Camera mechanisms is a fancy way of saying camera equipment. Want your camera to glide along a slider? Pushed on a dolly? Swooping with a jib arm? Hovering with a gimbal?
Depending on the gear you use, the feeling of a shot can dramatically change. This is why you’ll need to give the mechanism some thought when shot listing. Just remember, camera mechanisms don’t just affect the look and feel of a shot, but also your budget, and prep time on set.
Technocranes don’t come cheap. And setup time could put your set in a holding pattern if you don’t schedule carefully. So, choose your camera mechanisms carefully when you shot list.
Here’s a video breakdown of the various types of camera rigs, how they work, and how they add to the “feel” and look of a shot.
Type of Camera Mechanisms
UNDERSTANDING GEAR REQUIREMENTS
- Sticks / Tripod
- Slider Shot
- Handheld Shot
- Steadicam Shot
- Gimbal Shot
- Crane Shot
- Jib Shot
- Drone Shot
- Wire Shot
1. Sticks / Tripod Shot
Now let’s consider the different mechanisms that will dictate the movement in your camera shots. The most common mechanism is the tripod, or “sticks,” used for static shots and simple pans and tilts.
. 2.Camera Slider Shot
A slider is a piece of equipment that “slides” your camera on a vertical or horizontal axis. It’s sort of like a dolly mounted on a tripod that creates smooth, sweeping camera moves.You can also use a slider with a tripod head to mimic a jib shot, but you want to be careful not to let the weight become unbalanced.
.3. Handheld Camera Shot
Handheld shots are held and moved by a camera operator. They aren’t stabilized and often shaky. They can add a gritty feel to a shot.
Steadicam Shots
A Steadycam shot uses a camera stabilizing device that attaches to the camera operator. It uses a counterbalancing system for smooth and stable camera moves.
Steadycam is the broad name for this camera mechanism, while the Tiffen Steadicam (with an ‘i’) is the model name used by Tiffen.
Think: Tissue paper vs Kleenex.
Fun fact: the above is known as a proprietary eponym. So, now you’re not only learning your camera shots, but also vocabulary. How fun!
. Camera Gimbal Shot
Gimbals are another camera stabilizing device that use motorized gyroscopes to reduce friction. It is more compact than a Steadicam and completely handheld. This allows it to fit through tight spaces.
Camera Crane Shots
A crane shot often sweeps up and over a scene. It is a great way to create first or final shot for a film.
Drone Shots
These camera shots attach to a drone to fly over or alongside your subject. They’re often used for aerial shots or when shooting an exciting car chase. Drones are way cheaper than helicopters and can operate in spaces helicopters can’t.
Camera Jib Shot
A jib is a crane device that sweeps the camera up and over a setting. A jib is similar a crane, but with more limited range and movement. It’s compact and utilizes counter-weights.
Camera Wire Shots
In this shot, the camera moves on a cable or wire for deliberate, smooth moves. Like drones, wires get much closer to the action than helicopters. These are often used in live concerts and sporting events.
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