Skip to main content

Improve source video on the cheap (tripod strap stabilizer)

I’m always thinking of ways to improve the quality of my work. While I might be bias because I have spent a lot more time taking photos than shooting video… so photos come more naturally, I think it takes a lot of effort and money to get high quality video compared to the latter.

Most often expensive stabilization hardware is needed to just get in the door. I’m not in a position or have any real desire to use something like a steady cam, so I have been looking for simple methods to improve the quality of my videos taken at events like conventions.



Camera and tripod strap.


Here is a Youtube video I made explaining the method I’ve been testing. I go into detail and demonstrate the techniques I devised to use the additional camera strap:





The general technique I’ve been trying: Attach the second strap to the tripod.
  • Have the strap short enough so you can have tension on it, but still easily see the screen.
  • Use your left arm as a monopod by holding the tripod mount area and pushing your elbow into your stomach.
  • Try to keep your arms as ridged as possible. We are trying to remove arm movement out of the equation.
  • Be mindful of your movements. Take your time and move slowly (eg… don’t move fast like I was in my two video examples). Be especially mindful if you are walking while taking video because you naturally bob up and down and that will show in the video.

In addition to proper techniques of movement which I’ll be working on for a long time, the second strap helps take some of my unintentional arm movement out of the equation. The rest of my natural movements like when I am taking a video while walking are still there of course, but one step at a time.

Here is a technique I thought of after making the YouTube video:



I wrap the normal camera strap around my hand. This seemed to further improve that monopod effect because my hand was a lot more ridged with the strap tightly wrapped around it. In this photo I’m using my right hand to hold the camera so I can use my left to change focus. This will be good for on-the-fly focusing.

The tripod strap in detail.


The strap is from a company called “Carry Speed” and is generally pretty decent. The construction is high, but it does have a few quirks such as the rubber not being thick enough to prevent the tripod mount from shifting position in extensive usage.

I’ll keep working on this technique and plan on trying it out at a convention I’ll be going to Saturday. Let me know if you find this helpful or have further ideas to improve on it.

Popular posts from this blog

Viltrox AF FE 28mm f/4.5 VCM ASPH ED Lens Overview

Viltrox asked me if I wanted to take a look at this unique compact autofocus full-frame prime lens with a focal length of 28mm and a fixed f/4.5 aperture for Sony E-mount cameras. Viltrox agreed to my standard collaboration terms before sending me the lens.    In the video I talk about features, how it works in practice, and show photos I had taken on a photo walk with the Sony a7S as well as the APS-C a6000. Viltrox is starting this off as an Indiegogo campaign. They told me that it will eventually be sold through normal retailers: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/viltrox-af-28mm-f4-5-fe-chips-size-ultra-thin-lens They said it will be $99 USD or 109 Euros with discounts during the crowdfunding period. Check out Indiegogo for details. I am not an affiliate of that website. You can check on the status of availability through my usual affiliates: B&H Photo Video Amazon As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!    The front of the lens. K...

First look at the Sigma 18-50mm F/2.8 for Sony E-mount bought from KEH

I've use a Sony Alpha A6000 and the PZ 16–50mm F/3.5–5.6 OSS kit lens with my computer as a webcam for a long time now. It's a lower cost option that has been very consistent outputting 1080p at 30 FPS to a USB based HDMI capture device. The kit lens is generally fine, but it has a few quirks. The biggest issue is that throughout the zoom range the maximum aperture value is not fixed. This introduces technical challenges when I want to show detailed views of product or similar use cases. There are also other considerations I'll talk about later in this article. So I decided to buy the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C lens in E-mount as a replacement.  Links in this article are a mix of paid and through my affiliates. I earn from each in different ways. One is a flat fee and the others I earn from qualifying purchases. Considering them for your purchasing needs helps make the creation of this information viable!   I made a video unboxing the lens and trying it out with Open ...

Camera Gear Reviews and Marketing Issues Exposed

A great overview by Gerald Undone on his experiences in the field of camera gear related videos! It is an important topic. The more open the better, I’d say. After over 13 years making photography and videography gear videos, I’ve not had a huge amount of success comparatively, but I’ve also never been especially brand safe to begin with for these companies to consider me. 🤣 I think his mentions toward the end of the video are especially important. The unwritten pressure, or worse with companies like Insta360 , shouldn’t be acceptable and should be publicly called out more often. That’s probably the only way things will actually change for the better. I created a video detailing my opinion on the topic further: More of my comments on the video… His YouTube channel. 4:30 I understand that’s what Gerald does, but are there situations where companies are paying for flights and hotel costs of other reviewers with the expectation of a video/article being produced? (EDIT: I’ve seen confirm...