Any experience with DIY steadicam for M43/DSLR video recording?

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Hatch

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Topic # 112100 26-Nov-2012 15:10

Lots of DIY guides and whatnot in regards to building your own gimbal system steadicam system.

http://www.diycamera.com/stabiliser/index.html
http://filmflap.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/frugal-floater-diy-steadicamhttpwwwblog.html
http://cheesycam.com/diy-steadicam-smoothee-mod-cheesycam-baby-merlin/

The problem for us Antipodeans however is finding decent parts to begin with.

Has anyone done anything based on NZ parts?

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Reply # 732117 13-Dec-2012 16:06

Nope, but if you give it a try I shall be very closely following this thread with great interest!

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Jaxson

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Reply # 782151 15-Mar-2013 10:16

I've ordered some Traxxas Half Shafts Center Fr/Rr 5151 via USA from ebay, and a set of 4 abec 9 bearings from Christchurch from Trademe.

Will work out what I'm going to do with them when they arrive!

I saw this post a while back and thought it looked interesting, but having only just bought a new video capable DSLR, I've only recently decided to give this a serious go.

dman

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Reply # 782274 15-Mar-2013 13:43

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/skateboarding-rollerblading/other/auction-570441250.htm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Traxxas-Half-Shafts-Center-Fr-Rr-5151-/330876467992?pt=US_Character_Radio_Control_Toys

So far these parts are looking cheap! I'd be interested in know what your total cost ends up being and how much effort it is.

As the cheapest off the shelf would be these or similar:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hague-MMC-Mini-Motion-Cam-Camera-Steadicam-Stabilizer-/160989033466
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Handheld-Steadicam-Glide-Flycam-Steadycam-Stabilizer-for-Canon-Nikon-DLSR-/171007164722
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/NEW-Wondlan-Elfin-Mini-Handheld-DSLR-Camera-Stabilizer-Steadicam-for-DSLR-5D-mark-II-7D-GH1/680480852.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Stabilizer-for-Compact-DSLR-Camera-Video-iPhone-Camcorders-Steadicam/752161217.html

What I'd also like to do this year is do a DIY tripod dolly as an alternative to this:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/YUNTENG-Camera-Professional-Tripod-Dolly-accessories-YT-901/510695911.html
http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-ATD-Professional-Tripod-Camera/dp/B000YB862E/

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Jaxson

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Reply # 782383 15-Mar-2013 16:51

I'm going to do a fair bit of thinking about which design to go with.

There's a fair bit out there knocking the use of the 'merlin' styled curved arm approach, as being very hard to balance, and fundamentally a bit flawed for DSLR use. There is the glydecam approach, which has it's own set of design issues, but that may be worth a closer look though.

eg
http://wideopencamera.com/cameras/steadicam-merlin-what-you-need-to-know/

da5id

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Reply # 782431 15-Mar-2013 18:47

I'd probably just buy one from HERE

That SYL 3000 looks quite handy.
An Australian guy called Blunty gives a video review of it and the more expensive DNA 5050 HERE

And a review of the DNA 1000 (which sits between the other two price-wise) HERE

dman

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Reply # 782536 15-Mar-2013 22:47

http://www.glidegear.net/glide-gear-syl-960-video-camera-track-dolly-hybrid-p-31.html

This product here of theirs looks interesting, has changeable feet so you can either have roller wheels for a flat surface or for tracks.

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Jaxson

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Reply # 782612 16-Mar-2013 10:12

Where are these guys based?

da5id

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Reply # 782658 16-Mar-2013 13:17

The U.S I think.
So you'd have to take shipping into account :(

Glide Gear 714 Seaboard St. STE 9B, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 • Phone: 843.455.6503

Jaxson

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Reply # 785332 22-Mar-2013 09:42

Bearings and U joints have arrived. Looks like I can squish a bearing up in a 20mm PVC socket if I heat it first. U Joint shaft will need some attention to fit inside the bearing.

Seriously considering building along this style though, as the hanging merlin style ones look like a total pain to balance!

http://vimeo.com/14408590

lchiu7

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Reply # 785405 22-Mar-2013 12:42

Probably too late now but you might want to check out this DIY solution.

http://littlegreatideas.com/stabilizer/diy/

This is from the same guy who devised a really cheap electronic whiteboad using the existing projector, a WII controller, some LED's and whiteboard pens.

System One: Popcorn Hour A200, PS3 SuperSlim, NPVR and Plex Server running on Gigabyte Brix (Windows 10 Pro), Sony BDP-S390 BD player, Pioneer AVR, Raspberry Pi running Kodi and Plex, Panasonic 60" 3D plasma, Google Chromecast

System Two: Popcorn Hour A200 , Oppo BDP-80 BluRay Player with hardware mode to be region free, Vivitek HD1080P 1080P DLP projector with 100" screen. Harman Kardon HK AVR 254 7.1 receiver, Samsung 4K player, Google Chromecast

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Jaxson

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Reply # 785442 22-Mar-2013 14:13

lchiu7: Probably too late now but you might want to check out this DIY solution.

http://littlegreatideas.com/stabilizer/diy/

No, not too late at all, so thanks lchiu7

I'm leaning towards this approach and had seen this page before too. I'm thinking I stand a chance of balancing my gear better this way. Perhaps a combo that uses the bearings I have to isolate a few axis of movement, which this design doesn't incorporate.

Cheers.

lchiu7

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Reply # 785481 22-Mar-2013 15:06

Or you could look at one of these.

Less hassle than making one and it has the gimbal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251170154863&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160

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dman

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Reply # 817516 14-May-2013 16:35

I thought I'd give an update to this thread, I ended up going with a pro stabilizer (Laing P-03 MC Stabilizer) rather than a DIY one.

I got it via VK (of GH hack fame) on Personal-View.com

You can still find Laing P-03 MC Stabilizer on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Stabilizer-0-5-5kg-Steadycam-Carbon/dp/B009YYB1UG/

From the reviews I could find it offered the best bang for the buck, matching and beating in quality more expensive stabilisers.

It should arrive in the next week or two, when I'll be using it for the 48hr Film Festival (anybody feel free to join our team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298657430267594/ We're having a dummy run and making a movie this weekend). I'll update this again to let people know how it works out in practise for me :-)

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Jaxson

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Reply # 817579 14-May-2013 18:17

dman: I'll be using it for the 48hr Film Festival (anybody feel free to join our team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298657430267594/

Hey good luck from all of us!

lchiu7

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Reply # 817778 14-May-2013 22:36

dman: I thought I'd give an update to this thread, I ended up going with a pro stabilizer (Laing P-03 MC Stabilizer) rather than a DIY one.

I got it via VK (of GH hack fame) on Personal-View.com

You can still find Laing P-03 MC Stabilizer on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Stabilizer-0-5-5kg-Steadycam-Carbon/dp/B009YYB1UG/

Looking at the image it doesn't appear to have a gimbal bearing that floats the camera or did I not see it?

I ended up buying this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251170154863&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160

but it was not a good purchase. Though it does have the gimbal it is really hard to balance and perhaps I haven't got the knack, but when you move it, the camera pivots on the gimbal making it hard to take a picture of the image you intend.

I guess you get what you pay for.

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