The Steadicam® Operator's Handbook

Basic physics

a four part solution

Understanding how a Steadicam solves the problems of “shakiness” will help you learn to balance and operate the Steadicam more quickly. Garrett always broke it down into the “four part solution.”

Here's another version of how it works:

Handheld cinematography is alive with movement and quick to respond. This is useful for a rapid-fire, inside the action feel and is implemented when appropriate for the story. Handheld has also been used as a way to visually express the point of view (POV) of a character.

However, the intimate feel achieved with handheld is often shattered by unwanted and unrealistic movements. ...