• Gimbal on Amazon

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Pivoting stabilizer can be bought on the Internet: My field report

If you have booked models and have only one or two hours time for a customer, or for a shooting, then it depends on absolute perfection. Often for photo shootings or video productions a test is done in advance to make sure that the quality is right on the day of production. Here it is not only about testing the light, but also about angles, technology and locations. For a World Cup shooting we even booked 13 test models, just for the light test. Because especially in group pictures not only the single protagonist plays a role, but also different persons, who perform different movements, have different facial expressions and cast individual shadows. If a lot of people sprint off, the picture has to fit, because stars don’t have much time, just like customers!

Test report! Zhiyun Crane 2 Gimbal

Not only I am convinced, here you can see another recommendation from Stephan Wiesner on Youtube:

Video Shooting: Why Image Stabilization? Why Zhiyun Crane 2?

In the current case, we had the challenge of creating sports videos for YouTube for a fitness fashion brand. Of course Sport Videos also has a lot of running scenes and the cameraman has to run a few meters with races. The whole thing can be done with a camera in your hand, but then you won’t get a 100% qualitative picture. If you want to achieve this 100%, you need additional technology. Here we go, the classic search for recommendations and ratings on the Internet.

Three days ago I was on the road for the first time and read up a bit on the Internet about the latest models and methods that exist on the subject of camera stabilization. We currently use Sony and sometimes (for social media productions) Canon. It is important: The system must be compatible with both camera manufacturers. Sometimes even an iPhone is used! First of all I found a model that will be available soon, especially for mobile phones, also a pretty exciting trend! With the Mini Gimbal you can then easily put on the iPhone and combine the good video quality of the iPhone with a straight and smooth camera movement. This is especially practical because you save the “heavy” camera. In many cases you don’t even need a big camera or camera technology, especially when it comes to social media shootings or film productions for Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and so on. Unfortunately, this model will not be available until March 2018, which is still three months away and our next production is already next week.

Then finally I found a suitable model on Amazon, which also comes with Prime! Very advantageous, because we do not have that much time. Only two and a half stars, but recommended by a friend who works for FILA, SNIPES & Co. among others.

Ordered delivered, my new Gimbal Zhiyun Crane 2!

Fresh from the box and still with the typical “new smell”, my gimbal finally arrives. And already the first production or the first test, a complete success! Soon I will show you here the finished videos of our production, so you can see how the gimbal is in use. But from experience I can only recommend the gimbal, because it offers several advantages!

1. 1. Follow Focus (track people in motion)
   2. OLED Display (good visibility day and night)

• With motor (compared to “cheap” models the ultimate advantage!)

Combine the gimbal with different camera models from Sony to Canon

The gimbal is multifunctional and can be adapted to different camera systems like different tripods as well as Canon and Sony. Both are extremely popular with photographers! Most of the photographers I know now take pictures with a Sony camera. We did our test directly with a Sony and were absolutely thrilled. The cameras are quick to set up and the system is really quick to understand. Actually you can go straight out, put a memory card in the camera and off you go.

How does a gimbal system work?

The explanation would be in writing very long and not very descriptive, so I have a great video (English) for you here, that in only ten minutes everything important is considered and clearly presented. Here you can see the Zhiyun Crane 2 in action!

For a professional stabilization you have to invest about 800 €, as a self-employed person you can demand the VAT back at the end. This leaves a net investment of about 650 €, which is extremely worthwhile. Already with the first video production the investment costs have already been recouped and the customer is even more satisfied (promised), because the camera quality is increased by a considerable amount in moving image recordings.

If you still have questions about the Gimbal System, please write the comments!

• Gimbal on Amazon

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Basics of photography Technique – Learning to take pictures

The aperture – sharpness of objects

The aperture is a mostly mechanical device on cameras. It regulates the passage of light through the lens or the optical system. Two circularly arranged lamellar plates move into each other in such a way that the passage of light becomes narrower or wider and thus the incident light beam smaller or larger. Exposure time and depth of field depend mainly on the choice of aperture. The f-number indicates the ratio of focal length to aperture width.

*Lukinski, wikipedia

Shutter speed – Capture motion with the camera

The shutter speed actually denotes the exposure time. This means that depending on how much time you give the picture, it influences the sharpness of the image or movement. The slower the exposure time, the sharper fast movements become. The control is either purely mechanical or electronic.

*Lukinski, wikipedia

The ISO value – Reduces the noise of photos

Film speed is the light sensitivity of photographic plates and films. It is indicated as ISO. With higher light sensitivity you can take pictures in darker surroundings with the same exposure time or you have to reduce the exposure time with the same brightness.

*Lukinski, wikipedia

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Info Graphics – Learning to photograph

Conveniently packed for your employees, freelancers, interns, students or pupils: The 1×1 infographics on the basics of photography. The full portfolio is available at Photoblog Hamburg!

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