2010Steadi-Newbies forum
Equipment and techniques for operating Steadicam during live television events
16 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A small external LCD monitor mounted on the camera rig helps the operator know when they are on air and assists with framing when graphics are involved.
- Lightweight and flexible cable jumpers, typically around 6 feet in length, are essential for live television cabled work.
- Fiber or triax jumpers are preferred over standard coax for reducing cable weight and flexibility issues during live operations.
- A tally system that indicates when the camera is live is considered standard equipment for live television Steadicam work.
- RG-179 cables can be used to break out HDSDI and genlock signals from heavier coax runs.
- Most experienced US television Steadicam operators working live maintain focus, zoom capability, and a program monitor as baseline equipment.
- Maintaining focus is particularly challenging and important when shooting in HD for live television.
- A small portable LCD monitor like a 3.5 inch model can be attached to the rig using adhesive velcro strips as a lightweight solution.
Depends on
- The discussion involves equipment recommendations from around 2010, so current pricing and product availability may have changed.
- The experience shared involved a gaming event rather than traditional broadcast television, which may have different requirements.
- One anecdote about focus holding in US versus international operators is based on limited personal observation.