DIY Stabilizer plans at DVinfo.net

Michael Moore · April 1st, 2004, 12:20 PM

Hello All,

I am POOR,
I have saved and saved and now i have a DVC80. I love my camera and it rocks. I have been working on a documentary for the last few months and it is going well but i am starting a short movie this summer and i will need a glide-cam or steady-cam type stabilizer, this is why i started my post off with I am POOR. I have checked on line and checked the DIY pages but i have not found any detailed plans. I was wondering if any one has actually made a stabilizer or has a link for a good set of plans

thanks
Michael

Brian Huey · April 1st, 2004, 12:27 PM

The Plans

The Website with FAQ and Demos

The Forum with Info on them

Also, you can do a search here for Cody Deegan and you should get some discussions about the plans.

It still isn't exactly cheap, I think I spent around $400 making them but that was when the plans were $65 and I had to buy a number of the tools (tap and die stuff, large drill bit) and I screwed up by drilling holes in the wrong places so I had to buy a little bit more material.

Cheers,
Brian

Michael Moore · April 1st, 2004, 02:38 PM

hmmm,
thanks for the link to the book. I will try and buy a copy. But like i said i am POOR and the 35us +shipping is like 50+ca and that is 6 new dv tapes or another month of Internet acsess you know what i mean. I have a friend that works at a Big Box Hardware store and will hook me up with the parts for free and i have another friend that will let me use her tools but i am really bad at building things so i was hoping someone had detailed plans that they would not mind hooking me up with for free or at least a place i could find them.

I checked out http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/tips.html and they are cool but i was wondering if anyone had any experience with these

Thanks
Michael

Dennis Vogel · April 1st, 2004, 03:10 PM

Anyone familiar with this book?

http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/

Dennis Vogel

Brian Huey · April 1st, 2004, 03:43 PM

The $14 semi 'Steadicam' On the super cheap that may be an ok way to go. There are some demos on the site to give you an idea of what you'll get and if you have a friend at the hardware store you could probably make it for just a couple of dollars.

I went with Cody's plans for the budget full stabilzer rig and was very pleased with his manual, but the construction process does take a fair bit of time and work.

Cheers,
Brian

Terry Lyons · April 1st, 2004, 05:46 PM

I just went to that sight and looked like he is taking a breather and maby we have to wait to get plans, is this true? I also read someone saying these stabilizers aren't professional, what does that mean. Do they work as good as a steady cam or not. Looks isnt that important as I will make the finish look as good as I can but if function is marginal that concernes me. Any body have any experience with cody's plan?

Brian Huey · April 2nd, 2004, 12:41 AM

He's stopped selling the plans directly off of his site, now they are available at the his CafePress store (linked to in my original post) for a cheaper price, but the photos aren't color anymore.

Searched the site for "Cody's" Results

The one titled "Cody's Plans Are Back has some good information as may some of the others. In that one Charles P. appears impressed with Cody's demos.

I've been pleased with the unit I built, I haven't gotten quite as good as Cody in his demo, maybe with time.

Cheers,
Brian

BTW Cody's active on the HBS forums (linked to in first post) and always has been helpful with my questions.

April 1st, 2004, 12:20 PM	#1
Michael Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 94	DIY Stabilizer plans Hello All, I am POOR, I have saved and saved and now i have a DVC80. I love my camera and it rocks. I have been working on a documentary for the last few months and it is going well but i am starting a short movie this summer and i will need a glide-cam or steady-cam type stabilizer, this is why i started my post off with I am POOR. I have checked on line and checked the DIY pages but i have not found any detailed plans. I was wondering if any one has actually made a stabilizer or has a link for a good set of plans thanks Michael

April 1st, 2004, 05:46 PM	#6
Terry Lyons Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alta Sierra Posts: 182	I just went to that sight and looked like he is taking a breather and maby we have to wait to get plans, is this true? I also read someone saying these stabilizers aren't professional, what does that mean. Do they work as good as a steady cam or not. Looks isnt that important as I will make the finish look as good as I can but if function is marginal that concernes me. Any body have any experience with cody's plan? __________________ TAG

April 1st, 2004, 12:27 PM	#2
Brian Huey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle , WA Posts: 184	The Plans The Website with FAQ and Demos The Forum with Info on them Also, you can do a search here for Cody Deegan and you should get some discussions about the plans. It still isn't exactly cheap, I think I spent around $400 making them but that was when the plans were $65 and I had to buy a number of the tools (tap and die stuff, large drill bit) and I screwed up by drilling holes in the wrong places so I had to buy a little bit more material. Cheers, Brian

April 1st, 2004, 02:38 PM	#3
Michael Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 94	hmmm, thanks for the link to the book. I will try and buy a copy. But like i said i am POOR and the 35us +shipping is like 50+ca and that is 6 new dv tapes or another month of Internet acsess you know what i mean. I have a friend that works at a Big Box Hardware store and will hook me up with the parts for free and i have another friend that will let me use her tools but i am really bad at building things so i was hoping someone had detailed plans that they would not mind hooking me up with for free or at least a place i could find them. I checked out http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/tips.html and they are cool but i was wondering if anyone had any experience with these Thanks Michael

April 1st, 2004, 03:10 PM	#4
Dennis Vogel Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 409	Anyone familiar with this book? http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/ Dennis Vogel

April 1st, 2004, 03:43 PM	#5
Brian Huey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle , WA Posts: 184	The $14 semi 'Steadicam' On the super cheap that may be an ok way to go. There are some demos on the site to give you an idea of what you'll get and if you have a friend at the hardware store you could probably make it for just a couple of dollars. I went with Cody's plans for the budget full stabilzer rig and was very pleased with his manual, but the construction process does take a fair bit of time and work. Cheers, Brian

April 2nd, 2004, 12:41 AM	#7
Brian Huey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle , WA Posts: 184	He's stopped selling the plans directly off of his site, now they are available at the his CafePress store (linked to in my original post) for a cheaper price, but the photos aren't color anymore. Searched the site for "Cody's" Results The one titled "Cody's Plans Are Back has some good information as may some of the others. In that one Charles P. appears impressed with Cody's demos. I've been pleased with the unit I built, I haven't gotten quite as good as Cody in his demo, maybe with time. Cheers, Brian BTW Cody's active on the HBS forums (linked to in first post) and always has been helpful with my questions.