Holding and Mounting Your
Digital Video Camera

It may not seem like a big thing, but holding your camcorder the proper way has a dramatic impact on the quality of the video you shoot. Even with the electronic and optical stabilizers that are built into today's digital video cameras, hand-held shots can result in shaky or swaying video.

Our recommendation is to use a tripod or monopod whenever possible. When this isn't possible, follow these tips:

• Ensure that the hand strap on your video camera is fastened so that it fits snuggly around your hand.
  
• Use the LCD screen instead of the viewfinder. For most candid shots, it's just good sense to have both eyes open and have full use of your peripheral vision. Many professionals might advise differently, but they're usually not shooting a 4-year-old's birthday party.
  
• With your hand placed securely in the hand strap, rest the camcorder in the palm or heel of your hand with your thumb extended so that you can easily start and stop recording and your index and middle fingers can control the zoom in / zoom out buttons or rocker.
  
• Use your free hand to firmly grasp the wrist of the hand holding the DV camera. This provides an added degree of stability. If you still need more stability, you can also bring your elbows in tighter with your body.
  
• Lean whenever and wherever you can. If there is a post, lean your shoulder on it. If there is a high bar or stool, rest your elbows on it. If there is a wood chair or crate, place your foot on it and rest the elbow holding the camcorder on it (instant tripod!). Always look for ways to make your shots steadier.
  
• If you have to walk while shooting, make sure you have a clear path. This is another good reason for using the LCD screen — it's easier to spot any obstacles. Holding the video camera just as you would if you were standing still, take longer than usual, gliding footsteps. Land lightly on your heels and roll to your toes.
  
• If you can, avoid walking backwards. If you must, the same techniques apply, but make sure to look back over your shoulder frequently. You'll be surprised at how little impact this will have on your video and it could save you and your digital camcorder from disaster.

Tripods and monopods

Shaky or swaying video looks amateur and can cause sea sickness amongst your viewers. For rock steady shots, tripods are the way to go.

With the size of today's video cameras, almost any tripod will do. There's no need to purchase an expensive video tripod. A small, light-weight still camera tripod will do the trick, although a tripod with a fluid head will make for very smooth panning (rotating the camera on the tripod). So you may want to take that into consideration when looking for a tripod. (Many of the tripods that are build for still cameras don't have this feature).

To achieve both stability and mobility, monopods are fantastic. They don't offer quite as much stability as tripods and aren't quite as mobile as holding your camcorder by hand, but they do both very well and are usually inexpensive.