DIY camera shoulder rest

 by PieterPost
Featured
Do you use a camcorder, do you have problems with the shakes, then you need one of these. It bolts to the tripod mounting on the camcorder and turns your camcorder into a shoulder mount.

Very easy to make and use for only 12 Euro.

Easily made from a aluminium gutter support. You might have to alter the length and the bend to suit your own camcorder. The Replacement sponge from a Plastic smoothener is used for the shoulder rest.
 
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Step 1: Get your gear together.

You need the following:

1.) a aluminium gutter support
2.) and another aluminium gutter support
3.) The Replacement sponge from a Plastic smoothener
4.) 2 Bolts and washers M 10
5.) 1 bolt for the tripod mounting of your camcorder
Summered says: Feb 13, 2011. 3:24 AM
Really cool 'ible, but am I the only one wondering if his d- and t-keys have switched place?

I'm going to try this one out and hope it improves my ergonomics using the camera :)
RemyOne says: Mar 16, 2010. 12:51 PM
 Hahaha mooi gedaan!

Ahahaha ik zie Teletubies :P
Runeshai says: Aug 14, 2006. 2:22 PM
yes, useful, very simple, very nice idea, maybe something of a handle next time, i'v designed a few rigs myself but haven't made anything yet, i made a dolly from www.dvcamerarigs.com and part of the stabilizer, but that's not finished yet. thanks for the tips!
CurtisG in reply to RuneshaiJan 2, 2009. 6:04 PM
You can get a Stedybrace from Steadybrace.comSteadybrace.com that is cheap, light and very user friendly. I just purchased one from them a while back to do some church videos. It's been a life saver and I am not the kind of guy to "build it yourself". I paid $50 bucks for it.
dfaw says: Dec 5, 2008. 12:26 AM
This is a really nice and lightweight design I look forward to trying myself. A few years ago I designed my own shoulder rest that has a little more functionality. You can check it out at WWAngle. Thanks for the great instructable.
PieterPost (author) in reply to dfawDec 5, 2008. 2:36 AM
Thanks, but your shoulder rest looks a lot better.
jesse ferguson says: Aug 11, 2006. 2:49 PM
Hey I look like you! kinda and we both LOVE VIDEO. Just wanted to amuse.
jesse pose.jpg
guitarman63mm in reply to jesse fergusonOct 13, 2008. 3:01 AM
Holy hell! You've got the same look and everything.
mdmoose29 in reply to jesse fergusonJan 16, 2007. 10:21 PM
holy cow thats scary
Mario1 says: Jul 25, 2008. 4:49 PM
Omg... you have Proffesional camera ... i have Sony HandyCam DCR-DVD109 i has night shot steady shot etc but... yours is not in the camcorder categories :D
jeremy91511 says: Apr 6, 2008. 4:26 PM
sesamstraat? and what camcorder is that?
technodude92 says: Feb 22, 2008. 8:44 PM
Cool. one question. does this have the same effect as a steadycam? BTW. Threat in step 5 should be Thread
Closet_RAt says: Aug 7, 2007. 6:20 PM
This is awesome... I'd cut off a little more on the shoulder mount (so you could pivot up if you needed to...), but outside of that, I'd say this is a perfect mod, and cheap and easy too...
lookatmygrlyfont says: May 7, 2007. 7:15 PM
haha that would come in handy for my dvx
sifu17055 says: May 1, 2007. 10:02 AM
this is just too cool. Can we modify this for a video light and a boom mic?
ricejuh says: Apr 29, 2007. 9:19 AM
good idea its very useful!
altaria1993 says: Apr 8, 2007. 2:53 AM
you can also make yourself a small pillow like thing, to glue in the shoulder piece ;) further i think thsi is a great idea, but i dont think i have another tripod-bolt, maybe i can take it but i tohught, i coudn't still a great istrctable, nice clear pics, all we now need is a video :P alty
gw812 says: Feb 1, 2007. 11:10 AM
Flippin' sweet! Needed something like this for my Broadcasting class for a while, and now I got it! I am SO having my kids build a few of these...
bowakowa says: Aug 11, 2006. 1:07 AM
Nice repurposing. Gotta remember those pieces for shoulder contour following. Like the ideas as well. Two suggestions 1:counterweight extension in back. I suppose the clearance you would get in back would be a function of how much weight you were willing to add overall. The upside is a balancing point on your shoulder. 2:support collar with strut that hooks into the change pocket of your jeans. Supports the weight and steadies the cam with less overall weight, but leaves it open to more lateral roll.
PieterPost (author) in reply to bowakowaAug 11, 2006. 2:41 AM
Great idea, I can use a battery for lighting as counterweight.
bowakowa in reply to PieterPostAug 18, 2006. 6:54 PM
Make sure to post a pic.
bowakowa in reply to bowakowaAug 11, 2006. 1:15 AM
now I'm thinking Überdork hands free umbrella holder. See what you made me do?
Kactapuss says: Aug 13, 2006. 4:29 PM
hahahahah, luckily i just bought a comercial one....... :(
wonko says: Aug 11, 2006. 10:47 AM
"Bolts". The word is "bolts". With a t.
theRIAA says: Aug 10, 2006. 11:05 PM
ernie said he was goning to stab me... D:
mrbob1000 says: Aug 10, 2006. 4:59 PM
pretty resourcefull project i like it i would use it with a camera but my camera is fairly light weight
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