How creative am I? at DVinfo.net

Dustin Waits · January 4th, 2004, 10:34 PM

This creative.

or I could just be really poor.

Rob Lohman · January 5th, 2004, 05:27 AM

That depends on how you are using it. Perhaps another pic
with the camera on it and somebody holding the rig?

J. Clayton Stansberry · January 5th, 2004, 12:07 PM

Dustin,

What about some footage as well? Let's see how it works! Look forward to seeing the output...

Clay

Charles Papert · January 5th, 2004, 12:27 PM

Dustin:

You have some weight distribution issues, you're going to be front heavy or back heavy depending on which direction you mount the camera. Centering the weight of the camera over the middle of the pole would be preferable. To balance what you have there you would have to redistribute the weights...if you had, say, the camera mounted so that the lens looked to the right (using your picture as reference), you will need more weight at lower left and/or less weight at lower right. However this "diagonal" load is not ideal. Also, the height of the system may be excessive.

If you have a small tripod around with a center column, try mounting your camera to that, extending the center column and opening the legs without extending them(spread them out). That should deliver a similar performance to what you've built but with a proper load centering.

Dustin Waits · January 5th, 2004, 01:45 PM

I actually encountered the weight balance problem at an early stage of the project. I drilled a few different holes in the bottom supports that hold the weights so that I can move them around accordingly. The camera faces towards the right and if you notice the weights looks a little off center. This "off center" weight balances the camera perfectly. It is a bit long though. I may take it apart and cut it down some.

Charles Papert · January 5th, 2004, 04:03 PM

I see that now, Dustin. Gotcha.

For a non-gimballed device where you will be hard-gripping the rig at all times, this should work out OK. FYI, if you ever think about attaching a gimbal to this, you would want to recenter the weight distribution. Think of it this way: if you were to find the center of gravity of both the camera and the bottom weighted section, and draw a line between the two points, it would run at a diagonal (upper right to lower left). This affects your dynamic balance, meaning when the rig is rotated it will attempt to make this diagonal a vertical, causing the camera to tilt back during a pan.

Again, not something you are that likely to observe in a simple non-gimballed design, but it is a factor. By the way, when you chop down the length you will need to re-distribute the weights at the bottom.

January 4th, 2004, 10:34 PM	#1
Dustin Waits Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ft. Myers Beach, Fl Posts: 243	How creative am I? This creative. or I could just be really poor.

January 5th, 2004, 05:27 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	That depends on how you are using it. Perhaps another pic with the camera on it and somebody holding the rig? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 5th, 2004, 12:07 PM	#3
J. Clayton Stansberry Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 316	Dustin, What about some footage as well? Let's see how it works! Look forward to seeing the output... Clay __________________ I understand everything about nothing.

January 5th, 2004, 12:27 PM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Dustin: You have some weight distribution issues, you're going to be front heavy or back heavy depending on which direction you mount the camera. Centering the weight of the camera over the middle of the pole would be preferable. To balance what you have there you would have to redistribute the weights...if you had, say, the camera mounted so that the lens looked to the right (using your picture as reference), you will need more weight at lower left and/or less weight at lower right. However this "diagonal" load is not ideal. Also, the height of the system may be excessive. If you have a small tripod around with a center column, try mounting your camera to that, extending the center column and opening the legs without extending them(spread them out). That should deliver a similar performance to what you've built but with a proper load centering. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 5th, 2004, 04:03 PM	#6
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I see that now, Dustin. Gotcha. For a non-gimballed device where you will be hard-gripping the rig at all times, this should work out OK. FYI, if you ever think about attaching a gimbal to this, you would want to recenter the weight distribution. Think of it this way: if you were to find the center of gravity of both the camera and the bottom weighted section, and draw a line between the two points, it would run at a diagonal (upper right to lower left). This affects your dynamic balance, meaning when the rig is rotated it will attempt to make this diagonal a vertical, causing the camera to tilt back during a pan. Again, not something you are that likely to observe in a simple non-gimballed design, but it is a factor. By the way, when you chop down the length you will need to re-distribute the weights at the bottom. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 5th, 2004, 01:45 PM	#5
Dustin Waits Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ft. Myers Beach, Fl Posts: 243	I actually encountered the weight balance problem at an early stage of the project. I drilled a few different holes in the bottom supports that hold the weights so that I can move them around accordingly. The camera faces towards the right and if you notice the weights looks a little off center. This "off center" weight balances the camera perfectly. It is a bit long though. I may take it apart and cut it down some.