Video Gear: Support & Grip

Course details

Sometimes you need heavy-duty gear to do the heavy lifting of video production. Equipment like gimbals, tripods, dollies, sliders, and rails can help you get smoother shots with more controlled motion and capture more unusual angles. In this installment of Video Gear, Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman review your options when it comes to support and grip gear. Learn how to stabilize shots; build your own slider; mount cameras with clamps, poles, and micro tripods; add motors for automated motion control; and trigger shots remotely. Plus, learn how to use gimbals and shoulder rigs correctly, and put the gear into practice as Rich and Robbie show how to get some great-looking footage of moving vehicles.

Learning objectives
Stabilizing shots with gimbals
Using a dolly
Building a parabolic slider
Mounting cameras in unusual places
Mounting cameras with micro tripods
Using a camera rail
Controlling a video camera remotely
Using a tripod top slider
Keeping your gear safe
Using a portable backdrop
Shooting with a shoulder rig
Adding motors to sliders
Using motion control sliders for time-lapse and turntable shots
Using a gimbal
Shooting in and around a moving car
Getting a low-angle shot

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome

1. How Can I Stabilize the Shot Using a Gimbal

02 - How can I stabilize the shot using a gimbal
03 - Major benefits of a gimbal
04 - Using a gimbal for a smartphone or GoPro
05 - Using a professional gimbal
06 - Lessons learned

2. Using a Dolly

07 - Using a dolly
08 - Skatewheel and skateboard dollies
09 - Setting up a dolly
10 - Setting up a professional dolly

3. Using a Parabolic Slider

11 - What is a parabolic slider
12 - Building the slider
13 - Setting focus
14 - Adjusting the speed of movement
15 - Evaluating the results

4. How Can I Attach Cameras in Unusual Places

16 - How can I attach a camera in unusual places
17 - Mounting to poles
18 - Mounting to poles for heavy duty mounting
19 - Mounting to the ceiling and doors
20 - Mounting with magnets
21 - Mounting with clamps
22 - Gear overview

5. Micro Tripods

23 - What is a micro tripod
24 - Mounting a phone to a micro tripod
25 - Mounting a GoPro to a micro tripod
26 - Mounting a DSLR to a micro tripod
27 - Evaluating the results

6. Using a Camera Rail

28 - What are camera rails
29 - Adapting a tripod to hold multiple cameras
30 - Shooting strategies
31 - Using a micro rail
32 - Evaluating the shots

7. Controlling a Video Camera Remotely

33 - Remotely controlling cameras
34 - Setting up the CamRanger
35 - Panning with the CamRanger PT Hub
36 - Evaluating the results

8. Using a Tripod Top Slider

37 - What is a tripod top slider
38 - Attaching the slider
39 - Mounting and balancing the camera
40 - Shoot strategies
41 - Evaluating the footage

9. Keep Your Gear Safe

42 - Keeping your Gear Safe
43 - Keeping gear dry
44 - Using camera wraps
45 - Using lens wraps

10. Using a Portable Backdrop

46 - Using a portable backdrop
47 - Using a pop-up system
48 - Using a Flexfill

11. Getting a Camera Higher

49 - Getting high camera angles
50 - What is a jib
51 - Building a jib and when to use it
52 - Flying a GoPro HERO4 with a quadcopter
53 - Evaluating the footage

12. Why Shoot with a Shoulder Rig

54 - Why use a shoulder rig
55 - Using rigs by Redrock Micro
56 - Using rigs by ikan
57 - Using rigs by Zacuto
58 - Final thoughts on choosing a rig

13. Creating Slider Shots and Motion Control

59 - When to use a slider
60 - Choosing sliders and rails
61 - Attaching a motor to your slider
62 - Using the eMotimo TB3 to control your camera

14. Using Motion Control Slider for a Time Lapse Shoot

63 - Powering the eMotimo TB3
64 - Operating the eMotimo TB3 during a time-lapse shoot
65 - Final thoughts on using sliders for motion

15. Using a Motion Control Head for Turntable Shots

66 - What is motion control
67 - Shooting turntable shots with the eMotimo TB3
68 - Final advice on using a motion control assembly

16. Using a Gimbal

69 - Using a gimbal
70 - Advantages of a gimbal
71 - Using a monitor
72 - Controlling the camera
73 - Evaluating the footage

17. How Can I Shoot in and Around a Moving Car

74 - Shooting in and around a moving car
75 - Preparing the car for shooting
76 - Increasing the available light in the car
77 - Mounting a camera to the rearview mirror
78 - Toss to next week
79 - Gear overview

18. How Can I Shoot in and Around a Moving Car

80 - Shooting in and around a moving car
81 - Mounting camera to windows
82 - Mounting cameras to the dashboard
83 - Mounting cameras to the outside of a car
84 - Mounting with magnets
85 - Lessons learned
86 - Gear overview

19. How Can I Get a Low Angle Shot

87 - How can I get a low angle shot
88 - Cradling the camera
89 - Using a micro tripod
90 - Using a mini tripod
91 - Using a low profile tripod
92 - Gear overview