Build A $14 Video Camera Stabiliser

Isn't that what chickens are for?

I've tried this with a videographer friend of mine years ago, and it really does help. Not $10000 worth of help, like you said, but worth more than the $14 and 30 mins of your time.

@OCEntertainment:

Second'd. The only modification I'd make is some electrical tape for grip, and perhaps a wooden housing for the top of a tripod.

Take the top of a tripod off of the tripod, form some wood around it, and attach that block to the Steadicam. Fasten it in really tight so it won't rotate. Now you have a quickly interchangeable rig! Too bad I stink at woodworking...

Ty Brown

@matfam:

Having used this particular rig, and a couple of tripods, I can confirm that this rig is superior. It's all in the weight at the bottom and the 90 degree handle.

A tripod would work well in a pinch, but this is a good deal better.

Ty Brown

@AtomFury: I can confirm that. I built one of these things about a year and a half ago, using his instructions. Works well! I added electrical tape all up and down, and on the handle, to facilitate a better grip and make it look cooler.

Canadian Border Patrol wasn't too happy with it when they found it in my trunk, until I told them what it did in the geekiest manner possible.

Ty Brown

Oh, yes. I can certainly vouch for this thing. Now, a demo video I saw once shows the guy using it to shoot a soccer player, but if you're going to shoot an entire game (especially single-cam), I'd go with a monopod. This thing can be really difficult to swap out quickly, and even more difficult to transport if you don't take it apart (which only adds to the time it takes to use it impromptu).

However, if you're using it for a dramatic piece, where you have the time to consider your shots, I could not stress enough how very worth that $14 (I think I actually paid closer to $11) it is. It takes some getting used to, but that's really half the point. It makes you much more aware of just where the camera's center of gravity is, and makes it much easier to control it by widening the range of motion it takes to jostle the camera.

Highly recommended.

@matfam: ....Ehhhhh.....hardly.

I have built one of these myself, and I've had emergency situations where I need to move with a tripod attached. While this thing is incredibly difficult to get set up, it is a WHOLE lot better than just having a tripod (or a monopod, which I've also used as a counterweight) attached to the bottom.

It is the same guy from the website who authored the PDF.
I knew I had seen it before.

Richard Alexander

Just leaving the tripod attached to your camera will achieve nearly the same results.

matfam

@reynwrap582:

I use a monopod exactly for that reason. Mostly just to hold the camera on the botom by the monopod handle... instead of putting my hand in the strap. I hold the monopod with my right hand and I can zoom with the left hand. It's great for run-n-gun situations.

[i38.tinypic.com]

vs.

[i33.tinypic.com]

The weight of the monopod keeps the camera more stabilized than the camera wiggling on your wrist in the hand strap.

@[preview.tinyurl.com] ). He would place the ballhead in a hand, and hold the monopod partially extended (depending on the weight of the camera) horizontally with the other. It worked quite well.

nhcotrim

Thanks for the idea. I see a (potential) way to make it better. Take the pipe for the handle to a shop and have them bend it into a 1/4 circle to allow 365% motion instead of + or - 90 degrees. You may have to use a copper pipe instead for the handle and cover it with the soft rubbery pipe coating you can buy at Lowe's. This would cost you about another $10, but may be worth it.

Orlin

@Alicemagic: Yeah, I looked into it as well and it looks like that guy started it.

AtomFury

Or if you're too lazy to do it yourself, you can have this guy build it for you:

[steadycam.org]

I may very well be wrong, but I think this dude is the guy who started it too...

Seems like it could also be fairly easy to convert a monopod to do this as well, with a little work, giving you a 2-for-1 tool.

reynwrap582

@[preview.tinyurl.com] (it's in spanish).

nhcotrim

Makemagizine/Kipkay has a weekend project video tutorial on YouTube.

Link:

@Justin B: I knew I had seen this before/recently...just for the life of me I could not remember!

Jared Bennett

If you're into DIY camera mounts, you should really check out this guy on youtube. His username is

">cinepegger and he demonstrates how to make a DIY steady-cam (like above), plus a DIY Fig Rig using the rim of a bicycle tire, and a pretty interesting chest cam using an old backpack.

For the three of you lifehacker who aren't exactly into the DIY thing, you can buy a good steady-cam for about $100. Check out the Manfrotto Modosteady. It's a 3 in 1 unit (steady-cam, shouder-braced cam, and mini tripod) that work quite well. Plus, it folds up nice and small so it's easier to travel with (and to get through airport security) than a bag of lead pipes.

Similarly, the Fig Rig (after director Mike Figgis), essentially mounts a camera inside a big steering wheel, simulating a steadicam. There are a variety of models for sale or DIY instructions online.

In my own filmmaking experience, if you're going to DIY a moving shot, you're far better using handheld devices like these as opposed to DIY dollies. A human body will cushion the camera in a way that jolts less than even a slight hiccup on a dolly.

Of course, if you really want a moving shot to look professional, there's no substitute for pro equipment.

elevenbulls

This article should be credited to Johnny Chung Lee, who created this. His link and own DIY is here: [steadycam.org]

joeny1980