Digital Image Stabilizer problem?

[Red96TA]

I've been filming myself producing art for an instructional video...as is the case, the video is zoomed in to the piece of work. Because I'm lazy and don't want to fuss with the manual settings, I leave the JVC miniDV in auto mode. As my hand moves along the canvas, sometimes the camera yanks to one side in a weird attempt to follow my hand. At first, I thought it was the tripod moving from my feet moving, but after moving the camera 8 feet away and using the optical zoom to bring the work into frame, I'm still getting the same problem...

I'm assuming this is my digital image stabilizer...

Am I doomed to use manual or is there a work-around for my problem?

[racer-x]

You should disable your digital image stabilizer. You don't need it on the tripod anyway. I think your problem is the Auto Focus can't decide to focus on your hand or the canvas. Try Manual mode. Experiment with Whitebalance settings and use Manual Focus. Set the Manual Focus on the canvas. Your hand will always be moving, so no point focusing on it.

[Red96TA]

so then I should do this:

1. manual mode
2. set manual white balance
3. turn off auto focus in manual mode
4. set manual focus to canvas.

These four steps should clear up my problems, right? let me know if I'm still missing something.

[racer-x]

Yes, it should help. The tricky part will be getting the correct white balance. It will be trial and error untill you get the perfect lighting.

As long as it's in manual focus, it should only focus on the object you set it to.

[Red96TA]

white balance should be pretty easy since the camera will be focussed in on a solid white canvas, right?