Just because digital video cameras keep shrinking in size doesn’t mean you have to settle for video so shaky it would make a pirate question his sea legs.

The trick is to get that camera, no matter how small, onto a tripod. There are a variety of affordable, lightweight options out there, from standard size to table-top to ones with bendable legs that wrap around stationary objects (light poles, tree branches, etc).

Sure, putting the camera on a tripod may take away a little of your ability to pan and tilt. But here’s a secret:  video will almost always look better if the shot is stationary. Let your subject do the moving, not your camera.

One word of caution. Before you go spending your hard-earned cash, check your camera’s tripod fitting. Most cameras have the standard thread (tripod thread measures 1/4” in diameter), but you always want to double check compatibility on any camera accessory you buy.