A shaky shot is not necessarily a bad shot, but a smooth one is easy to watch: the viewer forgets the camera and follows the story. Stabilising is not just about buying an accessory, it is about deciding how movement tells something. On our business video shoots, we never reach for the same tool for a CEO portrait, a workshop walk-through and a car shot. Here are the techniques we use, each with its strengths, limits and our own view. You will also find many of these tools in our equipment.
Steadicam: the floating shot
When to use it. A Steadicam is a body-worn system: a vest, a spring-loaded articulated arm and a sled on which the camera, monitor and battery are balanced. It isolates the camera from the operator’s movements. We choose it for long following shots: crossing a production site, following someone down a corridor, climbing stairs without a jolt.
Limits. Balancing takes precision and, above all, a lot of practice: nobody becomes a Steadicam operator overnight. The rig is heavy, fatigue comes quickly, and it does not replace a tripod for static shots. Large open spaces suit it better than tight locations.
Our take. A beautiful tool when the shot is long and the space generous, but only worth it in skilled hands. For a short move or a tight budget, we often prefer a gimbal.
Motorised gimbal (DJI Ronin type): quick and versatile
When to use it. A gimbal is a three-axis motorised stabiliser (pan, tilt, roll): motors and sensors correct unwanted rotation in real time. It is quick to set up, light to carry and very handy for following a person, entering a room or shooting a report without a heavy crew.
Limits. It corrects rotation, not translation: the vertical bounce of walking still gets through, which is why a smooth gait matters. Payload is limited, balancing remains essential and battery life counts. Badly tuned, the result looks too artificial, almost floaty.
Our take. It is our most versatile tool for moving shots that need a fast setup. We balance it carefully before every take and pick it according to the weight of the camera, not the other way round.
Camera saddle: carrying the weight with the hips
When to use it. A saddle (a shoulder and hip support) moves the camera’s weight onto the pelvis or torso instead of the arms, with a rod or linking arm to the camera. It suits long days, events, documentaries, and bulky cinema cameras you do not want to hold at arm’s length.
Limits. It reduces fatigue and calms micro-shake, but does not filter the jolts of walking: the result remains that of a handheld shot, just more comfortable. It needs adjusting to the operator’s build.
Our take. An excellent compromise for lasting a long time without the image degrading. It is ergonomics rather than style, and you can see it in the quality of the last shot of the day.
Slider: a small move that brings a shot to life
When to use it. A slider is a short rail along which the camera slides, mounted on feet or a tripod. It is used for detail shots, packshots, interviews where a gentle move is wanted, or a slow reveal. Motorised, it gives constant speed, which is also useful for timelapse.
Limits. The travel is short and the movement strictly linear. It needs very stable, well levelled support, otherwise vibration goes straight into the picture. With a heavy camera, rail flex becomes a real issue.
Our take. A discreet move that adds depth to static shots. We use it sparingly: a movement should always have a reason, otherwise it distracts.
Dolly track: the long, smooth move
When to use it. A dolly is a cart rolling on levelled rails. It allows long, very regular lateral or push-in moves, whether for a polished interview, a set or a drama scene. It is the cinema classic, and it still is.
Limits. It needs setup time, space and perfectly levelled track, with wedges on uneven ground. Movement is limited to the line of the track, and the crew must be large enough to move it and push it smoothly.
Our take. For a slow, clean tracking shot it is hard to beat. When time is short we switch to a slider; when the scene is looser, to a gimbal.
Crane and jib: rise, drop, swing in an arc
When to use it. A jib is a long arm on a pivot, with the camera at one end and a counterweight at the other. It creates vertical and arc movements: a shot rising over a room, a gentle arrival on a subject, a broader conference or event shot.
Limits. Setup takes time and demands rigorous balancing, including when building and dismantling, otherwise the arm tips. It needs space and safety around it. A remote head is often needed to frame from a distance.
Our take. It is a staging tool, not a stopgap accessory. For big outdoor moves, a drone can advantageously replace a crane.
Car suction cups: shooting from the vehicle, safely
When to use it. Professional suction mounts let you fix a camera to the bonnet, a door or the windscreen for in-vehicle shots: speed, scenery rushing by, passengers seen from outside. The viewpoint is impossible to get any other way.
Limits. Safety comes before the shot. We plan several cups (redundancy), safety cables tied to a solid point on the vehicle, a load below the manufacturer’s rating and a clean, smooth body surface. Speed stays limited, we follow the equipment’s guidelines and, ideally, we shoot on a closed or authorised road. Every mount is checked before every take.
Our take. A car shot is prepared: tests at standstill, then at low speed, before building up. If we have to choose, we give up the shot rather than accept a risk.
Shoulder rig: the reportage reflex
When to use it. A shoulder rig rests the camera on the shoulder with a handgrip at the front. Three contact points (shoulder, hand, face) stabilise the whole. It is used in reportage, mobile interviews, wherever you must react quickly and stay discreet.
Limits. It does not erase walking jolts and shoulder height fixes the viewpoint. Fatigue builds on long takes, especially with a heavy camera, and the operator must learn to breathe calmly.
Our take. A solid base for the field, light to deploy. It gains real value when combined with good walking technique, or with a saddle for long takes.
Handheld: technique, and style
When to use it. Handheld is the fastest way to be reactive, and a genuine directing choice: urgency, proximity, a feeling of truth. The basics: breathe calmly and exhale during the take, bend your knees, keep your elbows close to the body and use a strap to share the weight. For walking, the “ninja walk” means moving with bent knees, rolling the foot to absorb each step.
Limits. The result depends entirely on the operator and the focal length: the longer the lens, the more shake shows. A long take is tiring, and a handheld shot that is too nervous can distract from the message.
Our take. We shoot handheld when energy or closeness serves the subject, never by default. A well-controlled slight float can bring more life than a perfectly smooth shot.
Stabilisation techniques compared
The table below summarises the main characteristics of each technique. Levels are indicative and depend on the camera, the operator and the location.
| Technique | Smoothness | Mobility | Setup time | Cost | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steadicam | Very high | High | Long | €€€ | Following shots, walk-throughs |
| Gimbal | High | High | Quick | €€ | Following a person, reportage |
| Camera saddle | Medium | Medium | Quick | €€ | Long takes, events |
| Slider | High (short travel) | Low | Medium | € | Details, packshots, interviews |
| Dolly track | Very high | Low (on track) | Long | €€ | Lateral tracking, sets |
| Crane / jib | High | Low | Long | €€€ | Sweeping shots, events |
| Car suction cups | Medium to high | Tied to the vehicle | Medium | €€ | In-vehicle shots |
| Shoulder rig | Medium | High | Quick | € | Reportage, mobile interview |
| Handheld | Low to medium | Very high | Immediate | € | Direct style, urgency |
Keep in mind. No tool replaces a clear intention. Before choosing, ask what the movement should say: approach, reveal, follow, or simply bring life.
How to choose the right technique
We always start from the shot we want, not from the gear available. A few questions are enough to guide the choice:
- What space? A tight location calls for a gimbal, a slider or handheld; a large open space opens the door to dolly track, jib or Steadicam.
- How long is the take? For long takes, favour a saddle, a Steadicam or a well-balanced gimbal.
- What crew, what time? Dolly and jib need people and time; gimbal, shoulder rig and handheld are immediate.
- What risk? Car, height, public: safety decides, and may justify changing technique.
- What style? A smooth shot reassures, a handheld shot brings you closer: the choice is narrative before it is technical.
In practice we often combine several tools on one shoot: slider for details, gimbal for moves, tripod for the rest.
What about light? Stabilisation gives a clean shot, light gives it character. To go further, read our article on cinema lighting inspired by painters.
A shot that needs smoothing?
Tell us about your project: we pick the tool that serves the image.