Stabilization
An unintentionally shaky shot is one of the clearest signs of a beginner. You don't need expensive gear to get steady footage: you need to know which support to use in each situation and how to hold the camera.
The video tripod
A photo tripod is fine for static shots, but its ball heads don't allow smooth pans. For video, what makes the difference is the fluid head: it has hydraulic resistance that dampens the movement.
- Look for a leveling base (half ball) so you can straighten the horizon quickly.
- Set the counterbalance and tension before you start.
- Move the pan handle with your palm and your body, not your fingers.
Monopod
A single leg: quicker to move than a tripod and steadier than your hand. Very useful at events and weddings. With little “feet” on the base, it lets you do small pans and even tilt it to fake a crane move.
Gimbal
A stabilizer with three motors (pan, tilt and roll) that compensates for the movements of your hands. It lets you follow someone walking, circle around objects or do smooth tracking shots.
| Mode | What it does | When |
|---|---|---|
| Pan follow | Follows horizontal turns, keeps the horizon level | The most common: following someone |
| Lock | The camera always points at the same spot | Sideways tracking shots, arcs |
| FPV / full follow | Follows every movement, including roll | Spinning effects and dynamic shots |
The gimbal removes the rotations, but not the up-and-down bob of each step. Walk with your knees bent, landing on your heel first and rolling through to your toes: the so-called “ninja walk”. With a wide-angle lens the footstep bounce is less noticeable.
Stabilization inside the camera
- Optical (OIS): in the lens.
- Sensor-shift (IBIS): the sensor floats on magnets. It works with any lens.
- Digital or electronic (EIS): crops the image and shifts it to compensate. Very effective on phones and action cameras, at the cost of cropping the image a little.
On a tripod, turn stabilization off if your camera recommends it: sometimes it “looks for” movement that isn't there and causes small drifts.
Shooting handheld without shaking
- Three points of contact: both hands plus your face (viewfinder) or your chest, with the strap pulled taut around your neck.
- Elbows tucked in against your body, not up in the air.
- Wide angle: shake is far less noticeable than with a telephoto.
- Lean on something: a wall, a lamppost, a table.
- Breathe: exhale slowly during static shots.
Editing programs have stabilizers (in DaVinci Resolve, on the Color page or in the Inspector). They work very well on small shakes, but they crop the image and can create a “jello” effect if the shake is big. Shoot in 4K if you plan to stabilize later.
- A tripod with a fluid head for smooth pans.
- A gimbal for movement, with the ninja walk.
- In-camera stabilization for handheld; turn it off on a tripod if needed.
- Handheld: elbows tucked, strap taut and a wide angle.
Your turn: the glass of water
Fill a glass of water to the brim, hold it next to your camera or phone and walk about 30 feet (10 m) while filming someone.
- First walk normally; then with the ninja walk and your elbows tucked in.
- If you have a gimbal, repeat with it.
- Compare the shots and how much water you spilled.