Camera lens Stabiliser be on or off? at DVinfo.net

Barry Uddstrom · January 22nd, 2010, 12:34 AM

Should the camera lens stabiliser or Steady shot on the camera lens be switched on or off when using a Glidecam system?

Regards Barry

Charles King · January 22nd, 2010, 02:24 AM

I'd say off. Why buy a stabilizer and then cheat.:) you will not become a better operator by doing this.

Barry Uddstrom · January 22nd, 2010, 03:17 AM

Hi Charles, up tilll now I have had it switched off, same as I do on a tripod.

It is well known the problem it causes on a tripod but I have not seen it spelt out for a Glidecam system.

Thanks, Barry

Paul Kellett · January 22nd, 2010, 05:53 AM

On a steadicam you're going to be doing fast pans, intentional fast pans, if you have the camera image stabilisation on the picture is going to be doing the "catch up" thing.

When using a tripod i sometimes have the ois on, but only if i'm not concerned what the pan looks like, for example, filming a wedding on a long isle i'd be zoomed all the way in on the bride and groom if i was at the bottom of the isle, the ois will help with this, if i spot something else going on and i do a quick whip pan to it this the whip pan won't get used in the final edit because one of the other cams will cover that whip.
If i was doing a shot where the pan is in the shot then the ois is off.

Paul.

Dave Gish · January 22nd, 2010, 06:05 AM

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) tries to keep the frame still when there is a slight shake.

If you want to keep the frame still, turn OIS on. This goes for tripod, when you lock-off the pan & tilt. Also for hand-held, when you're trying to hold the camera as still as possible. Or for steadicam, when you're just standing there not moving or panning for the whole shot.

But when you want a moving frame, then OIS is a bad idea, since it will try to keep the frame still, and then jerk when it gives up. Often ends up looking jumpy instead of smooth.

So the real question is this: Why would you put your camera on a Steadiam/Glidecam, and then want to hold it still for the whole shot? The only reason I can think of is that you would rather use sticks for that shot, but you don't have time to switch.

Tim Kay · February 6th, 2010, 11:21 PM

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Tim Kay · February 6th, 2010, 11:54 PM

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I've had good success using IS. I agree with others that if you're panning tilting fast then turn it off; if you're zooming in then you want it on (but it shouldn't be on a steadicam at this point).

On my glidecam I'm so wide that I don't need it, but on a tripod its a great tool that I sometimes use.

January 22nd, 2010, 12:34 AM	#1
Barry Uddstrom Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Zealand Greymouth Posts: 39	Camera lens Stabiliser be on or off? Should the camera lens stabiliser or Steady shot on the camera lens be switched on or off when using a Glidecam system? Regards Barry

January 22nd, 2010, 02:24 AM	#2
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	I'd say off. Why buy a stabilizer and then cheat.:) you will not become a better operator by doing this. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

January 22nd, 2010, 05:53 AM	#4
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	On a steadicam you're going to be doing fast pans, intentional fast pans, if you have the camera image stabilisation on the picture is going to be doing the "catch up" thing. When using a tripod i sometimes have the ois on, but only if i'm not concerned what the pan looks like, for example, filming a wedding on a long isle i'd be zoomed all the way in on the bride and groom if i was at the bottom of the isle, the ois will help with this, if i spot something else going on and i do a quick whip pan to it this the whip pan won't get used in the final edit because one of the other cams will cover that whip. If i was doing a shot where the pan is in the shot then the ois is off. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

February 6th, 2010, 11:21 PM	#6
Tim Kay Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SF & LA Posts: 195	------------------ __________________ Event Production Services \| Video Production San Francisco Last edited by Tim Kay; February 6th, 2010 at 11:54 PM.

February 6th, 2010, 11:54 PM	#7
Tim Kay Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SF & LA Posts: 195	I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I've had good success using IS. I agree with others that if you're panning tilting fast then turn it off; if you're zooming in then you want it on (but it shouldn't be on a steadicam at this point). On my glidecam I'm so wide that I don't need it, but on a tripod its a great tool that I sometimes use. __________________ Event Production Services \| Video Production San Francisco

January 22nd, 2010, 03:17 AM	#3
Barry Uddstrom Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Zealand Greymouth Posts: 39	Hi Charles, up tilll now I have had it switched off, same as I do on a tripod. It is well known the problem it causes on a tripod but I have not seen it spelt out for a Glidecam system. Thanks, Barry

January 22nd, 2010, 06:05 AM	#5
Dave Gish Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverdale, NJ Posts: 468	Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) tries to keep the frame still when there is a slight shake. If you want to keep the frame still, turn OIS on. This goes for tripod, when you lock-off the pan & tilt. Also for hand-held, when you're trying to hold the camera as still as possible. Or for steadicam, when you're just standing there not moving or panning for the whole shot. But when you want a moving frame, then OIS is a bad idea, since it will try to keep the frame still, and then jerk when it gives up. Often ends up looking jumpy instead of smooth. So the real question is this: Why would you put your camera on a Steadiam/Glidecam, and then want to hold it still for the whole shot? The only reason I can think of is that you would rather use sticks for that shot, but you don't have time to switch.