Nikosony, You gave me a tough one to provide a response to, since I’m not sure of the correct nomenclatures of the various parts of a tripod, but let me give a shot.

If I may, lets assume the camera is mounted and setup for the pan, on the tripod. Usually I attempt to fine the flattest of smooth surfaces to set the tripod upon, (most times my videos are taken outdoors) I carry a sheet of plywood in the truck for this purpose, since many times the ground surface is either to damp or unsuitable for a consistently steady pan (most of my pans are from 90 to 120 degrees).

I find that my two hands, cupping, the camera works best for me (usually) and using the horizontal panning handle creates the most problems (jerks). As I start to pan, I count, usually between ten to fifteen; I do this since on some of my shoots there are multiple pans at different locations and I’d like all the pans to be somewhat equal in time and pan speed.

This about all I can give you, hopefully enough for you to provide suggestion on, with only one other final point, which is, all my pans are horizontal and I can’t remember ever doing a vertical pan.

Should something be missing from my explanation or unclear, please do not hesitate to ask.

One suggestion I have seen but cannot remember where was to use a fairly weak elastic band attached to the tripod handle and use this to pull the camera around for the pan the give in the band helps to smooth out the jerks.
A little experimentation in the choice of elastic band helps but this has helped me to get a smoother pan.

Regards
Red.kite

Red Kite, you’re bring back memories; I’ve seen that technique used before by a tourist filming here. I didn’t talk with him, because at the time this concept made perfect sense.

“Thanks” for dusting off some forgotten gray matter!

Perhaps an example of my jerkiness can best be explained in this unedited video, which if viewed carefully (watching for the jerks) will best demonstrate my problem and aid in your knowledgeable and well received comments:

Tripod Jerk - Example

Again, to all, “Thanks”!

An interesting technique for panning by 'cupping the camera', I have to say I've never used that method. The traditional pan shot usually starts off with a three second static shot, then the pan (4 to 5 seconds) begins and you finish with another three second static shot. The same applies to tilt shots or vertical pans. It's always good to practice the pan beforehand and know exactly where you are going to stop (and not overshoot the mark), if it's possible to find some reference point in the scene near the end.

What I always do is point my feet in the direction where I want the pan to end and twist the upper part of my body to the direction of the start. Then follow the steps I listed at the start. If you are following an object use the same procedure and let the object, car, horse, motorbike etc leave the scene in the end static shot.

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Better than a poke in the eye with a pointy stick any day...

Nikosony, “Thanks” for providing your concise and informative response to my posting and problem. Perhaps it’s only mental, but it seems to give me the feeling that I have “more control” over the pan if I’m “cupping” the camera during the pan, and I do believe cupping dose aid in the steadying of the camera.

Regarding your suggested delays, before and after the pan; I include “delays” in all clips I shoot, regardless if they’re pans or not, since I’m usually not that sure of how they’ll (clips) fit into my story board, once I think I’m ready for Pre-production editing. Also, I do establish reference points of starting and ending my pan, which I dry run several times before switching on “Record”.

My apologies for these two omissions in my former description, regarding my sequence of events during the pan.

Your aforementioned (quoted) comment is well taken and some thing I’m going to implement into my “practice pans”, since I’ve gotten into trouble before during actual pans where unnecessary “jerks” occurred because of being “wrong footed”.

Nikosony, your posting is well received and appreciated, again, “Thanks”!

Not, I think, relevant to your situation, TDA, but worth reminding the casual viewer of this thread that leaving image stabalisation ON in the camera when performing a slow pan will CAUSE jerkines. (Explanation : the camera senses movement and comepnsates for it, eventually the movement is too great and so it reframes the picture)

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Tim