminating the body has two handles set out at nearly harness weight distribution, isolating arm and gimbal to merely shoulder distance apart, with the camera mounted at various alter the center of gravity to allow for more fluid operation. positions between them. This final rig borders on the edge These are the least expensive, yet least functional of the stabilizbetween handheld stabilizer and shoulder-mounted rigs, which ers. The PanPilot or StabilizerFLEX are two non-gimbal versions, are not stabilizers but merely weight-distribution systems. and there are many, many online articles on DIY stabilizers, most It’s important to note that with any stabilizer, high-end expenof which are just variations of the old tripod technique sive model with all the bells and whistles or cheap DIY model, take (www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam for example). Some DIY time and practice to understand and operate properly. No tool is models do incorporate a gimbal handle and, if you look hard going to solve your stabilization needs all by itself. All of them will enough, you can find a full DIY rig with isolating arm and body require refined operator skill to make them function, and it harness (such as www.codydeegan.com). behooves any owner/operator of any stabilization tool to spend as One variation of the center-of-gravity change is the innovamuch time — away from the actual shoot — practicing their opertive Fig Rig, designed by director Mike Figgis and offered by ation as possible. DV ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY Abe’s of Maine ADK Pro Audio AJA B&H BlackMagic Design Epson America 2009 Government Video Expo Litepanels Matrox NAB Association NewTek Primera Technology Sony Electronics Varizoom Videoguys PAGE 21 36 9 25-27 7 15 35 19 23 13 5 11 2-3 30-31 17 WEB SITE abesofmaine.com adkvideoediting.com aja.com/keith bhphotovideo.com blackmagic-design.com discproducer.epson.com gvexpo.com litepanels.com matrox.com/video nabshow.com newtek.com/goplaces primera.com sony.com/prohdna varizoom.com www.videoguys.com COMPANY INDEX Adobe 22; American Grip 10; Anton/Bauer 8; Apple 20, 22, 34; Avatron 24; Aviom 20; Bantam Street 14; Blackmagic Design 34; Bogen 28; Canon 14; Cardellini 10; Dakota Pictures 19; Data Robotics 34; DreamWorks Animation 12; Event 34; Gallery 20; Glidecam 28; HandsfreeTransporter 18; HP 12; Ikan 12; JVC 12; Lectrosonics 20; Lee Filters 10; Lindcraft Grip Supply 10; Litepanels 19; Manfrotto 28; Marshall Electronics 12; Matthews Studio Equipment 10; MAudio 34; Microsoft 22; Movcam 28; Other World Computing (OWC) 34; Panasonic 12, 14, 18; Panavision 15; PanPilot 29; Pixell 20; Professional Sound Corp 20; PureTracks 22; Quad-Pod 29; RealNetworks 22; RED Digital Cinema 18; RGEAR 20; Rosco Laboratories 19; Sachtler 28; Segway 18; Sennheiser 20; Shure 20; Sonnet Technologies 34; Sony Creative Software 22; Sony Electronics 12, 15; Spyderco 10; StabilizerFLEX 29; Steadicam/Tiffen 16, 28; VariZoom 28; Wohler 12; Yamaha 20 http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam http://www.codydeegan.com http://www.abesofmaine.com http://www.adkvideoediting.com http://www.aja.com/keith http://www.bhphotovideo.com http://www.blackmagic-design.com http://discproducer.epson.com http://www.gvexpo.com http://www.litepanels.com http://www.matrox.com/video http://www.nabshow.com http://www.newtek.com/goplaces http://www.primera.com http://www.sony.com/prohdna http://www.varizoom.com http://www.videoguys.com

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Digital Video - February 2009 Contents Stasis Flex Black Diamond Essentials Instant Expert Close-Up: Larry Blamire They Like to Rock the Party Close-Up: Gregg Kita Click to Play DV101 Production Diary

Digital Video - February 2009

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