Steadicam

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The Steadicam

Invention of the Steadicam

The STEADICAM was conceived as a stunt camera, designed for running shots over rough ground, but by the time of its feature debut in 1975, we were beginning to realize that we had underestimated its potential.¹

In the early 1970s camera operator Garrett Brown began thinking about a way to improve the stability of hand-held camera shots, with the idea of building a support for the camera that would isolate it from the jerking caused by the operator’s movements. The need for such a support became apparent to him during work on a shot he was directing. A very unwieldy and heavy dolly was being used for the take, which needed slow and descriptive pans. Brown thought that there must be a simpler way to achieve ...