A Steadicam is a stabilizing rig that allows smooth handheld camera movement. It was invented by Garrett Brown in 1975 and won an Academy Award. The rig uses a system of springs, gimbals, and counterweights to isolate the camera from the operator's body. The operator wears a vest and an arm that holds the camera. The camera floats, balanced and smooth. The Steadicam allows the camera to move through space, up stairs, around corners, and through crowds, without the shake of a handheld camera or the limitation of a dolly track.

The Steadicam revolutionized cinematography. It was first used in Bound for Glory and Rocky, but its most famous early use was in The Shining, where it glided through the Overlook Hotel's corridors. It was used in Goodfellas for the famous Copacabana tracking shot, and in Children of Men for the long, immersive takes. The Steadicam allows the camera to be a character, moving through the world with the actors. It creates a sense of immersion and continuity.

The Steadicam requires a skilled operator. The rig is heavy and delicate. The operator must balance the camera, control the movement, and frame the shot. It takes years of practice to master. The Steadicam is not the only stabilizing rig. There are also gimbals, like the Ronin and the MōVI, which use motors instead of springs. But the Steadicam remains a standard tool. It is a beautiful machine. It is also a physical feat.