Video: Hardware stabilisation samples on Nokia 808 PureView with stabiliser accessory (vs software/no stabilisation, Simulation of PureView 1+2 mix)

Image stabilisation. It’s a hot topic what with the Nokia Lumia 920 providing floating lens technology, which sadly does work very well but has been tainted yet again by incompetent marketing/PR peeps at Nokia. But this is not what I’m going to talk about in this post.

I’ve actually been meaning to write this post for about 2 years now since owning the N8 and the accessory I’m demoing. Nokia phones like the N8 and 808 PureView have great quality that looks professional when mounted on tripods. But the moment you move, it’s immediately noticeable as a small recording device. This was actually the whole reason I asked NokiaConnects for a Nokia 808 PureView as I had a project lined up to film with a stabiliser (MTV cribs style video of our new student house. Any tips welcome for that).

In the following videos you will see:

• Nokia 808 PureView recording with no software stabilisation.
• Nokia 808 PureView recording with software stabilisation
• Nokia 808 PureView with no software stabilisation but with hardware stabilisation (generic steadicam of sorts).

I haven’t edited them together because my video editor would ruin their quality (I’m still not sure what settings Sony Vegas would play nice with).

These videos were shot quickly on the weekend as my housemates and I were picking up some items from the shops. This was with no preparation. The stabiler could have been calibrated better but it’s enough to blow away the digital stabilisation. Note that I may be exacerbating  shakes slightly because of my bad back. Definitely when running.

The first video below was holding the Nokia 808 PureView with just my hand and walking along the pavement.

The second video continues that path but with software stabilisation on. I find 808 videos look better without it.

The final samples are with the stabiliser. You can see there is quite a remarkable difference. The first time I set it up with the N8, I was amazed at how (when properly calibrated) it looks extremely professional. The quality was always there, but the stabilisation had let it down. Imagine how much better this could be in the hands of someone who knew how to take beautiful videos.

The stabiliser negates your movement, keeping the camera position still. This means that I can run with the 808 and it’s still smooth.

This type of stabilisation isn’t useful for still images. The camera would just wobble about everywhere as you touch it. It’s also buiky and not something that the majority would find useful to carry about everywhere. For those who want to record a video for a bigger project, then yes, that would be worth it. For every day use, it would of course be preferable to have in house optical image stabilisation. Forgetting that girl on the bike, we have seen actual proof of this in action and it does work very well. Perhaps not to the same level as a full on bulky stabiliser.

Run test, subject still with me running to the subject.

Another run test, with subjects running. Proceeded with filming the walk to Sainsburys. The run would have been better if I wore a belt so could hold the stabiliser steady with both hands.

Anyway that’s it for now.

Category: Accessories, Nokia, Symbian, Video