What can be achieved with the steadicam JR?

[Paul Martin]

I just watched the Buena Vista Social Club on tv and I was impressed by some of its many steadicam shots. The homemade-steadicam footage here at the thread "par-t-com steadi-cam test " was also rather impressive. My question is, how possible is it to achieve flying steadicam shots (comparable, lets say, to those at the "par-t-com steadi-cam test" thread) using a handheld stabilizer like the steadicam JR lite, with the gs100 (a very compact panasonic 3 chip which weighs less than two pounds with a battery and has optical image stabilization (OIS))?

Thanks,
Paul

[Charles Papert]

Paul:

The answer is, very possible.

The JR is a quality unit, capable of much subtlety. Plus your camera is light enough that you will be able to wield the whole package for long enough without exhausting your wrist and forearm.

I would recommend turning off the optical stabilization while you are flying on a JR.

Be advised that it takes a good deal of practice to get good at any gimbal-based stabilizer. I hope that Tiffen is still including the excellent JR training tape that was made when the JR first came out--if you buy a used rig and the tape doesn't come with it, hunt it down.

With plenty of practice and good operating form, you can achieve wonderful results with this setup.

[Dave Largent]

Hi Charles,
What is the advantage to turning off optical image stabilization?
Dave

[Charles Papert]

In the same way that it is suggested that you switch it off while using a tripod, the OIS will make your Steadicam moves a bit slushy--you end up fighting the effect. It's not needed while using a Steadicam, anyway.

[Paul Martin]

Thanks Charles!