tips on using a smooth shooter at DVinfo.net

Lalo Alvidrez · April 20th, 2009, 11:51 AM

Okay I used my smooth shooter for the first time at a wedding a couple of weeks ago and I thought I had practiced enough but my shots aren't as smooth as I expected. anyone have some good tips to offer. I have another wedding in a couple of weeks and would really like to use it again but I want to make sure I am shooting smooth shots.

Jason Bowers · April 20th, 2009, 12:53 PM

Hi Lalo,
Practice, practice, practice. If you notice the bobbing motion I did let the springs loosen so you have to pick the arm up yourself. It takes the bobbing away. Be very sure footed and slow in you movement. Move before the shot you have envisioned so that you are already moving when the time comes. Never walk sideways or foot over foot, always be moving forward of backward. Try practicing with an x on the wall and move toward and away while maintaining the x constantly in frame. If you have kids, film them outside, try to do as much as you can. Make sure the sled is balanced as well. If it is not the footage will be considerably unsteady. Hope this helps

Dawn Brennan · April 20th, 2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bowers

If you have kids, film them outside, try to do as much as you can.

This is what I am planning to do when I get mine... should make for lots of practice. Excellent tips Jason, thanks for sharing!

Lalo Alvidrez · April 20th, 2009, 01:45 PM

Thanks Jason, I will continue practicing. You said to loosen the spings, do I loosen until the arm is below being perpendicular to the ground? right now it has about 5 degree angle not much but some. Do you put your hand on the camera at all when filming or just when hitting record and pause? Where do you normally put your hands?

Jason Bowers · April 20th, 2009, 02:02 PM

Lalo,
I found that when I had the arm properly set to where they recommended I was getting a bobbing effect with the camera. I let the spring tension right to zero so I had to pull it up to where I wanted it to be. This eliminated the bouncing effect and I had much more control of the rig. My right hand is on the sled handle and my left is lightly touching the sled below the gimble. I never put my hand on the camera unless I am adjusting the exposure/focus. When flying never touch the camera as it will throw off the inertia and balance. I was using the 4000 sled and a canon xh-a1. I also made the sled very heavy, I think I had 3 plates on the top. The heavier the sled the better it will fly with stability. Think about your shots before yo shoot as well and practice them before the shoot, this will help you understand what to expect. Anymore questions let me know.

Jawad Mir · April 22nd, 2009, 09:13 AM

Make sure you practice practice like everyone else said. Fix the tension on the arm.

Also, what I found in the beginning was that I tried to take too much control of the gear but I found that once it's balanced u gotta let it go by taking minor control on it. As in let it flow and move yourself around it.

April 20th, 2009, 11:51 AM	#1
Lalo Alvidrez Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Longview, Tx. Posts: 227	tips on using a smooth shooter Okay I used my smooth shooter for the first time at a wedding a couple of weeks ago and I thought I had practiced enough but my shots aren't as smooth as I expected. anyone have some good tips to offer. I have another wedding in a couple of weeks and would really like to use it again but I want to make sure I am shooting smooth shots.

April 22nd, 2009, 09:13 AM	#6
Jawad Mir Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 371	Make sure you practice practice like everyone else said. Fix the tension on the arm. Also, what I found in the beginning was that I tried to take too much control of the gear but I found that once it's balanced u gotta let it go by taking minor control on it. As in let it flow and move yourself around it. __________________ Jawad Mir / Cinematographer . Filmmaker Film Style Weddings http://www.filmstyleweddings.com Jawad Mir http://www.jawadmir.com

April 20th, 2009, 12:53 PM	#2
Jason Bowers Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Thunder Bay, ON. Canada Posts: 374	Hi Lalo, Practice, practice, practice. If you notice the bobbing motion I did let the springs loosen so you have to pick the arm up yourself. It takes the bobbing away. Be very sure footed and slow in you movement. Move before the shot you have envisioned so that you are already moving when the time comes. Never walk sideways or foot over foot, always be moving forward of backward. Try practicing with an x on the wall and move toward and away while maintaining the x constantly in frame. If you have kids, film them outside, try to do as much as you can. Make sure the sled is balanced as well. If it is not the footage will be considerably unsteady. Hope this helps

April 20th, 2009, 01:45 PM	#4
Lalo Alvidrez Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Longview, Tx. Posts: 227	Thanks Jason, I will continue practicing. You said to loosen the spings, do I loosen until the arm is below being perpendicular to the ground? right now it has about 5 degree angle not much but some. Do you put your hand on the camera at all when filming or just when hitting record and pause? Where do you normally put your hands?

April 20th, 2009, 02:02 PM	#5
Jason Bowers Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Thunder Bay, ON. Canada Posts: 374	Lalo, I found that when I had the arm properly set to where they recommended I was getting a bobbing effect with the camera. I let the spring tension right to zero so I had to pull it up to where I wanted it to be. This eliminated the bouncing effect and I had much more control of the rig. My right hand is on the sled handle and my left is lightly touching the sled below the gimble. I never put my hand on the camera unless I am adjusting the exposure/focus. When flying never touch the camera as it will throw off the inertia and balance. I was using the 4000 sled and a canon xh-a1. I also made the sled very heavy, I think I had 3 plates on the top. The heavier the sled the better it will fly with stability. Think about your shots before yo shoot as well and practice them before the shoot, this will help you understand what to expect. Anymore questions let me know.