Once again, the 2017 Consumer Electronic Show from January 5th to January 8th sent ripples in the world of high-tech, and many geeks and investors flocked to Las Vegas to marvel at the impressive display of the newest devices. Walking by the booths that boasted incredible gadgets ranging from 12K gaming computers to self-balancing motorbikes, one might find himself face to face with a cameraman that has a camera with a strange looking box attached to the top of it in his hand. The boxes, which are called the SteadXP, are the newest video stabilization gadget that ignited sparks of excitement in video production communities across the world.
SteadXP is a compact, easy-to-use video production gadget that delivers three-axis stabilization for most video footages. This device, which may not seem to be that impressive at first, may become a popular alternative for semi-professional producers and hobbyists who strive to create unshaky video clips. SteadXP, which is the name of the company that created it, boasts that its gadget will unveil a new era for video stabilization. The company has currently raised over 500,000 dollars on Kickstarter to help boost their program.
Simply put, the SteadXP uses built-in software to delete excess movement that it detects in the footage that was originally filmed. Therefore, the raw footage of any camera with the SteadXP attached to it will still be jerky and rough. However, during the recording process, the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope takes note of all the camera motions. Thus, during the editing process, or post production of the film, the SteadXP renders all of the footage so that the once jerky movie clips are completely stabilized. The software also allows the user to customize the trajectories of the virtual camera movement so that different stabilization effects can be achieved.
Traditionally, filmmakers and producers used different types of gimbals, glidecams and steadicams to ensure that their footage remained nice and smooth.
There are, however, two downsides to these devices. For one, most video stabilization equipment is very expensive, and second, this equipment requires a relative amount of skill and endurance, because they can be bulky, heavy, and difficult to configure. The SteadXP, on the other hand, has the full capability of producing cinema-level video stabilization while boasting portability, simplicity, and durability at the significantly cheaper price of roughly 300 dollars.