Updated Bicycle mounted steadicam

Step 10 Road test

Here's a short clip of video from a weekend ride where i used the Steadicam mount. The new design seems to have made a big difference for the basic road conditions.

Comments

[Papa G]

This is great. I can see huge improvements over the last version. I would love to see footage of this mounted on the frame rather than the handle bar. I think that'll make it near perfect as the handle bar wiggles a lot to keep the balance of the bicycle.

[dewexdewex]

I'm using a digi stills camera, which shoots 1024/768 movies, fixed to a front mounted bag on a Brompton folding bike. I have no damping and it's not good on rough surfaces, but there is an advantage, as the bag it's fixed to is on the frame and not the handlebar. If you search dewexdewex berlin on youtube, you'll find an example of it in use. I'd like to build some simple steadying device as well, and I was thinking of incorporating the simple pendulum type steadicam with the central pivot constrained to limit yaw (vertical axis) and parrtially constrained with rubber to limit pitch (horiz left to right axis), so the cam would always shoot level,. I'm thinking that the joint could be inside a vertical helical spring running in a circumferentially tightenable shroud for damping with friction.

[fireballxl5]

You might want to take a look at the first version of this project; http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY%3a-Bicycle---Steady-Cam---mount/
I had initially tried a pivot/pendulum mounting, but had issues explained in the later steps of the projects. Good luck with your project.

[dewexdewex]

Hey,

I had a look at your pendulum version, and, as I understand it, you were just letting the camera be a pendulum weight swinging from a pivot with no counterbalance. I think this would have worked better if you'd have tried the following:

Put the camera at the top of a vertical beam, put a counter weight at the bottom of the beam, make a pivot somewhere in the middle of the beam with an axis parallel to the camera shooting axis, and set up the balance between the weight and the camera, so the weight provides a marginally greater moment than the camera.

This is basically how the steadicam junior devices work, except they have a ball joint instead of a single axis one.

I'm guessing the main vibration problem with the mount is going to be along the vertical axis, and the others won't contribute much to the problem. I might test this thinking with an iphone or ipod touch strapped to my bike, as they have 3 axis live plots from the accelerometer to watch as I ride.

Basically, what I'm going to do with my scratchy thinking is build a mount like your first one with a damped/sprung unit (either like yours, or a more basic vertically mounted spring damper from an RC truck), and fix a counterballanced pendulum to this, which allows the camera to come to equilibrium pointing forward and level.

Let me know if you think this sounds more reasonable than my first ramblings.

Dave.

[genenewyork]

Is there a newer version that you made? This is a really nice idea.. I am dying to see more footage or try making this device myself. But I have problems with patience though. Can you email me please. [e-mail]

[fireballxl5]

This is the latest version, I have really changed the design since posting this update. I do have other footage, just not anything I've posted. I've used some of it to make a DVD that I play while cycling indoors on my trainer. It helps get thru those boring rainy days or winter training days.

[conradjacob]

The use of strap hinges is absolutely brilliant. I built one section and it worked great on / in cars. I used a bungy cord through double pulleys instead of a spring. My theory is that it is important to balance the rig as close to horizontal as possible and the bungy is easily adjusted. The doubling was so the bungy isn't near it's limit, maximizing float. On a bike I found lateral vibration/movement is still a problem. I am going to try simply hinging the rig so it can swing a bit side to side (going to be hard to control). I didn't use Stanley hinges - this could be exaggerating my issues.

[jasdipBOY]

Do you think you could post some images of your bungy/pully design? I'm about ready to build this and wandering if I should go your route. Thanks!

[conradjacob]

I am away from my stead-thing and will be for a month. I'll post then. I did add a second hinged arm for side to side float. Made it all pretty ungainly and only able to balance an HV20 weight camera. Even though it has been a year, I haven't tried it on a bike yet.

[zzpza]

very impressive work :D

[flee2010]

Yes much better bump absorption. Looking for something like this to be used on bikes and in car setups. Nice.

[theking]

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