It's called a Steddiepod and it's available for around $389.00. Now before you go out thinking about buying a stabilizer like this, you need to reflect on one my first DIY's in the DSLR world here: http://cheesycam.com/?p=18
Just thought I would show the basic principle of how I believe this Steddipod is supposed to work. If you've checked on my earlier article, i've used the same principal of spacing the lower weights. (not sure if my version was out first and now it's catching on). On the bottom of the Steddiepod, those legs that hang out 'might' be some type of counter-weight set. By spacing the lower weight very wide, you'll totally minimize movement while walking. I've since redesigned my version from a wooden dowel into an adjustable Monopod with a wooden plank spacing Foundation Bearings on each side (from home depot). You can make your own for probably under $18.00 dollars, or you can opt in for something like a Steddiepod for about $389.
Rod based rigs are nice, since you can slide for adjustments to fit pretty much any body type. The problem is finding cheap clamps for those 90 Degree angles. Here's a guy who was able to machine some of his own clamps for standard sized rods. The DIY video above was submitted to me by Igor which is very similar to Zacuto's $1000 dollar 'Striker' rig. I'm guessing Igor didn't spend $1000.00 dollars for his DIY project. Thanks for sharing, check out his DIY rig, and leave Igor some comments at his video link here.
As I do different video projects, you realize there are many different tools for different purposes. This DIY that I've created was to provide additional stabilization while walking, be able to carry a few different accessories, but be very quick to setup. It won't replace a Steadicam / Glidecam setup, but then again it neither weighs as much, is as bulky, or takes time to setup. It's designed to be a grab-and-go type tool for extra stabilization. Above is an example of me using the tool. As you can see, just by seperating your hands away from the camera you can acheive some fairly nice results. Especially looking at the Horizon in the video footage it stays pretty level. There is just a bit of bounce which can be minimized with a bit of practice, but definitely something you'll want to have for a DIY price of $25.00 dollars. Read the article for information on how to build your own. http://cheesycam.com/?p=966
Since the dawn of HD Video DSLR's there's been some random and weird stabilizers being made by so many different companies. One thing is for sure, they are out to capitalize and mark up equipment from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Not to say they aren't functional. In fact many of these new DSLR cages and Fig Rig style stabilizers work well for these small cameras. You know me though, there's gotta be a way to make something cheaper, just as functional, and still look damn good.
Well i've been looking at a couple of different designs, and thought about what I needed from each one of the stabilizers above. First, I wanted a handle. Handles are a great way to get some really low shots. Secondly, my hands needed to be spaced apart. It's proven that spacing your hands further from the camera can really help stabilize your footage, even helps when walking. Third, I needed something to mount extra gear like a DSLR Cage. Finally, stay away from PVC. PVC is great, but doesn't give it that professional look or feel. After careful consideration and a trip to Home Depot, here's the latest DIY Camera Stabilizer from Cheesycam.com.
My goal was to merge a couple of different products and functionality into a very very Cheap DIY DSLR Stabilizer with Cage function. Another goal was to step up my game and make it look a bit more techy and something not so 'DIY'. I think I did well this time around for approximately $30.00. Actually it can come down much cheaper if I could find a shorter rail and cheaper handlebar grips. Unfortunately I wasn't shopping for a deal, I had this idea stuck in my head that needed to get out. It's a bit of a rush job, but I really wanted to share it with the community. I'll go back and refine it later with some hot shoe adapters and a quick release plate.
I have a ton of photos, and a parts list i'll put together later if anyone is interested. The video should explain more about what you need and how I put it together. The hardest part was cutting this rail. I have more information about this rail in my photo gallery, I was able to take a picture of the Price tag / Description from my iPhone. After cutting the rail, I was able to purchase everything for straight bolt on without any further modifications needed.
Here's a real basic parts list:
2 Hex Bolts (6" long 3/8 size)
2 carriage bolts (6" long 3/8 size) Use these for the top, they give you nice finished look
2 3/8" coupler nuts
2 - 1/2 X 12" pipe rods
1 - 1/2 X 10" pipe rod
Bike handle grips
Black flat matte paint
1 - 8-10 ft strut channel bar
Enjoy the DIY video on how I made it (below).
Update: Really good questions coming in, i'll try to answer a few. Reader: Have you thought about off setting the camera so that with the lens it's balanced front to back? CheeseyCam: Yes, this is where the quick release plate comes in. I decided on the Monfrotto 357 (found here) to give me that lateral as well as something to quickly move from the DIY cage to my 701HDV Fluid head. I wanted the camera more forward originally so that it is actually balanced with the handle (above). For shots that require using the Handle, it's much more balanced being slightly forward. Hopefully the Monfrotto 357 will help by sliding the camera either foward or back depending on what shot is being taken.
Monfrotto Quick Release 357, click image
Reader: If you were to use electrical conduit for you end pieces it might make your rig lighter. Cheesycam: Yes, I wanted to get something as close to 'off the shelf' as possible. I may try Conduit on the sides, but the top Handle I feel will work better if it remained as a Steel pipe. Conduit normally comes in super long lengths and requires additional cutting. It is lighter, and cheaper, just a little more time consuming though with the cutting. For information on the HotShoe mounts I plan on using, check out this article http://cheesycam.com/?p=723
Ok well it's getting late, i'm tired and i'll get to showing it off more later. Leave some comments, ask some questions, and please don't forget to share, twitter, facebook, digg, etc. (use the icons below).
Yeah you know Tiffen and Steadicam. The guys who make the Steadicam Vest and Merlin stabilizer I love so much. They got something going that includes a swap meet and special stuff you can't buy from Retailers. I'm hoping one of those items will be the Tiffen iPhone Steadicam Stabilizer called 'Smoothee'. I'm thinking that would be a hot product when the iPhone 4Gs comes out with HD video support.
Later on in the day it sounds like an educational experience. This is definitely something everyone should attend. Knowledge is power and an even like this hosted by the professionals doesn't come around too often. The event sounds like fun, and i'm sure there's going to be tons of DSLR gurus floating around. I just might take a trip down.
This information was copied from https://tiffen.com/swap_meet_2010.html Please refer the to Tiffen website for any possible changes that may occur after this posting.
Tiffen Pre-Cine Gear Extravaganza
The Tiffen Company and its Steadicam Division, invite you to its Pre-Cine Gear Extravaganza that will be held at the Tiffen-Steadicam Showroom and Manufacturing Facility, 6933 San Fernando Road, Glendale, CA on June 3rd, 2010.
Please RSVP by June 1st, for one or all of the following events by contacting Michael ([email protected]) 1-800-593-3331 x7917 or Kathleen ([email protected]) 1-800-645-2522 x3241.
Event #1: Steadicam Factory Sale & Swap Meet (3:30– 6:30PM)
* Purchase Steadicam products as well as Tiffen items that are not normally sold through retailers.
* New, used, demo equipment, overstocks, discontinued items, samples, one-of-a-kind items.
* Great opportunity for students and professionals.
* Ideal for trade-ups, accessories, parts.
* Limited supply of “damaged in handling” Steadicam Operator’s Handbooks at ½ off cover price.
* Open Customer to Customer Swap Meet - This is a customer to customer exchange.
* Trade or swap your unwanted items for cash or product with other customers.
* Please note Tiffen claims no responsibility for customers' items bought or sold.
* Limited supply of Steadicam logo Caps, T-Shirts, Tool Kits, Sand Bags and more -No phone or mail orders will be accepted for these items.
* Items for sale are not available through Tiffen dealer business partners.
* If you’ve been putting off your purchase, this is your opportunity to “fly” your preferred Steadicam rig. Have an older Steadicam parts requirement? Send a detailed request list to Michael Craigs, [email protected] for first selection.
* Space available on first-come, first-serve basis.
* Presented by world renowned filter authority, Mr. Carey Duffy
* Educational seminar on what shooters want and need to know about filtration
* Light control solutions for the Canon 5/7D market
* Actual footage and stills
* Round and Square filters and the Matte Box
* Problem solution filters/The NEW Red Sensor
* "The Baked in Look" - Diffusion, Contrast & Color - WHY?
* Workflow of shooters in the field
* Dfx for Pre-visualization and Post Production
* Questions and Answers
Event # 3: Pre-Cine Gear Open House (7:30PM – 9:30PM)
* Featuring Tiffen products introduced at NAB 2010.
* Other products on display include our new Lowel equipment.
* Special guests include Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown and co-developer, Jerry Holway.
*
Fun, Food and Light Refreshments will be served.
Be sure to visit Tiffen Booth 119 at the Cine Gear Expo on June 4th and 5th, 2010.
Total Approx $45.00 Dollar 'Hands Free' shoulder rig modification / Shoulder Mount + Rotating Flash Bracket.
The Goal of this video is to show a simple 'low budget' way of how to mount all of the important accessories for DSLR video onto a cheap $24.00 shoulder mount rig.
Okay that's probably the worst article title ever for a Video Camera blog, but this cheap should support from Amazon or Adorama has earned it's own acronym. A.S.S. stands for 'Amazon Shoulder Support' or 'Adorama Shoulder Support'. I blogged about this thing months ago and one seller on Amazon ran out of stock. The other sellers tripled their prices. It was normally going for around $24.00 dollars, now you're seeing it around $70.00 bucks. You can all thank me for popularizing it. Not to fear, the guys over on eBay are still selling it for around $24.00 dollars and you can find them following the link below.
Anyways, I wanted to hack something up and saw this thing hanging around the corner of the studio. Thought i'd try to add all of my important accessories to it and see how it goes. It's actually not bad, and it turns it from cheap looking to sheek looking. So sit back and enjoy the video of me doing my A.S.S. implants with the Canon 5D Mark II, Battery Grip, Rode VideoMic, 126 LED video light, LCDVF, and Zoom H4n.
Shoulder mounts aren't the same as Steadicams. It's not totally designed for walking / running, but it still helps alot in those areas. I don't want to reinvent the wheel, so here's a user that's uploaded his version of testing it out by walking around.
If you're still not sold, I believe this is the legendary Phillip Bloom having fun with one.
Fred C. over at TuperHero.com is working on a DIY shoulder rig I believe he's calling the "Tuper-Rig". Based on the RedRock EyeSpy shoulder mount, he's cleverly used some type of L-Bracket to serve as both an offset (for lcd viewfinders), as well as height leveling. Not easily seen in these photos, he's using 2 long aluminum square tubes to make both the handle + shoulder pad fully adjustable sliding forward and back.
Still in progress, Fred sent me these photos of the basic rig layout. If you check out his blog website at https://tuperhero.com, you'll find more information with some way cool drawings and designs of his final plans. Awesome job Fred, and thanks for that huge huge donation to the website too!!
Final questions i'm sure the Cheesycam audience wants to know is, when's it going to be done, and where can they buy one?
Not too happy with the Fluid Head that comes attached with this $99.00 dollar slider from IndiSystems, but the rail and carrier work pretty well. It looks thicker than other Camera Slider rails out there, but it's actually hollow and very lightweight. This 2 foot version of a silder is easier for my type of workflow compared to the 4 ft. slider I show in this video. This $99 dollar video camera slider mounts well directly to the Tripod or to a Quick release plate.
I had to drill out the old fluid head mount (plastic) and make room for a 1/4 x 20 flat headed screw. I wanted to keep it at 1/4 x 20 so I still have the option of mounting a camera directly to the carrier plate. In order to mount the Bogen 701HDV Fluid head, 1/4 to 3/8 adapter like this one. I don't do a whole bunch of sliding, but now maybe I will since this is a lighter and smaller version compared to the other Igus Rail. This is the mini slider from https://indisystem.com/products/indislider_mini
You can also get the same slider for a bit more here:
Did I mention I got my new 100mm Macro IS USM lens in also?? It's awesome...Here's a few samples below I took outside in the parking lot.
The DIY SpiderTrax Rotating Video Dolly project was introduced to show others how they can make their own DIY skater mini dolly, to get video footage similar to the P+S technik Skater Mini. The team over at https://www.SpiderTraxDolly.com has made major improvements to the design that is being manufacturing. There will be a limited first run of units, so if you have any interest in the DIY SpiderTrax Video Dolly kit, check out the website and drop your name @ https://www.SpiderTraxDolly.com and complete the form.
SpiderTrax Tip::
Most people will bring out a piece of wood if you want a taller shot. Keyboard stands work great for this. Something like this tiny.cc/9f5wu
Also if you're working on carpet, tiles, or uneven flooring you can use those plastic sheets that you put on the floor for Office chairs to roll on. Like this: tiny.cc/k40xo
