Eurovision is captured by dozens of cameras working together to give us the most dramatic visuals, but of them all, the Steadicam is the most special. This body-worn camera allows a camera operator to be on stage with the performers, seamlessly moving around and bringing viewers into the action. The vest and stabilising sled make sure the camera stays steady and the video is smooth, even when the holder is dancing to keep up.
A recent Eurovision act that used Steadicams to great effect was France in 2024. This powerful and understated performance used the camera’s ability to get in close and capture the emotionality of singer Slimane’s performance. He interacts with the camera directly, pushing it to the side, swiping at it and walking away from it to deliver his epic unamplified notes. The audience at home is brought into his performance in a truly intimate way that would be impossible with any other camera.
There’s also a particularly legendary shot from Belarus’ performance in 2009. The performance wanted a long shot travelling down the aisle and onto the stage. To make this dramatic shot possible the Steadicam operator had to speed towards the stage on a Segway scooter, before hopping off and getting on stage to reach the singer (about two minutes into the video, below).
Displaying the Steadicam for Setting the Stage: 70 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest was a challenge. We wanted to show visitors how the Steadicam is worn in its entirety, and make it easy to see the complexity involved in both its wearing and operation. To remain manoeuvrable, very few of the Steadicam parts are fixed—great if you need to capture the magnificent shots seen in Eurovision, more tricky for a static display!
Despite being body-worn, the Steadicam—complete with camera—is heavy and tends to tip forward (even without batteries in the mix) and many of the parts move freely from left to right. Our mannequin isn’t quite heavy enough to stay upright while wearing the Steadicam, and a support underneath would not show how the equipment is properly used. So, we decided to support our Steadicam from above, with discreet wiring holding the camera in place whilst keeping all its parts together (and still!)
Outside of Eurovision, Steadicams are a regular part of film and television thanks to their portability without sacrificing quality. Our camera was acquired specially for this exhibition, and now will become part of our permanent collections. Its previous owner used it to take videos of motorcycle races.