Mastering Smooth Pans With Your Dslr

Capturing smooth pans with a DSLR can be tricky, but there are a few tips and tricks to help you get the best results. One of the most important things to consider is your equipment. A good, solid tripod and a fluid video head will help you achieve basic pan and tilt movements smoothly. When choosing a tripod, look for one that is rated for 8kg (17.6 lbs.) or higher, and if you can afford it, go for a carbon fiber model as they won't transmit as much shake to your camera. For the video head, choose a fluid head with adjustments for the pan and tilt mechanisms and, if possible, counterbalancing. Another piece of equipment that can help you achieve smooth pans is a camera slider, which allows you to move your camera side-to-side, forward and back, and even on angles.

In terms of settings, shooting at a higher frame rate, such as 30p or 60p, will help to smooth out bumps and jitters. A slower shutter speed will also help to create a blur effect, but be careful not to go too slow or your subject will become too blurry. A good starting point is 1/60s, but you may need to go faster or slower depending on the speed of your subject. Using your camera's burst mode will also increase your chances of capturing a smooth pan as it will allow you to take multiple shots in a fraction of a second.

Finally, there are some simple techniques you can use to improve your pans. Try to pan as slowly as possible and, if you're not using a tripod, keep your torso steady while twisting from side to side. You can also try using a rubber band; put it around the handle of your tripod and pull it instead of using your hand. With practice, you'll be able to achieve smooth pans with your DSLR!

Use a fluid head tripod

Using a fluid head tripod is a great way to achieve smooth pans with a DSLR. Fluid heads are designed to dampen sudden movements and vibrations, resulting in smooth video pans and tracking. They are especially useful if you want your videos to look professional.

• Counterbalance Control: Look for a fluid head with an adjustable counterbalance control. This feature will allow you to offset the weight of your camera and lens, making it easier to tilt the camera up or down. A good test of a properly counterbalanced camera is that it will stay put without falling over when set at any reasonable tilt angle.
• Ball Base vs. Flat Base: Fluid heads come in two styles: ball base and flat base. Ball bases allow for quicker and easier levelling, while flat bases require you to adjust the individual leg heights of your tripod. If you already own a tripod for still photography, it likely has a flat base, so a flat base fluid head would be a better choice unless you plan on purchasing a new tripod.
• Sliding Quick-Release Platform: Most fluid heads have a locking quick-release plate that allows for easy mounting and detachment of your camera. Some higher-end units also offer a sliding platform that provides additional positioning adjustments to accommodate different camera sizes, weights, and shapes.
• Interchangeable Pan Bar: Many top-tier fluid heads have a rosette, a ridged attachment point that allows you to adjust the angle of the panning bar. Some heads have rosettes on both sides, allowing for left- or right-handed operation, while others even allow for the mounting of two panning bars for two-handed operation.
• Bubble Levels: Bubble levels are important for keeping your camera level as you pan and tilt. Most fluid heads have at least one bubble level, while some higher-end models feature illuminated bubble levels for working in dim conditions.
• Weight and Handle Length: Heavier fluid heads can generally handle heavier cameras. Additionally, a longer handle will provide more leverage and make it easier to achieve smooth movements. If your fluid head has a short handle, you can extend it by sliding a small PVC pipe or other lightweight tube over it.
• Tension Control: Look for a fluid head that allows you to adjust both the panning tension and tilting tension to suit your specific needs.
• Price and Brand: Fluid heads can range in price from around $80 to $10,000. Popular brands include Manfrotto, Benro, Vinten, Miller, Magnus, and Sachtler.

Adjust your shutter speed

Adjusting your shutter speed is one of the most basic and fundamental things that go into taking a great photograph. Shutter speed is the length of time the camera shutter is open, exposing light onto the camera sensor. When you use a long shutter speed, you end up exposing your sensor for a significant period of time, which can be used to create a sense of motion. On the other hand, a fast shutter speed can freeze motion.

The shutter speed you use will depend on the lighting conditions and the speed of your subject. If you're shooting in bright, natural light, a shutter speed faster than 1/250 of a second is recommended to adequately expose the image without overwhelming the image sensor with light. In dim shooting conditions, a shutter speed of 1/30 of a second or longer is more appropriate.

If you're capturing fast-moving subjects, such as a group of people jumping or a friend skateboarding, a shutter speed faster than 1/500 will freeze the motion and give the photograph a crisp appearance. For slower-moving subjects, you can use a shutter speed of 1/200 or longer without introducing motion blur.

The shutter speed you use will also depend on the effect you want to create. If you want to capture a sense of motion, a shutter speed of 1/250 or longer can be used to introduce a slight blur. If you want to freeze the motion completely, a faster shutter speed is needed.

In addition to lighting conditions and desired effect, you also need to consider your ISO and aperture settings when adjusting your shutter speed. Aperture refers to how wide the small hole is that lets light onto the image sensor, while ISO refers to the film speed that your camera is set to imitate. Adjusting these settings along with your shutter speed will ensure that your image is properly exposed.

When adjusting your shutter speed, you can use your camera's "Tv" or "time value" mode, which allows you to select the shutter speed while the camera automatically chooses the corresponding aperture. Alternatively, you can use "manual" mode to have full control over both the shutter speed and aperture.

Use a rubber band on the handle of your tripod

If you're looking to achieve smooth pans with your DSLR, one simple trick is to use a rubber band on the handle of your tripod. This technique can be used with any type of tripod, from cheap friction tripod heads to expensive fluid tripod heads, and will help you capture smooth and consistent pans.

To set this up, simply take a rubber band and loop it around the handle of your tripod. When you're ready to start filming, pull the rubber band instead of using your hand on the handle. The rubber band will help to even out the tension at the start and end of your shot, reducing any abruptness or jumpiness. It will also smooth out any small movements that may cause shakiness in your footage.

You can experiment with different types and sizes of rubber bands to find the combination that works best for you. Try using a longer rubber band, or tying several shorter ones together, to provide more stretch and flexibility. This will allow you to adjust the speed of your pan by moving your hand to add or lessen resistance.

This rubber band technique is a simple and inexpensive way to improve the smoothness of your pans and add a dynamic element to your videos. It's a great tool to have in your arsenal, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned cinematographer.

Turn off image stabilisation

When shooting video with a DSLR, it is important to turn off image stabilization when panning. Image stabilization, or vibration reduction, is a technology that enables photographers to take pictures under lighting conditions that were previously considered too poor to capture sharp still images. However, when shooting video, it is important to turn off image stabilization when panning, as it can work against you and create unwanted motion in your footage.

When you force the camera to move during a pan, the image stabilization will try to compensate for this movement, resulting in a jerky or shaky effect. By turning off image stabilization, you can achieve smoother pans. This is especially important when using a tripod or other stable platform, as the image stabilization may detect its own vibrations and start moving around, introducing unwanted motion and blurriness into your footage.

It is also worth noting that some lenses and cameras have a specific mode for panning, which can help to smooth out your footage. Additionally, extending the handle of your tripod can also help to achieve smoother pans, as it allows for a smoother rotation around the center of the tripod.

Use a slow sync flash mode

Slow sync flash is a function found on many cameras that combines a burst of flash with a slow shutter speed. This technique is used to freeze action while getting a blurred background, mixing a blurred look with a sharp look in a single photograph. It is often used for action shots in sports or in nightclubs and music venues. It can also be used in low-light situations to capture a well-exposed shot without the need for a tripod.

When using slow sync flash, you have the option to manually set the exposure length and flash strength, or you can use the automatic shooting mode, which is often called 'night mode' or 'party mode'. In manual mode, you can choose between 'rear curtain sync' and 'front curtain sync', which determine when the flash is fired during the exposure.

Rear curtain sync tells your camera to fire the flash just before the photograph is finished exposing, creating a long trail and a crisp shot of your subject. This is ideal for panning shots as it creates a light trail behind the subject, giving a sense of movement. Front curtain sync, on the other hand, fires the flash at the beginning of the exposure, freezing the subject at the start and creating a light trail or blurred effect in front of it.

To achieve smooth pans with a DSLR using slow sync flash, there are several techniques you can employ:

• Use a tripod: While not always necessary, a tripod can help stabilise your camera and reduce blur caused by camera movement.
• Use a fluid video head: A fluid video head will allow for smoother pan and tilt movements. Look for one with adjustments on the pan and tilt mechanisms and counterbalancing for better control.
• Extend the tripod handle: By extending the handle of your tripod with a piece of plastic pipe or similar material, you can increase the smoothness of your pans. The further your hand is from the centre of rotation, the smoother the pan will be.
• Use a rubber band: Try attaching a rubber band to the handle of your tripod and pulling it instead of using your hand. This can help reduce jerkiness and improve the smoothness of your pans.
• Turn off image stabilisation: When forcing the camera to move, image stabilisation can work against you. Turning it off can result in smoother pans.
• Practice your panning technique: Perfecting your panning technique is crucial. Experiment with different speeds to find the right balance between a trail and a freeze.

Frequently asked questions