Re: [videoblogging] experience with DIY steadicams?

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 07:46:45 -0800

I made the $14 one last spring, but I didn't build it right because I didn't have a vice at the time.  It worked for a while, but the holes I drilled were off-center in the pipe caps, so it was off-balance and I eventually retired it and used the steel for other things.

I recommend it though, and if I ever have the need for one I'll definitely just buy a vice and make it again.

I would recommend getting some handlebar grip tape, or even padded tennis racquet grip tape and applying it where you'll be touching the metal, because after a couple hours holding raw steel your hands start to hurt.

I built the longer configuration by the way, the one where you invert the attachment plate and so you can hold the camera close to the ground.  I shot some cool footage of me running down the street with the camera 3 inches off the ground, but I don't know what happened to it.

AQ

On 1/19/06, Andy Carvin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi everyone,

I've been thinking about building my own camera stabilizer - a poor
man's steadicam, so to speak - and I was wondering if anyone has tried
it. I've found a few websites with instructions (or selling
instructions), with varying levels of cost and complexity. Two of the
more interesting ones are below.

The $14 Steadycam
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

The $14 Steadycam is very bare-bones, but the demo footage on the
website is pretty good. The author of the page provides free
instructions, and he'll even sell you a kit with all of the parts for
$39 plus shipping. Here are two demos of it in action:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/soccer2.mov
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/girl3.mov

The instructions and kit look very straightforward, but one practical
concern I have is the use of standard plumbing supplies, including pipes
and pipe heads. These parts give it somewhat of a T-shaped pipe-bomb
look, which could be a major headache if you plan to travel with your
steadicam on an airplane.

Here's the other one:

Hocast Stabilizers
http://www.hocast.com/

Hocast seems more sophisticated, but more costly. They have three
different models, ranging from a low-budget rig requiring $15 worth of
supplies + $13 for the instructions, to a heavy-duty rig requiring $90
of supplies +$22 for the instructions. Their video demos include
before/after footage showing how a shot improves by adding the stabilizer:

http://www.hocast.com/Video/run.mov
http://www.hocast.com/Video/stairs.mov

(The clips are _very_ brief, though; frankly, I thought the $14 footage
was better.)

I've found a few other offers online, but these two are the most
intriguing. Has anyone tried building their own steadicam from these
sites or others? Have you been happy with the results?

thanks,
andy

--
------------------------------------
Andy Carvin
acarvin (at) edc . org (until Jan 31)

As of February 1:
andycarvin (at) yahoo . com

http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://www.andycarvin.com
------------------------------------

SPONSORED LINKS
Individual Fireant Use
Explains

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS





SPONSORED LINKS
Individual Fireant Use
Explains

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS



Reply via email to