Thanks, but the Sony FX3 codecs are not variable frame rate.

What was the source shutter speed and framerate (it was 25p)? The slower the framerate the slower the pans need to be. Search for "judder" and pan and there are some rule of thumb guides. For shutter speed, 1/50 is normal for 25p footage.

Yes, 25p and 1/50, as usual.
I may have found a reason but need further testing:
I had active IBIS on while using the gimbal. Some research indicates that having 2 stabilizations at the same time creates these kind of artifacts with wide lenses.
Having said that, it's true that 25p doesn't work well with fastish pans.
 

@Mindmatter better post the original file for download. The videofile embedded in your post is probably also reencoded to 30fps by the forum.

Shot on an FX3, 4k 10 bit XAVC I rendered to HD

A couple of thoughts:

Does the camera original before rendering to HD suffer from the jerky pan?

If no, which render template was used for the HD render? Was it 25p to 25p or to 25i?

Yes, 25p and 1/50, as usual.
I may have found a reason but need further testing:
I had active IBIS on while using the gimbal. Some research indicates that having 2 stabilizations at the same time creates these kind of artifacts with wide lenses.
Having said that, it's true that 25p doesn't work well with fastish pans.
 

That could be it. Personally I use IBIS on my Sony with a gimbal but I'd suggest testing both ways.I use the less powerful steadyshot setting to just reduce microjitters.

As 3point requested could we see the original? The forum version does look rough but it's hard to say.

Yes, 25p and 1/50, as usual.
I may have found a reason but need further testing:
I had active IBIS on while using the gimbal. Some research indicates that having 2 stabilizations at the same time creates these kind of artifacts with wide lenses.
Having said that, it's true that 25p doesn't work well with fastish pans.
 

@Mindmatter Yep, In that link I mentioned 'I occasionally get this stuttering, my Samsung phone has a Stabilization feature which does remove shakiness but it does create a bit of a lag when panning the camera around,'... Converting to constant helped with mine but if yours is already constant.... 🤷‍♂️

Shot on an FX3, 4k 10 bit XAVC I rendered to HD

A couple of thoughts:

Does the camera original before rendering to HD suffer from the jerky pan?

If no, which render template was used for the HD render? Was it 25p to 25p or to 25i?

It's already in the recorded footage. It's definitely a cam issue.

Only remedy I know: use 180 degrees shutter, make slower pans or use higher framerates.

I see it as a typical "issue" when filming in 25 fps and panning. Maybe you will consider make this clip to 50fps with Twixtor or Vegas Optical Flow. But then you have a 50 fps file and maybe that is not what you want. For documentary filming I always film in 50 fps. I don´t want the "cinematic" look.

>For documentary filming I always film in 50 fps. I don´t want the "cinematic" look.

If they don't want to change the look and the platform allows it 25fps footage in a 50fps project with frame doubling. Optical Flow only on judder.

With more common rolling shutter cameras, you can minimize the effect as suggested above by @3POINT also shooting at wider angles. Panning anything with angled or vertical lines is the biggest problem. One trick is to shoot wide angle at high res without moving the camera and then simulate panning with animated cropping in post. The better but more expensive solution is to use a camera with a global electronic shutter.

The FX3 full frame readout is <9 ms though which is pretty darned fast for consumer cameras on the market today. The rest of us need workarounds : )

thanks all.
50fps is a good idea, makes for nice occasional slomos too. I think i'll permanently switch to 50 fps.

@Mindmatter filming at 50P is good for occasional slomo and for fast movement such as panning or fast moving subjects, but if you are going to produce in 25P, the convert will drop frames and you are still stuck with noticeable stuttering/jerkiness in fast moving subjects and/or pans.

I sometimes have to mix cell phone 30P (or variable) with 25P normal camera source in 25P projects, and the only satisfactory non stuttering solution (due to dropping frames) is to slow motion the 30P to 25P, which is barely noticeable as slow motion, the only issue is obviously lagging/unsynchronized sound...

What you could do is to add motion blur to the pan masking a bit the jerky frames, and add a still photo screenshot from the last frame when the pan stops for a clear end. That is what I do sometimes with jerky pans.

Thanks @bitman, for a bunch of good insights!

I have a DJI Ronin gimbal. I have a habit of panning too fast. I have a fast rate of walking and doing things, so it goes to panning. 50fps is what I use, and use the gimbal. That pan is steady and slow as it should be.

But I have to say, I get "hyper" waiting for the pan to finish on the gimbal, but I can't argue with the results.

The stuttering in 25fps is not just about panning. Anything that passes the camera in a horizontal direction, such as cars, trains, or running people will cause that. Even if the camera is on a tripod.