Steadicam & Gyros

[Nestor Salazar]

Hello guys

 

I would like to have an answer on a specific shot. I´m helping a DP test a few shot to a feature he his working with. We have tried 2 sort of set ups.

 

The first is with steadicam about 3 m up in the air, hard mounted. I felt that it was a little bit tricky since the speed of the vehicle wast´t constant and it was on a windy day. The picture is good but it waves from side to side.

 

The other was with an equipment called G motion & chapman vertical vibration isolator. also about 3 m up in the air. It looked good from down but I thought that the picture was to shake. I think that they are gonna do some work to stabilize the image later on postproduction

 

My question to you is if I use Gyros on the steadicam, do you think that it would help/better. The framing is from above looking about 45 degrees down. As static as possible.

 

Many thanks for the help.

 

Nestor Salazar

[RonBaldwin]

that has got to be the least safe operating situation I've ever seen. You don't need gyros, you need the common sense to walk away from that widow-maker.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

that has got to be the least safe operating situation I've ever seen. You don't need gyros, you need the common sense to walk away from that widow-maker.

DITTO!!! Shotmaker with crane arm and remote head is the right TOOL for the job! Know when to say no and when to say Hell No!

[Nestor Salazar]

Thanks Ron

 

But what do you mean with no safety. I was strapped to the seat and the pace on the vehicle is walking pace.

 

Thanx.

[RonBaldwin]

you didn't mention the speed you'd be going, I assumed you'd be driving down the road riding that thing like a bronco. Still seems a little butt puckering to me but if it's walking speed...? yes, gyros will definitely help but there will always be a little float/speed inconsistency no matter how you do it unless you lay/level track.

[Thomas English]

The important thing here is that twisting on the platform.

 

You and your rig standing (with a CG 1m off the ground) is imparting a twist or moment of 110kg on the front bracket when decelerating at 9.8m/s squared (equal to the force due to gravity). Once you are 3m in the air and raised somewhat your moment is now 330kg (equivilant). That sir is a lot of kg. Especially if you consider the fact that the car is going to have to slam the breaks on because a small orphaned child is running across the road to save his only football. You could start imparting a twist of multiple times that even when slowing down from walking. Mate... I don't know.

 

I don't get on the front of a quad without a seatbelt. Sir, this is what I think you are doing. Sitting on the front of a slippery plastic quad seat with a soft mounted rig. Do not be alluded by all the metal.

 

It better just be walking pace and I wish you luck. I think Gyro's would help.

[Ken Nguyen]

Nesto,

Your flat form seems to be very unsafe.

Most of the pivot points are 2m to 3m away from the center of mass.

That is why you felt the vibration and the side by side swaying.

A dip or bump on the ground may crash the whole thing down.

In slow speed, a bump will put more stress into the system than high speed.

 

If I'm you, my options will be:

- build the flat form on the truck bed.

- A cheaper way (works best for me):

Rent a truck from a business sign installer.

 

Fly safe!

Ken Nguyen.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Not sure about the g motion but I have used a chapman gyro stabilized head with the vertical stabilizer that resulted in stable images even when driving off road at high speed. If your having stability problems I would talk to chapman and see if they can help you work it out.

 

~Jess

[Mike McGowan SOC]

that rig as is does not have to be unsafe. i cant see how everything is attached but if it's done right, that tower could be super ridged. if you are properly secured, you are super safe as well........ that being said and even if everything is done super safely, the steadicam is probably not the best tool for the job. any decent stabilized head should do that perfectly with no vibration or unwanted movement.

[Nikolay Kerezov]

This looks scary to me!

And I'm someone, who makes this:

[RonBaldwin]

This looks scary to me!

And I'm someone, who makes this:

 

I think the way you are doing it works the best...those steadi-saddles are scary...but good on level, smooth ground. Last time I was in one I had to make a choice -- use two hands and make a nice shot or use one hand and retain the ability to have kids. As Dave Emmerichs once said, "my kingdom for a mule!"

[mike laureys]

for me being a key grip and a stedicam opp. I would go for this

http://filmotechnic.com/eng/equipment/43.html

this is in my experience the best head

 

have a safe one

[Sanjay Sami]

for me being a key grip and a stedicam opp. I would go for this

http://filmotechnic.com/eng/equipment/43.html

this is in my experience the best head

 

have a safe one

 

The Flight Head is great ... but expensive. The flight head on a crane is definitely the way to go if you have the $$$.

Otherwise Jess' solution should work fine.

 

Sanjay Sami

www.thegripworks.com