A steadicam camera mount works by filling the role of camera holding and angling rather than by depending on the steadiness and control of a cameraman.
Garrett Brown
Steadicam is a brand of stabilizing camera mount for a video recorder that can be found at photo shops such as Filmtools, BH Photography and EVS. They can also be purchased online direct from Steadicam through their website.
Steadicam was created in 1976.
The Tiffen Merlin Steadicam is a lightweight body-worn holder for camcorders which allows for smooth filming. They can be found at Prokit, Chiswick and can be found online on Amazon and other camera related websites.
Some of the most popular camera mounts are ReplayXD, Vaddio, Fat Gecko, Gino, JVC , and Pedco. However, the most popular of all is the GoPro camera mounts.
There is an online site that currently sells homemade DIY Steadicam kits. It goes by the name DIY Steadicam Glidecam. This is a relatively cheap product to produce and a definite value.
Pro-Gripper Quad Camera Car Mount
Other than the hand held cameras that usually are supported on a shoulder, cameras can be mounted on a body worn bracket called a steadicam. The camera operator wears a harness that wraps around the chest, shoulders and back and the camera is mounted on a flexible sprung arm in front of the cameraman. The mount is precision engineered and very finely balanced so the camera will remain in one place without being held. More than that, if the operator moves, the camera will remain in the same place. The operator has to move the camera with his hands if he needs to adjust its position or angle. The great advantage is that the cameraman is free to move without the image shaking wildly, even if the cameraman is running. A steady image is possible without the use of tripods or fixed tracks so the camera can make it to places a tripod or rail mounted camera can't. A shot of someone running through a forest is one example where camera cars, rails or wire mounted cameras cannot do the job. A steadicam can track the runner as he turns and weaves in and out of trees. The disadvantage is that the harness is difficult to wear, puts a large load on the back and will incapacitate all but the fittest operators very quickly. As well as needing a lot of strength, the operator needs a considerable skill to manoeuvre the camera cleanly and to avoid the camera hitting the limits of its travel range on the mount. Good steadicam operators make the job look easy but make no mistake, it's not a job for the weak and faint of heart. Even the best operators are rarely expected to wear a steadicam for more than 30 minutes or so. Steadicam is a trade name but there are several manufacturers of the same type of equipment.
Professional Steadicam Operators charge anywhere between $70 to $150 per hour for operating the device and rent the Steadicam System between $900 to $1500 per day. Rates vary depending on experience and the budget of the production.
A cheap steadicam can be made with PVC piping. The PVC piping needs to be drilled to include pivot points. You will also need universal brackets and a ladder hook to aid in construction of your own steadicam. There are several do-it-yourself videos available on YouTube for people who need additional assistance with this project.
Camera Work ended in 1917.
Camera Work was created in 1903.