Steadicam
Smooth tracking device
Steadicam is the trademark for a camera stabilization system invented by Garrett Brown in the 1970s.
The device revolutionized filmmaking by enabling smooth tracking shots without dolly rails—famously used in the Copacabana sequence in *Goodfellas* and the hotel corridors in *The Shining*: They brought in a Steadicam operator for the wedding scene. (Lowercase steadicam refers generically to any such stabilizing rig.)
Registered commercial identifier
Thing ensuring steadiness
- gimbalPivoted rotational support
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- sledRunner-based snow vehicle
- rigEquipment arrangement or vehicle
mount · harness · dynamic balance · monitor · battery pack · post · stage · arm
Camera movement alongside subject
- dollyWheeled moving platform
- craneLifter or wader
- jibTriangular sail forward
- handheldDesigned for palm use
panning · tilting · tripod · shot composition · visual storytelling · Kubrick · Scorsese · Goodfellas
One who works machinery
- gripSecure manual hold
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- setArrange in position
location · film set · television production · music video · documentary · broadcast · behind-the-scenes
Move with effortless continuity
- fluid motionSmooth, continuous movement
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- revealMake something visible
- circularForming a closed curve
trademark
Registered commercial identifier
stabilizer
Thing ensuring steadiness
- gimbalPivoted rotational support
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- sledRunner-based snow vehicle
rig · mount · harness · dynamic balance · monitor · battery pack · post · stage · arm · docking
tracking shot
Camera movement alongside subject
handheld · panning · tilting · tripod · shot composition · visual storytelling · Kubrick · Scorsese · Goodfellas · The Shining
operator
One who works machinery
set · location · film set · television production · music video · documentary · broadcast · behind-the-scenes
glide
Move with effortless continuity
- fluid motionSmooth, continuous movement
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- revealMake something visible
- cinematographylens, shot, shots, lighting, exposure
- camera shotsclose-up, close up, helicopter shot, medium shot, crane shot
- film gearcameras, tripod, tripods, lenses, lens
- movie camerasSuper 8, Panavision, Alexa, Mitchell, Red
- camcorderlens, viewfinder, LCD screen, record button, zoom lens
- gyroscopesgyroscope, gyro, gyrocompass, gyrostabilizer
Steadicamshaky cam
Intentionally unsteady filming style
handheld camera · handheld · unstabilized · wobbly · jittery
Steadicamtripod
Stabilizing support structure
fixed camera · still · motionless · stationary · dolly
steady, camera, unsteady, steadily, steadiness, steadied, steadying, webcam, camcorder