Posted on 04/06/2013 8:06:51 AM PDT by LibWhacker
A new piece of filmmaking gear was just announced that could completely re-invent the complex process of camera stabilization. It's currently being tested and endorsed by Vincent LaForet, who's given us a little taste of what it's capable of.
The product is called MōVI, created by Freefly, longtime maker of crazy camera-drone equipment and stabilizers. LaForet is presenting a short film and behind-the-scenes video to illustrate its abilities, which consists of a completely custom-made gimbal and 3-axis gyroscope that digitally stabilizes the camera (a Canon 1DC in this case). It looks to be very light and portable, a far cry from giant metal arms, vests, and weights that almost the entire camera support world is based on.
Anyone who has ever picked up a camera knows that one of the most frustrating things is getting footage that isn't shaky. That smooth gliding movement is one of the hallmarks of good production value. At the pro level, stabilization is the focus of entire companies, like the ubiquitous Steadicam, which provides beastly and expensive equipment to Hollywood, TV, and independent production houses for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of cinema's most famous shots have utilized this type of gear, such as this iconic Goodfellas scene:
Shots like these are based on a counterweight system, where heavy weights are suspended below the camera, which sits on a low-friction gimbal. The new system gets rid of the counterweight completely, allowing the camera person to move around much easier. For added control, the camera's movements can be operated remotely via joystick.
Let's be real though—this is very much a professional-level piece of gear that is currently priced at $15,000, with a $7500 option coming in the near future. That is to say, out of the price-range of most individuals and small businesses. But the very apparent break with old technology will no doubt trickle down into more consumer-friendly devices as time goes on, and hopefully make those awe-inspiring camera shots possible for anyone to pull off.
That is fantastic.
bfl
Would also make excellent platform for a coffee holder in my car...
Works great on drones too.
“Let’s be real though—this is very much a professional-level piece of gear that is currently priced at $15,000, with a $7500 option coming in the near future. That is to say, out of the price-range of most individuals and small businesses.”
This particular piece of equipment possibly. However gyro stabilized camera platforms for hobby aircraft (quad copter and fixed wing) are pretty inexpensive. Hundreds, not thousands of dollars.
LOL!
WTF
Gee. This is gonna really frack up the cheap SCIFY ghost, goblin and monster/alien movies whose stock-in-trade is crazy camera shaken-baby syndrome to obscure the cheap-ass special effects until the last scene “money shot” where they put all their CGI efforts.
OK the invention is pretty slick, but YOU WIN! That’s the coolest thing I’ll probably see all day!
Actually no. He thought of that. It has a shot recorder built in with a programmable amount of shaky-cam that can be added. This thing is is an active mount, not passive. It won’t change everything steadicams do but it will enhance everything that can be done.
Now if they could only get the cinematographers to actually use it instead of subjecting us the the “shaky camera” scenes that are so prevalent now.
Oh, no... *groan*... Does this mean there’ll be even more of those totally dark scenes, that are so dark you can’t see a thing?
Thanks for that comment.
It seems that about 10 years ago cinematographers and directors thought it would be cool/different to constantly shake the camera.
It has gotten out of control.
In addition, while they don’t do it nearly as much, action shots are cut into 1 second or less images that are slapped together.
While I’m at it, this trend to shoot scenes in near total darkness may work in the theater, but at home, it sux.
Also, the volume fluctuations between dialog and action drive me nuts.
I remember seeing camera footage from a shell shot out of a 16 inch naval cannon decades ago. The shell of course is spinning from the rifling.
I’m sure you could. And I think everybody appreciates you showing it attached to Pvt. Vasquez.
next to Macy’s.
I saw Vince LaForet’s video on that yesterday - what a great invention. It WILL change things in the video world!
Too expensive for my use, but for a professional, this will be a great new tool!
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