How to Use a Camcorder: Keeping Your Image Steady (page 3)

The cheapest and simplest is a length of braided nylon line (available in hardware emporia) and a ring attached to a tripod bolt, obtainable from camera stores. (Often, this ring and bolt are attached to a hand strap for carrying a still camera. Discard this strap.) Here's how you can turn these simple components into better-looking video.

1. Tie line to ring and thread tripod bolt into camcorder tripod socket. Drop other end of line to ground.
2. Crouching slightly to lower camcorder height, step firmly on end of nylon line. Straighten up to normal shooting height, so that line is taut.
3. Shoot, already.

Once you get the hang of it, this little rig really does help steady the camcorder. And it weighs perhaps six ounces and fits in a pocket.

Another indispensable accessory for camera bracing is a bean bag. The idea is to compensate for uneven surfaces (and the dinky bases of many compact camcorders) by placing the bean bag on the support surface and then snuggling the camcorder into it. Not only does this keep the camera more secure; it also lets you tilt the unit up or down a few degrees, to help frame your shot, as you can see from figure 2.

You can buy a camcorder beanbag from large video supply houses for under $60, but here's how to make one for maybe $5 or less. To begin with, determine the size you will need: small for compact camcorders or large for full-size VHS units.

Next, procure the beans. Some people like the foam pellets used to stuff beanbag chairs. You can get them at fabric and upholstery supply stores. Personally, I find these too light to create a bag that will stay put. Since sand or buckshot are obviously too heavy, I prefer the classic filler: beans. Get a bag of one type of bean (or dried peas) rather than the variety packs sold for making soup.

Now create the inner beanbag by partially filling a resealable heavy-duty freezer bag (one-gallon size for compacts or the humongous new two-gallon size for VHS). Do this with your camcorder handy so that you can see how the bag supports it when filled with different amounts of beans.

When the plastic bag is filled to your satisfaction, seal it and then double-seal it with duct tape. (Remember that intriguing but inconvenient things happen to beans when they absorb water.)

The final step is to make a pillow case of rough fabric (canvas or even a terrycloth towel) in which to enclose the slippery plastic beanbag. Sew three sides and fit a flap on the fourth with a hook-and-loop closure. (Perhaps you could con your spouse into making the cover, that is, if he knows how to sew.)

Insert baggie, close flap, and you're ready to roll.

When you start using this ultra-lowtech approach to steadying your camcorder, you'll love it and wonder how you ever did without it.

Good shooting!

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