Top (first) finger above Gimbal while operating

[Phil Thomas]

Yeh I do operate Goofy, that's just how I was taught, makes more sense to me using the hand I'm more precise with (right) for the Gimbal as well. As for arm/vest setup yeh I do spend time on it so the rig can float by side without shooting off in a certain direction. I think I started doing the finger over the top thing to stop myself putting to much influence into the gimbal as the the centre of my hand was more on top the the CG of the rig so would take more effort to influence the rig as the leverage is less. It's clear from all your responses that it's not a common or preferable technique, I thought it might of been one of those things (like shooting goofy) that some people just did and it doesn't make any difference really but I'll definitely train myself out of it now. As for being comfortable, yeh it looks pretty uncomfortable but that picture was taken from a frame mid way through an hour long shot and didn't seem too much of problem. You can see the hour shot here sped up to 2 mins if you so wish. Lose my verticals in a couple of places and headroom is bit too much in places too but it was only for practice and I know where to improve for future, any other comments appreciated, although hard to see as its sped up so much.

 

Thanks for all your help

Phil

Edited November 4, 2011 by Phil Thomas

[David M. Aronson]

have another beer.

 

Cheers.

 

I'll keep that in mind.

[Sebastien Audinelle]

I'm sorry,

 

what was the point of this video? It's hard to give you any comments in regards to operating.

This could have been shot with a DSLR and a tripod and have the same effect.

I don't mean to be rude in any way, I just don't understand, sorry.

 

Best, Sebastien.

 

 

 

 

Yeh I do operate Goofy, that's just how I was taught, makes more sense to me using the hand I'm more precise with (right) for the Gimbal as well. As for arm/vest setup yeh I do spend time on it so the rig can float by side without shooting off in a certain direction. I think I started doing the finger over the top thing to stop myself putting to much influence into the gimbal as the the centre of my hand was more on top the the CG of the rig so would take more effort to influence the rig as the leverage is less. It's clear from all your responses that it's not a common or preferable technique, I thought it might of been one of those things (like shooting goofy) that some people just did and it doesn't make any difference really but I'll definitely train myself out of it now. As for being comfortable, yeh it looks pretty uncomfortable but that picture was taken from a frame mid way through an hour long shot and didn't seem too much of problem. You can see the hour shot here sped up to 2 mins if you so wish. Lose my verticals in a couple of places and headroom is bit too much in places too but it was only for practice and I know where to improve for future, any other comments appreciated, although hard to see as its sped up so much.

 

Thanks for all your help

Phil

 

 

 

[Phil Thomas]

The video was made for my own amusement it's not anything particular I just added it to the thread as a "by the way" as I was talking about the hand position not being uncomfortable. I've been doing a lot of practising in the last month since I posted that video and have trained myself out of using the finger above the gimbal hand position and into the conventional style and suprise suprise it seems that my operating has improved for it, especially on pans as suggested.

 

So all in all that video above is now very pointless. At least this topic can now sit in the archives and be searchable if anyone else has the same question as me.

 

Thanks for everyones input on it, alls worked out well in the end.

 

Cheers

Phil

[Anders Holck Petersen]

I must admit that when doing low mode shots, I occasionally slip my index finger above the gimbal. Sometimes it just feels better for me this way, as a normal grip sometimes feels tiresome in my wrist. In regular mode I never do it though. It just feels wrong.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I must admit that when doing low mode shots, I occasionally slip my index finger above the gimbal. Sometimes it just feels better for me this way, as a normal grip sometimes feels tiresome in my wrist. In regular mode I never do it though. It just feels wrong.

 

 

In low mode I operate on the gimbal handle which is "above" the gimbal You can get lower that way and you have better control

[James Davis]

Hey Eric,

 

I always did this too, seemed to work for me, plus for a lot of the hip hop/grime (uk style of hip hop) videos I have worked on they want the camera super low and it gives me those crucial few extra inches.

[Thomas K. Jensen]

I agree with you all.

But some of the best operators in the world operates with odd hand grips... For example, the best op in Denmark, where I live, operates with his index finger above the gimbal.

And Larry McConkey operates with a death grip...

 

So I guess what I'm trying to say, is:

there is no WRONG hand grip

- only normal vs not so normal :)

[Igor Votintsev]

This hand position is very comfortable for me (low mode only).

 

 

 

Read my post above. It's not the best idea

 

Oops... Look at this, please...

 

[Kevin Andrews SOC]

I agree with you all.

But some of the best operators in the world operates with odd hand grips... For example, the best op in Denmark, where I live, operates with his index finger above the gimbal.

And Larry McConkey operates with a death grip...

 

So I guess what I'm trying to say, is:

there is no WRONG hand grip

- only normal vs not so normal :)

 

Larry may use a full fist grip at times, but I bet it's the most gentle fist grip ever judging by his rock solid operating.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

This hand position is very comfortable for me (low mode only).

 

 

 

Read my post above. It's not the best idea

 

Oops... Look at this, please...

 

 

Read the first few responses, Jerry and I agree. You're trying to justify doing it wrong....