HD1a FigRig at DVinfo.net

Matthew Johnston · April 18th, 2007, 10:58 AM

Made a DIY figrig from PVC pipe. Then I velcroed the included remote to it, and looped a optical audio cable to the front of the HD1a to repeat the signal. Looks like this:

http://www.mattjohnstonrally.com/matt/pics/xacti1.jpg
http://www.mattjohnstonrally.com/matt/pics/xacti2.jpg

Works great! I can fly the figrig around, very light weight, and handle most of the controls from the remote. Is there any way to activate focus lock from the remote? When I press "up" like I would on the joystick, it just zooms. Would be a nice ability.

Robert Batta · April 19th, 2007, 06:29 AM

Hi Matthew !

Great job !

please tell me the short and longer PVC pipe sizes ?

Matthew Johnston · April 19th, 2007, 10:23 AM

This Flickr Image tells you everything you need to know to construct one (these are the plans I used)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shygantic/129121710/

I just tilted the cross center piece with the threaded bolt so that my HD1a's lense would be facing straight ahead.

Robert Batta · April 20th, 2007, 02:48 AM

Thank you very much Matthew ! :)

Alexander Wrana · April 20th, 2007, 08:06 AM

Here is a PVC hose version of a DIY FigRig

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=55021

Frank Prinzel · April 24th, 2007, 10:39 AM

Alexander,

Great work! How did you "slap" a QR plate on there? How long is the cross brace?

Alexander Wrana · April 24th, 2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Prinzel

Alexander,
Great work! How did you "slap" a QR plate on there? How long is the cross brace?

Sorry if I got anyone confused. I did not build that one and I certainly do not want to take someone elses credit. But thanks anyway.

As far as the dimensions of the figrig are concerned, I'm not sure. Sorry.

But if you keep reading the thread there should be some useful info to be found. On that 16 pages they made quite a few modifications to it. I especially like the "led light bank" suggestion on the last page.

Wayne Morellini · April 26th, 2007, 08:50 PM

Great effort Alexander, looks good.

Matthew Johnston · April 27th, 2007, 06:57 AM

Got my Rode Videomic last night. Mounted that up to my pvc FigRig using a 3/4inch EMT conduit clamp (.49cents) and 2 1/4-20 bolts (.19cents).

Works great. The Rode VM is super sensitive and even with the shock mount I get some handling noise coming through from my hands on the rig. I have to be very careful on how I move my hands.

I also get a good amount of Audio hiss unless I set the External Mic Volume to 2 or 1. Luckily, even on level 1, the RODE is so hot that it provides good audio. (I think, I'm a total n00b here)

April 18th, 2007, 10:58 AM	#1
Matthew Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: grand rapids michigan usa Posts: 54	HD1a FigRig Made a DIY figrig from PVC pipe. Then I velcroed the included remote to it, and looped a optical audio cable to the front of the HD1a to repeat the signal. Looks like this: http://www.mattjohnstonrally.com/matt/pics/xacti1.jpg http://www.mattjohnstonrally.com/matt/pics/xacti2.jpg Works great! I can fly the figrig around, very light weight, and handle most of the controls from the remote. Is there any way to activate focus lock from the remote? When I press "up" like I would on the joystick, it just zooms. Would be a nice ability. __________________ www.mattjohnstonrally.com

April 19th, 2007, 06:29 AM	#2
Robert Batta Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hungary / Europe Posts: 128	figrig Hi Matthew ! Great job ! please tell me the short and longer PVC pipe sizes ? __________________ Robert Batta my stock video portfolio : https://www.pond5.com/artist/skysuta Pond5 – the world’s first web-based stock footage marketplace –

April 19th, 2007, 10:23 AM	#3
Matthew Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: grand rapids michigan usa Posts: 54	This Flickr Image tells you everything you need to know to construct one (these are the plans I used) http://www.flickr.com/photos/shygantic/129121710/ I just tilted the cross center piece with the threaded bolt so that my HD1a's lense would be facing straight ahead. __________________ www.mattjohnstonrally.com Last edited by Matthew Johnston; April 19th, 2007 at 02:35 PM.

April 20th, 2007, 02:48 AM	#4
Robert Batta Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hungary / Europe Posts: 128	Thank you very much Matthew ! :) __________________ Robert Batta my stock video portfolio : https://www.pond5.com/artist/skysuta Pond5 – the world’s first web-based stock footage marketplace –

April 24th, 2007, 10:39 AM	#6
Frank Prinzel Contributor Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 14	How did you "slap" a QR plate on there? Alexander, Great work! How did you "slap" a QR plate on there? How long is the cross brace?

April 20th, 2007, 08:06 AM	#5
Alexander Wrana Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Old Europe (a.k.a. Germany) Posts: 33	Here is a PVC hose version of a DIY FigRig http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=55021

April 26th, 2007, 08:50 PM	#8
Wayne Morellini Inner Circle Join Date: May 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 2,762	Great effort Alexander, looks good.

April 27th, 2007, 06:57 AM	#9
Matthew Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: grand rapids michigan usa Posts: 54	Got my Rode Videomic last night. Mounted that up to my pvc FigRig using a 3/4inch EMT conduit clamp (.49cents) and 2 1/4-20 bolts (.19cents). Works great. The Rode VM is super sensitive and even with the shock mount I get some handling noise coming through from my hands on the rig. I have to be very careful on how I move my hands. I also get a good amount of Audio hiss unless I set the External Mic Volume to 2 or 1. Luckily, even on level 1, the RODE is so hot that it provides good audio. (I think, I'm a total n00b here) __________________ www.mattjohnstonrally.com Last edited by Matthew Johnston; April 27th, 2007 at 08:44 AM.