Pods: Stability on the Move

One of the most dramatic improvements you can make in filming with your camcorder is to have a stable base. The most common and usually the best form of solid base is of course the tripod. However there are many situations where using a tripod is not a feasible option. This is particularly so when you are travelling. In other situations tripods can be inconvenient or even prohibited. Some museums and the like allow videoing but ban tripods. Fortunately, there are a some quick and simple alternatives.

The monopod, is simply a single pole, usually telescopic, to which you connect your camera, much the same way as you would to a normal tripod. It provides a relatively stable base, although there can be some unwanted movement for and aft and side to side.

The stringpod is a piece of string about 1.8m long to which is attached a 3/8" bolt (usually by a small hole drilled across the head of the bolt). The bolt screws into the base of the camcorder, and the operator stands on the trailing end of the string and pulls it up taut. The stringpod provides about the same degree of stability as the monopod. However, the stringpod can be simply rolled up and put in a pocket. It does take a moment to set up with the correct distance between foot and camera.

The bagpod is another very simple solution. The bag itself could be a plastic zip-lock sandwich bag, a cloth bag, or even an old sock (without holes). The bag is filled with almost any dry granular material. This could be sand, sugar, rice, or even soil picked up at the location. When filled the bag makes a small cushion between a solid surface and the camcorder. The solid surface can be flat or vertical. It might be a gatepost, a car bonnet, a tree, a wall, or a light pole. The flexibility of the material allows sufficient movement for the operator to frame the shot. Once framed the camera can be left on horizontal surfaces, but will need to be held against vertical surfaces. Like the stringpod, the bagpod is an excellent solution for travellers, and for less obtrusive or “guerrilla” filming.

...but don’t forget to empty any foodstuffs, sand or soil before travelling between countries or returning to Australia.