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Evelyn Johnston, The People You Know, Like and Trust! (Friends & Neighbors Real Estate)

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Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

If I  do any shots from the car, I balance the camera on the side ( roll down the window)  to steady it and "never" do too many driving segments. Somebody else drives! Also, try Hyperlapse - free video app from Instagram. It is super steady, plus you can speed up the motion scenes - I wrote about it in YouTube Thursdays on January 15, 2015. Best of luck. 

Apr 03, 2015 01:03 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

If you are shooting from a car...well you should just stop that.

If you really want to stabilize your hand held video, and you have budget that suggest you can't go Hollywood, then PVC is your very best friend.

But first, you may find that upgrading your editing software to include digital image stabilization is all that is needed. Sweet and easy. You do edit the source don't you?

Now, back to our regularly scheduled tech talk.....about PVC stabilizing.

Create a horizontal brace to be held in both hand with a horizontal member upon which the camera is mounted. The two hand brace will smooth the shoot out PERFECTLY.  Do not attempt while driving.

It will look very rougly like the image below.

Apr 02, 2015 11:30 PM
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

There are some great suggestions here! Couldn't add anything - I have the same issue

Apr 02, 2016 10:46 AM
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Arthur Hillman
RE/MAX Real Estate Center - North Attleboro, MA

I learned a trick a long time ago that works well for me. Tie a piece of kite string about 5 ft long on the mounting screw on the bottom of your camera and tie a heavy steel washer on the other end of the string. When filming, step on the washer with your foot and pull up on the camera to keep the string taught. This will steady the camera. It's easy to carry in your pocket and the thing I like is it's cheep. 

Apr 08, 2015 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
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John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

My wife drives and I shoot the video. 

Apr 06, 2015 03:10 AM
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Peter Lake
Harborside Sothebys International Realty - Marblehead, MA
Associate Broker

Glide-Pro

Apr 06, 2015 01:32 AM
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John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

I'm looking at using a GoPro with a suction cup mount to the windshield. Since it's attached to the car it should absorb most of the dips and cracks, and I believe there are stabilization options in their software, too.

Apr 05, 2015 01:08 PM
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Richard Robibero, e-Pro, ABR, SRS
Panorama R.E. Limited - Toronto, ON
Selling Your Home as if it were My Own!

Handheld gimbles or steadi-cams with a DSLR tend to tire me out super quick.

I use a 2-handed gearbox.

Apr 04, 2015 11:54 PM
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Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Wow Evelyn Johnston you got great answers.

I would have suggested a good mount and smooth drive if you are driving while shooting.

There are a few image stabilizer apps and software available online and you need to 'process' your video using them.

And not to mention video editors that may 'cut' some of the clips when there is a 'bounce' due to dip or crack in the road.

Apr 03, 2015 02:32 AM
Rainmaker
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Evelyn -- a filmmaker friend uses a steadi-cam

Apr 03, 2015 02:27 AM
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Richard Arnold
Keller Williams Realty East Valley - Tempe, AZ
Realtor - Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Phoenix

I have a hand-held gimble for my GoPro camera.  It's too small for my DSLR, but would still work for a small snapshot camera.  I don't typically do video of the neighborhood, only some photos.

 

Apr 03, 2015 02:18 AM
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Ben DeHaven
Haven Realty & Investments - Lakeland, FL
Proudly serving Winter Haven & Lakeland, Florida

If you want super steady look into a handheld gimbal mount. 

Apr 03, 2015 01:25 AM
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James Brockway
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

Great question.  I'm with Don Davies, since my photography skills aren't great, moving or not.  Has anyone found a photographer that will actually film video of a neighborhood at a reasonable rate?  I've asked around with no luck except one photographer that had a little bumpiness in his video.

Apr 03, 2015 01:13 AM
Rainmaker
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Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

I recommend a fluid pan head (or a motorized one) that gives you extreme smoothness and lack of vibration when you pan across the horizon with a videocamera.

Apr 03, 2015 01:04 AM
Rainmaker
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David Alan Baker | Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Phoenix - Laveen, AZ
Your local Expert

I actually have used the Gopro, and they come out looking fine. Has a belive a stabilizer in it.  Either way, great option.

Apr 03, 2015 12:37 AM
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Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I am learning a lot from reading this Q/A as I need to get better at Videos. Thanks Evelyn Johnston 

Apr 03, 2015 12:37 AM
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Jaretta Buckholtz
Pearson Smith Realty, LLC - Manassas, VA
Passionate-Professional-Patient

I rerecord...well I used to rerecord, but I bought a weight and that's working well.  Good luck!

Apr 03, 2015 12:10 AM
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Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I learned a lot from the comments.

Apr 02, 2015 09:54 PM
Rainmaker
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TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Evelyn. There are many answers but the main one depends upon what are you doing? I use a camera that has a gimbal head which does take a lot of the vibration out. Some vibration can be taken out with the software. Give me a call. Perhaps I can help you.

Apr 02, 2015 06:22 PM
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Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

I don't shoot a lot of video, but on the ones I did, a monopole helped with steadiness.

Apr 02, 2015 05:29 PM
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Scott Cotton
Texas Inspected - Midlothian, TX
Texas Inspected

Like Kevin said, a stabilizer will help a lot. If you don't have a stabilizer, try using a tripod without extending the legs. It gives you more surface area to grab and adds mass to the camera which helps reduce the little shakes and shimmys.

Apr 02, 2015 01:38 PM
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Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

I use my steady hands.  You mean there is another way?

Apr 02, 2015 12:25 PM
Rainmaker
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Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Check into a balanced and counter-weighted video stabilizer Evelyn Johnston . Basic models are under $40 and should eliminate much of the bounce and shakiness. Find them almost anywhere cameras are sold.   

Apr 02, 2015 12:08 PM
Rainmaker
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Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

I haven't figured that out yet either.  Mine are not the best videos because of that

Apr 02, 2015 11:46 AM
Rainmaker
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Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

A tripod or a stabilizer.

Aug 16, 2018 06:42 AM
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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Zhiyun crane. The camera should have stabilization too. Film more frames per second, faster and then slow it down for buttery smooth.

May 07, 2018 03:44 AM
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Ajay Pandya
e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH
Realtor Ajay Pandya

I don't!

Mar 29, 2018 09:23 PM
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Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Great question Evelyn. I use a stiff arm or the carhood or window ledge and also have used the side of a tree and just panned the area. This is getting to be a great time for neighborhood videos.

Apr 03, 2015 01:48 AM