Supporting the Camera

Although a lightweight camera can be hand-held or rested on the shoulder, if you are going to hold a shot for some time, or zoom in close, you really need some additional support to keep the picture steady. Several types and designs of camera mountings are available, each with its particular advantages and limitations.

Hand-held cameras

You can steady a hand-held camera with various devices:

• A body-brace (resting on the chest, or in a belt).

• A monopod or tripod for ground support.

• A special stabilizing device which compensates optically or electronically for camera shake.

• A ‘Steadicam’ stabilizer unit, which steadies the camera, even when running and climbing.

The pan head/panning head

This fastens the camera to its mounting, and provides a pivot that allows it to be panned and tilted precisely, or ‘locked off’ firmly at any angle.

One or two pan bars/panning handles fixed to this head are used to point and steady the camera. They are generally fitted with the zoom (left) and focus (right) controls.

The tripod

A tripod will support the camera firmly, even on rough ground. However, the mounting cannot be moved around, and its working height is preset and cannot be adjusted on shot.

Fit a castored base (skid) to the tripod, and you have a rolling tripod (tripod dolly). This economical general-purpose ‘dolly’ is easily repositioned, but smooth camera moves while on shot can be difficult.

The pedestal

The pedestal or ‘ped is the workhorse of larger TV studios, its pneumatic column on a wheeled base allows the camera height to be changed smoothly, or set anywhere within its range (e.g. 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)), even when on shot

Crane arms

Basically, a camera crane consists of a large counter-weighted jib or crane arm pivoted on the central column of a wheeled platform. This arrangement allows the camera at one end of the crane to be positioned or moved to heights from around floor level to, for example, 2 m (7 ft) or more.

A lightweight form of crane arm mounted on a pedestal or similar base is widely used today. The camera is remotely operated from controls at the rear end of the arm.

A The tripod

A stable static support; even on rough ground. Its height can be preadjusted.

B The rolling tripod

A simple yet mobile support on a castered base.

The studio pedestal

1. Turning the locking ring allows the central column to rise/fall. Maneuvered by the steering wheel, the pedestal can be moved with (a) all three tricycle wheels linked (dolly mode), or (b) one steering, two fixed (crab mode).

2. Height is readily controlled.