Comments

skibumm101 wrote on 2/4/2005, 9:33 AM
I have made a few different type of stabalizers. They dont work magic, compared to a real stabalizer, but they are an improvment. One of the biggest issues is the gimble. Nothing compares to a real gimble. Thats where the quality in a stablilizer comes through. That being said, I use the stablaizers i have built often and am pleased with there performance.
filmy wrote on 2/4/2005, 10:26 AM
I made one of these about a year ago. It is very simple and works amazingly well. The day I made it I chased my daughter all around and up and down the stairs - I have to say I was impressed. (With the johnny-cam, not that my daughter was running away from me. LOL)

Got the parts at Home Depot (Got the weight at WalMart), it cost around 20 bucks total I think. But I also got extra screws and what not. I added some felt as well because it just seemed a bit harsh the way he has the mounting.

There is also this one that I have had bookmarked fo rlike 4 years now but never made it:
XL-1 Stedi-cam
Orcatek wrote on 2/4/2005, 10:31 AM
Built one. Cheap test. Does work ok, but the key to a good stable mount is balance and not just the mass/inertia these work off of. This unit is not really balanced.

I tend to build or modify all kinds of rigs for my cams. Some work better than others. This one is less than $20 to build, so give it a try and see how it works for you.



BrianStanding wrote on 2/4/2005, 11:38 AM
Take a monopod, bungee cord a cross bar on it and attach weights to the ends of the cross bar. Works well, looks like hell.
John_Cline wrote on 2/4/2005, 2:30 PM
Have a look at www.homebuiltstabilizers.com

John
Spot|DSE wrote on 2/4/2005, 4:30 PM
Funny thing...we have a session on this sort of guerrilla film making and filmmaking tools at the NAB post production conference. You might wanna check it out.
Grazie wrote on 2/4/2005, 10:26 PM
I was just thinking what a "broad church" we have on this Forum.

One moment we have Spot informing us of the major developments, HD, new software; others wanting to know what interlace is; copyright issues; early starters wanting to know how to get TEXT on top of thier video and now home grown stabilization AND at NAB! - Love it .. love it!

Ok, on this particular thread I want to say that I have yet to see a home grown or a pro made stab that comes close to the ease comfort and effect of a steadicam. Just wait a minute, and stop splattering your coffee overe the keyboard. I'm truly waiting for a major design team to come up with a solution to this ongoing void in the expereince of the handheld camera operator. The nearest I've seen and experienced is the Stasis from the makers of on-camera battery-lighing systems Anton Bauer

Of course, this is a shoulder mount system, and not a stabilizer, but - IMHO - I'd really like some funky designers to grasp this particular nettle and come up with a designed-product - guess I'm gonna get bombarded by friends hereabout informing me of the great devices they use and have deep knowledge about. Look, many people have spent hours and hours trying to get close to producing some amazing systems - I just feel that here is an opportunity for this to be taken up by a non-involved design team. We never know where it may lead.

I wont be getting to NAB . . . I'll have to rely on third party experiences related here.

I hope this place does remain a broad-church. It is where we get some groovy ideas being aired and information being shared.

Best regards,

Grazie