Stabilization Tips

Paulie wrote on 1/8/2015, 4:21 PM

I'm developing Property Tour Videos that glide continuously around the property.

I'm getting pretty cat like in my movement, my shoes are soft. Result straight out of the camera are pretty good, but still a little choppy to be considered professional. But add in vegas pro 10 clip stablization and the clips are great but have artifacts or as my daughter says "a bit fuzzy"

Canon 6D/24-105L IS @24mm / Vegas Pro 10

My options seem to be

1. Better stablization software
2. A different camera
3. A gimbal

Does anybody do this kind of work that could offer advice ?

Cheers
Paul

Comments

set wrote on 1/8/2015, 4:25 PM

Add also another factor, the wider the lens is used, the more 'dizzy' effect can be seen, because of wide distortion.

altarvic wrote on 1/8/2015, 5:29 PM

> 1. Better stabilization software

Try Mercalli V4

larry-peter wrote on 1/8/2015, 5:36 PM

Without seeing a clip I can't be certain of what "fuzzy" is, but you may see better results if you're able to shoot with a faster shutter speed. When stabilization corrects a jerky motion, it can't eliminate the motion blur inherent in the captured frames. You can end up with a stabilized video with motion blur that goes "nowhere" and will just appear as a series of blurred (although stabilized) images.

TeetimeNC wrote on 1/9/2015, 7:05 AM

I also do property tour videos. My technique:

1. Shoot at 60p using a stabilizer. I use the CAME 150 DSLR stabilizer rig. One of the newer powered gimbals would be even better.
2. Render to 30p, 50% slow motion
3. Result: buttery smooth motion

/jerry

diverG wrote on 1/9/2015, 12:23 PM

Try using the camera in manual mode with stabilisation off.
Camcorders are generally better than DSLR's for gun & run shooting.
Found this out when my A1E finally failed and was replaced with a GH2.
With care you will get good results but a gimbal style hand held stabilizer will help greatly. Seen some very good examples on youtube

Andy_L wrote on 1/10/2015, 11:57 AM

A hand-held tripod can make for a surprisingly effective stabilizer rig. Try it out and see if it meets your needs. Best results with be with you only holding the center pole.

You can vary the extension of the legs to make it easier to use in tight spaces, with max extension delivering the smoothest results. Heck of a lot cheaper and easier than a Merlin... :)

MadMaverick wrote on 1/11/2015, 1:22 AM

I built one of these stabilizers out of PVC pipe and spray painted it black. It looks and works great, and it'll only cost you about 5 bucks.

Paulie wrote on 1/12/2015, 8:39 AM

Superb, thank you all.

Lots to try out here. I was interested in the comment about switching the stabilization off. I presume this is in reference to my "fuzzy video" comment. Feels counter intuitive, but yes will try that as well

Just looked at the home made stablizer video! I think even I could make that !

Cheers
Paul