2005Steadi-Newbies forum
Achieving smooth, consistent walking speed with a Steadicam at slow velocities
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
Note (as of October 2026)Curt O. Schaller, the developer of Artemis and Trinity, has no longer been with ARRI since the end of 2025. To our knowledge, ARRI currently has no dedicated team and no official contact persons for its stabilizer systems. In our view, the future of this line is uncertain. If you are buying new, get written confirmation from ARRI beforehand on how long service and spare parts are guaranteed. Have used rigs checked by the manufacturer before you buy.
What the thread found
- Uneven walking speed causing visible speed variations in footage can result from swaying sideways while moving slowly, which transfers body movement to the sled and disrupts tracking consistency.
- Reducing spring tension slightly below horizontal arm position can improve smooth slow-motion work.
- When operating in confined spaces with wide-angle lenses and close proximity to subjects, body sway and step-to-step weight shifts become more apparent in the shot.
- Maintaining consistent slow walking speed requires deliberate practice and conscious effort to avoid naturally accelerating.
- The operator should focus on separating body movement from sled movement when attempting slow, smooth walks.
- Pushing forward on the gimbal handle during forward walking can introduce unwanted speed variation; pulling gently while lifting the elbow may reduce this effect.
- For a non-isoelastic arm, lower frequency steps require less spring tension while higher frequency steps require more tension.
Depends on
- The operator was still a beginner with only weeks of practice and had not yet attended a workshop.
- The specific model was a Sachtler Artemis EFP with a non-isoelastic IIIA style arm.
- Suggestions about minimal arm positioning were debated; the operator noted that excessive hand contact negates the stabilizing function of the arm itself.
- Different shooting scenarios such as lens focal length and subject distance affect the visibility of these issues.
Gear in this thread
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