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Did you ever want a steadicam that perhaps actually looked and acted like the steadicam the pros use? Well, my easy steadicam design involves no cutting of metals and the hardest things are perhaps cutting pvc and cutting wood (which in fact we all love). I tried to build one with strings, but there was no apparent souce that was easy enough to understand with springs etc.
Benefits:
-no fabrication of metal needed
-no welding
-under 50 dollars (or so....i stopped counting)
With this design, its design is more similar to a steadicam in that it is not a "pogostick" that is vulnerable to moving due to a change in speed.
my design inspirations:
-http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/camsupport/dvsportster1.php
(this had the simplicity of design that i liked)
-http://www.abracadabravideos.com/DIY/DIYpage1.htm
(he had the simplicity to use pvc as the rib cage. though its hard filming when your laughing....)
Benefits:
-no fabrication of metal needed
-no welding
-under 50 dollars (or so....i stopped counting)
With this design, its design is more similar to a steadicam in that it is not a "pogostick" that is vulnerable to moving due to a change in speed.
my design inspirations:
-http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/camsupport/dvsportster1.php
(this had the simplicity of design that i liked)
-http://www.abracadabravideos.com/DIY/DIYpage1.htm
(he had the simplicity to use pvc as the rib cage. though its hard filming when your laughing....)
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Signing UpStep 1Make the PVC vest with polystyrene insulation
Well, i actually built a design that this guy on another website (http://www.abracadabravideos.com/DIY/DIYpage1.htm), but the only difference is that i put some polystyrene foam insulation (the insulation is usually for your heater but i got a 6 ft lenght for 2 dollars. its just for looks and confort) but i feel he is not that desciptive with his explanation. Anyways i too have the same principal (okay, i forgot to measure how big they were, but i just did a "do as it fits" approach because i had to build from a picture.)
(i too also advise you to consult from his picture because they are very useful)
Here are some convenient parts descriptions:
Rib cage (all pvc parts are in 3/4 inch)
1 3/4 inch pvc pipe
7 1.75 inch "ingots" (parts you need to put in between parts)
11 45 degree pieces
2 90 degree pieces
3 "T" pieces
1 "cross" piece (has fittings for 4 tubes)
2 "bended pieces" (can be obtained in your electrical department. should be
grayish looking)
1 1 inch polystyrene plumbing insulation (optional, but just for looks and
comfort)
1 cover cap (it should screw in without an ingot)
1 premixed pvc cement
estimate: ~20 dollars
(if that seems too much, it is useful if you want to attach it to your boom mic, which usually requires lifting your arms for a long time. but if you simply attach it to the rib cage, no pain, no game! But more on that later....)
As the guy that i got it from, here are my following tips:
1. Pre-fit all your parts before gluing
2. make sure you are gluin the right part to the part is was originally connected to (or else the scale of it gets all ugly and tends not to fit well)
The finished product should be the picture above. Notice that i added the insulation and didn't buy or add the "bogen swivel" because i felt 30 dollars was too much anyways. anyhow, i solved that problem later on as we build the swivel attachment.
(i too also advise you to consult from his picture because they are very useful)
Here are some convenient parts descriptions:
Rib cage (all pvc parts are in 3/4 inch)
1 3/4 inch pvc pipe
7 1.75 inch "ingots" (parts you need to put in between parts)
11 45 degree pieces
2 90 degree pieces
3 "T" pieces
1 "cross" piece (has fittings for 4 tubes)
2 "bended pieces" (can be obtained in your electrical department. should be
grayish looking)
1 1 inch polystyrene plumbing insulation (optional, but just for looks and
comfort)
1 cover cap (it should screw in without an ingot)
1 premixed pvc cement
estimate: ~20 dollars
(if that seems too much, it is useful if you want to attach it to your boom mic, which usually requires lifting your arms for a long time. but if you simply attach it to the rib cage, no pain, no game! But more on that later....)
As the guy that i got it from, here are my following tips:
1. Pre-fit all your parts before gluing
2. make sure you are gluin the right part to the part is was originally connected to (or else the scale of it gets all ugly and tends not to fit well)
The finished product should be the picture above. Notice that i added the insulation and didn't buy or add the "bogen swivel" because i felt 30 dollars was too much anyways. anyhow, i solved that problem later on as we build the swivel attachment.
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View sample footage at:
http://www.Steadycam-Pro.com
not a great design, but seems to work. Good luck and have fun.
and then you could use an old back pack with a hip strap so it would be more snug
if i do it, i'll post it
http://spiderbrace.com/
I have one and it works great. I think this design could benefit from being a little simplier.