Building my own steadicam?

[lnetzel]

This cannot be the first time someone wanted to bulid there own steady cam? And it can't be too hard right? Has anybody got any tips or something?

Thanx you!

[pacmania_2001]

From the couple I have seen (in person anyway) they seem a bit too complicated to whip up at home. If you only need it for one movie or so it's probably easier to rent one out.

Good luck though.

[BJ_M]

yes -- it is very easy and there are 1000's of home built ones out there -- i have seen many used in all kinds of uses ..

http://www.hdm-stuttgart.de/~ak12/Steadicam/my_homebuilt_stabilizer.html
http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/
http://pub173.ezboard.com/bhomebuiltstabilizers
http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/links.html

there is also been lots of talk about them at times on various creative cow forums.

[i_am_dave]

Wow!!!

I wonder if you could ever convince security that the Stuttgart link steady cam is a steady cam and not a weapon of mass distruction!!

I have wanted a steadycam mount for a long time. Guess I'll have to make one.

Or better yet, I wonder if someone could create a VirtualDub filter that analyzes all of the motion vectors and cancels them out if all vectors are moving in the same direction.

[BJ_M]

you mean this one? http://www.downlinx.com/proghtml/174/17414.htm

or this one ? http://digistudio.netfirms.com/product.htm

or maybe even this one ? http://biphome.spray.se/gunnart/video/deshaker.htm


i really dont know which one would be best (i use a different program altogether) , but i think they all have demos or are freeware so you can try them all out ..

[i_am_dave]

Thanks, just downloaded it, will try it out tonight!

[energy80s]

BBC NI bought a new steadycam recently. Just for reference it cost £30,000. I have seen domestic versions for around £400 but they rely on you holding a large mount in your hand - very sore on the wrist after about 5 seconds! A proper steadicam you wear - and according to our steadicam operators "If you can breathe, it's not on tight enough!!"

[BJ_M]

BBC NI bought a new steadycam recently. Just for reference it cost £30,000. I have seen domestic versions for around £400 but they rely on you holding a large mount in your hand - very sore on the wrist after about 5 seconds! A proper steadicam you wear - and according to our steadicam operators "If you can breathe, it's not on tight enough!!"

the Stuttgart link steady cam above is exactly wearable like the real thing .. so are many of the other designs at some of the other links

the Stuttgart one is amaizing ...

[energy80s]

Yeah, that design is very similar to the Optex one we have here, and it will have cost thousands of pounds to make.

[i_am_dave]

Well, I've played around a little with the gunnart plugin.
Seems to work well on sudden fast shifts, like the kind you get when filming in the car on a rough road.

It seemed to leave a lot of artifacts when attempting to compensate for minor shakiness in my hands.

Guess I'll use it for the really bad stuff though. It is a really sweet filter!

[tgpo]

I think I'm gonna be making a steadicam and a dolly for an upcoming video. I'm wanting better shots for the videos I make, and feel that better camera tolls will greatly help.