[video] For all you amateur video makers - cheap steadicam

[jinnantonnixx]

This is very impressive. This keeps the camera steady by means of a universal jointed handle and a counterbalance slung underneath the camera.

 

To see the effect FF to 3:20.

 

[CHR1S]

I need one of these in my life! Thats brilliant!

[laserblazer]

If someone tries to snatch the camera away, you'd be in no state to chase after them!

[dhicks]

This keeps the camera steady by means of a universal jointed handle and a counterbalance slung underneath the camera.

 

Hopefully something I can get round to during the summer - I've see several designs of DIY steadycam around, and this looks about the best. I have no idea where to buy the handy steel tubing from - Americans always seem to be able to wander in to their local hardware store and come out with any item you can think of (plasic or metal tubing, blasting powder, self-assembly nuclear fusion reactor...), but all we get in ours is some tins of paint and dehumidification crystals.

[jinnantonnixx]

Any plumbing centre will sell these bits. As for the tripod top, you could make one using 1/4" engineering bolt (I think these are the same standard camera-mount thread) or butcher a cheapo pound shop mini tripod to fit the frame.

 

Fill your boots here:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Conduit_Steel_Index/index.html

Edited June 20, 2012 by jinnantonnixx

[LosOjos]

all we get in ours is some tins of paint and dehumidification crystals.

 

Yours have dehumidification crystals?! Do you know how long I searched for those when I had to put some electronics in to storage?!

 

OT - awesome solution to a common problem, I think I'll have to make one of these (don't do any "amateur video" per se, but who wants shaky holiday videos? )

[jinnantonnixx]

Hopefully something I can get round to during the summer - I've see several designs of DIY steadycam around, and this looks about the best. I have no idea where to buy the handy steel tubing from .....

 

You can shape your own with PVC tubing.

1. First fill the tube with sand.

2. Then put it in the oven until the plastic softens.

3. (Wearing oven gloves) bend the tube to shape. The sand prevents the tube from creasing.

4. $$$PROFIT$$$.

 

(I disclaim any responsibility for sandy ovens)

Edited June 20, 2012 by jinnantonnixx

[jinnantonnixx]

but all we get in ours is some tins of paint and dehumidification crystals.

 

I'm sure dehumidifier crystals are a placebo. I took some out of a bag to see what would happen if I put them in a dish of water. Nothing happened. They remained little solid balls of plastic. I suspect the paper bag had more absorbent powers than the crystals.

Edited June 20, 2012 by jinnantonnixx

[Greenbeast]

I don't understand how it's removing the jolt from walking?

Surely that's where a real steadicam arm comes into its own, it doesn't just allow free movement of the camera but the arm mechnism remove errant motion.

[localzuk]

I don't understand how it's removing the jolt from walking?

Surely that's where a real steadicam arm comes into its own, it doesn't just allow free movement of the camera but the arm mechnism remove errant motion.

 

Steadicam charge extra for the arm, it isn't part of the system unless you want it (and its a few grand).

 

The handheld system works great so long as you are not really heavy footed - a jolt from walking is just motion that the counter-weight will counteract.

[jinnantonnixx]

I don't understand how it's removing the jolt from walking?

Surely that's where a real steadicam arm comes into its own, it doesn't just allow free movement of the camera but the arm mechnism remove errant motion.

 

It's a good question; there are other plans on the Instrucables site which detail elaborate mechanisms with arms and suspension. We can see from the video results, though, that a basic handheld is quite adequate for most uses. Look at the way the guy violently moves the camera in front of the full mirror. Even this movement is smooth.

[dhicks]

I don't understand how it's removing the jolt from walking?

 

You probably need quite a bit of practice, and to hold the gimballed arm at an angle (45 degrees-ish, I'm guessing) where it will swing as you walk to absorb you verticle motion. I understand there's actually a unionised collective of Stedicam operators (Stedicam operators get their own credit on films), and becoming a proper, qualified, certified Stedicam operator is quite an involved process that requires training. If anyone missed it the other week, Stedicam now make a pre-configured Stedicam device for the iPhone:

 

Steadicam Smoothee Home Page Intro

[laserblazer]

This is how you use a steadicam.

 

[TechSupp]

Just done a school video and best camera available was my phone! so I think there is a nice summer project comming along as not paying $199 for something which I could easily make.