Analog Picture-in-Picture Video Rig. Capture content, and person with good audio, at the same time with one camera.

An interview camera rig designed to enable an interviewer with 1 small digital camera to capture picture in picture interviews with good audio on both subjects without a camera-person. Made with a harmonica holder, Canon SD1000 camera, small mirror, quick-ties, Shoe Goo and flex pipe. The rig captures narrative efficiently by both interviewer and interviewee without two cameras or post-production. Audio is mostly balanced due to interviewee speaking into the camer's mic and further away, while the interviewer speaks behind the mic, but is closer. Presence and awareness of both interview and interviewee is more viceral while it focuses appropriately on the interviewee. Further development could include fill and subject battery powered LED lights, and exploring square mirrors.

> Video made with rig on my video equipment kit
> Watch In Action
> Watch Early Test Video with Different Mirrors

Caleb John Clark. Made at NYU, Tisch School Of The Arts, ITP dept. for Build in Despina Papadopoulo's Softness of Things class

v1.0 Nov. 2007.

Step 1: Parts & Tools

Tools: Two small pliers for tightening quick ties. Large wire clippers for cutting metal flex tube, plastic knife or the like, for shaping Shoe Goo.

Parts:

Camera. Any small point and shoot with good video and audio capability that will fit in a harmonica holder and has a front mounted mic. I found the Canon SD1000 to fit well with the Lee Oskar holder and be a great video camera with wide focus and a front mounted mic. The mic placement means the interviewee is talking directly into the mic and the interviewer is talking above it, but is closer, This seems to balance out the audio volume.
Canon SD1000: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SD1000-Digital-Optical/dp/B000NK8L6W/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1196536605&sr=8-2

Harmonica Holder. Any that works. I tried a few and the Lee Oskar one worked best in terms of being far enough from my chest to see the monitor, and having a good clip for the camera.
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Oskar-LO10HH-Harmonica-Holder/dp/B0002H0RXQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1196536710&sr=1-1

Flex Pipe. I suppose you can get this in many ways, and many materials. I cannibalized a $14 lamp from Radio Shack. You'll need 11 to 12 inches either way. I used a Presidian Brand USB lamp because the flex pipe was thin and matched the harmonica holder's chrome finish:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2781565&cp=&sr=1&origkw=presidian+usb&kw=presidian+usb&parentPage=search

Mirror. Any small non-magnified round or square mirror about 2 inches in diameter. If there's no edging on the mirror, just a glass edge, it creates a nice blurry line in the video that makes it seem almost like the picture in picture was done in post production. Some people liked square mirrors more because they looked like picture in picture on a TV. I like round because it fits faces better.
I used a "Compact Mirror, Standard & 3X magnification by Conair" and used the regular, not 3X mirror:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Compact-Mirror-Standard-3X-magnification-by-Conair_W0QQitemZ140116652945QQcmdZViewItem

Shoe Goo, Black:
There's other ways to attached I'm sure. I think you could wire brush off the chrome and use a matal glue, and wire clamps vs. quick ties.
http://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Goo-HWGOOBK-Black-Repair/dp/B000YPO2M8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1196536947&sr=1-2

3 Cable Ties
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hg/102-1085491-5782518?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cable+ties&x=0&y=0

Optional: LED Fill light
This light has two settings and clips onto the rig as a fill light. You can white balance to get rid o the blue tint:
Mighty Bright Xtra Flex 2 LED Book Light, Silver:
http://www.amazon.com/Xtra-Flex-Book-Light-Silver/dp/B000OOSDTW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1196876720&sr=8-1

Comments

[GorillazMiko]

great instructable. nice camera.

[calebjc]

Thx. The Canon SD1000 is down in price from when I got it too, making it a pretty good deal at around $170. I had a Canon SD400 before and it did great video as well. I make this little show with them: http://www.techtrek.tv

[bleachworthy]

woot

[bofthem]

This is a great project. Bonus points.