DSLRs are so lightweight that they don’t move like a film camera; when handheld, they jitter like a consumer camcorder, instantly marking ...
DSLRs are so lightweight that they don’t move like a film camera; when handheld, they jitter like a consumer camcorder, instantly marking your footage as amateur. And in many cases DSLRs are ergonomically worse than a camcorder, as they are designed to shoot stills, not video. There are two main steps in adapting your DSLR to handheld video work. One, add weight in order to increase mass and minimize jitter, which many of the add-ons discussed below will do. Two, add a third point of contact to stabilize the camera against your body (and relieve some of the burden from your arms). Because the mirror of your DSLR is raised during video shooting, you can’t use the viewfinder to press the camera against your face for a third point of contact as you would while shooting stills. This leaves you with needing some sort of attachment to adapt a fundamentally unergonomic chunk of metal to your fleshy human form. Many of the accessory manufacturers in this space have a background in the film/video world, not photography, so at first glance their offerings may seem somewhat large and overbuilt. However, this is usually not a bad thing as the extra mass and size will contribute further to your DSLR behaving like a “real” motion picture camera, which is not only something you perceive as the operator, but something audiences perceive (perhaps subconsciously) in the camera movements. Manufacturers currently making suitable DSLR support systems include Redrock Micro, Zacuto, Cavision, Jag35, Letus, CPM Film Tools, VariZoom, indiSYSTEM, Vocas, Shoot35, and Cinevate. Zacuto’s kits range from $550 to $5,500 and are generally the most expensive, but if you’ve got the money they are widely thought of as well-built and reliable solutions. Cinevate offers a number of DSLR rigs at generally lower price points ranging from $720 to $2,600; Redrock Micro offers the widest range of options ranging from $460 to $2500. Cavision’s DSLR products are inexpensive and are a good value, but in my experience they don’t have the build quality of the more expensive rigs. This is less of an issue when dealing with a lightweight DSLR; I’ve shot several projects with my Cavision rig, but I wouldn’t want to put a heavier camera on it. If you’re working with a DSLR in the sub-$1,000 range and are on a very tight budget, the above support systems might cost more than you’re able or willing to spend. In this case, the place to go is eBay. For whatever reason, a whole community of cheap DSLR support system manufacturers has sprung to life in India, and while I’m not endorsing any of their products (I have a knockoff Indian matte box which I would evaluate by saying “you get what you pay for”), if you’re just getting started and funds are minimal, they’re worth a look. Some eBay sellers proffering DSLR support gear include DVcare, Cine-City, HDVshop, and the creatively named Digital Video Product.The industry standard rod system for camera support is based on 15mm rods spaced 60mm apart (there is also a larger standard based on 19mm rods which is overkill for DSLRs), so you can mix and match most parts from different manufacturers to build your own frankensystem. In my own experience it’s a trial-and-error process to piece together the ideal kit for your particular shooting needs, so this is one area for which you should definitely spend some time on the forums. Also, these companies are smaller than your average multinational corporation, and therefore will usually take the time to answer your questions. I hope to have more answers in this area when I’ve used a wider variety of gear.Cinema5d has a 60-page DSLR rig review covering a number of DSLR support systems, although there have been rumblings about the methodology and objectivity of their roundup; as with the info in this very guide, seek out as many experienced opinions on the forums as you can before you pull the trigger on a purchase, and then experiment to get the best results for your particular needs.
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