Who all has built a homebuilt steadycam?

Charles Papert · August 10th, 2004, 07:24 AM

That's 55 lbs, and that's indeed impressive! I assume you mean the lifting capacity of his arm, meaning camera+rig...? That means he can fly the lighter 35mm cameras such as the Moviecam SL/ARRICAM LT etc., or a stock Varicam or Cinealta. I see he has a wireless follow focus too--THAT'S not a homebuild item (unless you are Jim Bartell, of BFD fame).

Overall a really professional looking setup. I think my only note for that gent would be...cable management!

Charles King · August 10th, 2004, 07:34 AM

Right Charles P. I did mean the arm capacity. Well, I think the focus is the real thing but I'm just referring to the stabilizer in general. Not bad. I'll put a complete setup in the gallery on HBS when I get more pics and info.

Charles Papert · August 10th, 2004, 07:52 AM

Eh, sorry Charles, didn't mean to sound like I was nitpicking on the follow focus. I think I meant to say that if someone followed through with the homebuild philosophy right through the follow focus setup, that really would be something! (come to think of it, it has been done in the past, with modified RC controls, Jimmy Jib motors, etc.)

Charles King · August 10th, 2004, 09:16 AM

It's okay C.P. :) We all tend to dive off the deep end at times.

Adam Beck · August 13th, 2004, 01:50 PM

Dan has done a great job. The stablizer has made a difference and has given me more options to choose from while shooting. Thank You, I can't wait for Volume Two, count one copy already sold.

Tao-ming Lin · August 16th, 2004, 02:11 AM

I can't find proper gimbals here in Taiwan, but I have found a couple of other things that might stand in. We're building a tilted L-shaped device and were planning to use either the wheel from a cart with a handle welded onto the wheel (the wheel turns and also swivels, providing two directions of mobility). I'm thinking I might get a swivelling handle as well, but I'm not sure if that would work or not.

The other option would be to use a universal joint, which I know where to find and buy, for the handle below the camera. Essentially the functions are the same as a gimbal, but unlike the cart wheel, the joint has the two directions swivelling from the same point rather than being seperated. The cart wheel has bearings, though. Which sounds like a better design? Would I be better off with a ball joint?

Glidecams here are all imported and prohibitively expensive, btw.

Reid Bailey · August 16th, 2004, 01:31 PM

Tao-ming lin,
Are you looking at creating a large device, because the homemade gimbal from the inline skate wheel sounds like the direction you're heading towards.
It provides the two axis of movement and can incorporate a swivel handle. Dan's plans cover this. See if he can ship internationally.
Also see if he will send you just the parts list first for the stabilizer to make sure you can get the parts locally. I bet he would. That way you don't have to buy the book and pay for shipping only to discover that you can't buy any materials that you need.

You can reach him at www.dvcamerarigs.com

Again, I don't get a kick back, just awfully pleased with the product and service.

Tao-ming Lin · August 16th, 2004, 08:21 PM

I only need something big enough to support a Panny DVX100, possibly with accessories but not many. The shopping cart wheel we have might work, or a universal joint might work as well. I'm not sure which to go with, as the prices for the welding involved makes it about the same. We have the stabilizer parts, basically a couple of aluminium pieces put together in a Steadicam Jr. configuration type thing. It all hinges around the gimbal and what we use to balance the handle.

Reid Bailey · August 17th, 2004, 07:25 AM

It sounds like Dan's plans would do the trick for the dvx100. Actually I'm sure of it. I just used the dvx on a shoot and the director bought a Glidecam which was virtually identical to my homemade rig.

The central part is the gimbal made from an inline skate wheel that you can totally make yourself with a drill and some screws and epoxy.

Whichever model you go with it's going to get heavy so I would recommend short shots. And maybe a wrist splint, those sports type things, to alleviate some of the strain.

Oh btw, if I hadn't gone through Dan's instructions first I never would have been able to balance the fancy glidecam one. The glidecam instructions were without a doubt the worst set of instructions I have ever seen for any piece of equipment period.

Simon Wilks · September 5th, 2004, 04:30 PM

Jean-Philippe Archibald, I really like your arm. Pretty impressive. If you all havn't seen it check out the link on the HBS forum under members systems.

One question. Your system was in the gallery under systems but I assume you did not follow cody's arm plan. Regardless, it's a nice looking arm.

Jean-Philippe, when will you be done?

Lars Gustav · September 5th, 2004, 04:36 PM

Just checked it out. Wow!, nice! How many springs will you be using? Congrats Jean.

Jean-Philippe Archibald · September 5th, 2004, 07:09 PM

Hey guys, thank you for your kind words! I havn't finish it yet and I receive plenty of comments! That's really cool!

Simon: You know, I am working on it on my spare time, and I only have access to the machine shop a few hours / week. But the hardest work is done now, I should have the time to finish the arm this week. I think the vest will be easier to do.

Lars: each arm section will have two springs.

For those of you who would like to take a look to the pictures: http://sunens.uqac.ca/~jparchib/stab

Simon Wilks · September 5th, 2004, 07:57 PM

Curious. How are you going to attach the second spring? Is it going to the other end of the arm?

It seems the homebuilt genre is really picking up. With Charles's K. new base module and your arm, boy! I better start building something of my own. :)

Dan Selakovich · September 6th, 2004, 10:20 AM

I just want to congratulate you on the find job you did with this stabilizer. Are you going to copy the iso-elastic arm that is an important part of the new steadicams? Since you've gone this far, it might be worth the extra trouble.

dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Tao-ming Lin · September 8th, 2004, 10:49 AM

It looks like the universal joint will do the trick. For more info, see

http://www.poagao.com/2004/09/it-lives-kind-of.html

August 10th, 2004, 07:24 AM	#46
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	That's 55 lbs, and that's indeed impressive! I assume you mean the lifting capacity of his arm, meaning camera+rig...? That means he can fly the lighter 35mm cameras such as the Moviecam SL/ARRICAM LT etc., or a stock Varicam or Cinealta. I see he has a wireless follow focus too--THAT'S not a homebuild item (unless you are Jim Bartell, of BFD fame). Overall a really professional looking setup. I think my only note for that gent would be...cable management! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 10th, 2004, 07:34 AM	#47
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Right Charles P. I did mean the arm capacity. Well, I think the focus is the real thing but I'm just referring to the stabilizer in general. Not bad. I'll put a complete setup in the gallery on HBS when I get more pics and info. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

August 10th, 2004, 07:52 AM	#48
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Eh, sorry Charles, didn't mean to sound like I was nitpicking on the follow focus. I think I meant to say that if someone followed through with the homebuild philosophy right through the follow focus setup, that really would be something! (come to think of it, it has been done in the past, with modified RC controls, Jimmy Jib motors, etc.) __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 10th, 2004, 09:16 AM	#49
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	It's okay C.P. :) We all tend to dive off the deep end at times. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

August 13th, 2004, 01:50 PM	#50
Adam Beck Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Visalia, California Posts: 41	I have built the Stablizer from Dan's book. Dan has done a great job. The stablizer has made a difference and has given me more options to choose from while shooting. Thank You, I can't wait for Volume Two, count one copy already sold.

August 16th, 2004, 02:11 AM	#51
Tao-ming Lin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 159	I can't find proper gimbals here in Taiwan, but I have found a couple of other things that might stand in. We're building a tilted L-shaped device and were planning to use either the wheel from a cart with a handle welded onto the wheel (the wheel turns and also swivels, providing two directions of mobility). I'm thinking I might get a swivelling handle as well, but I'm not sure if that would work or not. The other option would be to use a universal joint, which I know where to find and buy, for the handle below the camera. Essentially the functions are the same as a gimbal, but unlike the cart wheel, the joint has the two directions swivelling from the same point rather than being seperated. The cart wheel has bearings, though. Which sounds like a better design? Would I be better off with a ball joint? Glidecams here are all imported and prohibitively expensive, btw.

August 16th, 2004, 01:31 PM	#52
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	Tao-ming lin, Are you looking at creating a large device, because the homemade gimbal from the inline skate wheel sounds like the direction you're heading towards. It provides the two axis of movement and can incorporate a swivel handle. Dan's plans cover this. See if he can ship internationally. Also see if he will send you just the parts list first for the stabilizer to make sure you can get the parts locally. I bet he would. That way you don't have to buy the book and pay for shipping only to discover that you can't buy any materials that you need. You can reach him at www.dvcamerarigs.com Again, I don't get a kick back, just awfully pleased with the product and service.

August 16th, 2004, 08:21 PM	#53
Tao-ming Lin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 159	I only need something big enough to support a Panny DVX100, possibly with accessories but not many. The shopping cart wheel we have might work, or a universal joint might work as well. I'm not sure which to go with, as the prices for the welding involved makes it about the same. We have the stabilizer parts, basically a couple of aluminium pieces put together in a Steadicam Jr. configuration type thing. It all hinges around the gimbal and what we use to balance the handle.

August 17th, 2004, 07:25 AM	#54
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	It sounds like Dan's plans would do the trick for the dvx100. Actually I'm sure of it. I just used the dvx on a shoot and the director bought a Glidecam which was virtually identical to my homemade rig. The central part is the gimbal made from an inline skate wheel that you can totally make yourself with a drill and some screws and epoxy. Whichever model you go with it's going to get heavy so I would recommend short shots. And maybe a wrist splint, those sports type things, to alleviate some of the strain. Oh btw, if I hadn't gone through Dan's instructions first I never would have been able to balance the fancy glidecam one. The glidecam instructions were without a doubt the worst set of instructions I have ever seen for any piece of equipment period.

September 5th, 2004, 04:30 PM	#55
Simon Wilks New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York Posts: 17	Jean-Philippe Archibald, I really like your arm. Pretty impressive. If you all havn't seen it check out the link on the HBS forum under members systems. One question. Your system was in the gallery under systems but I assume you did not follow cody's arm plan. Regardless, it's a nice looking arm. Jean-Philippe, when will you be done? __________________ Simon Wilks

September 5th, 2004, 04:36 PM	#56
Lars Gustav Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: sweden Posts: 33	Just checked it out. Wow!, nice! How many springs will you be using? Congrats Jean. __________________ Lars

September 5th, 2004, 07:09 PM	#57
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	Hey guys, thank you for your kind words! I havn't finish it yet and I receive plenty of comments! That's really cool! Simon: You know, I am working on it on my spare time, and I only have access to the machine shop a few hours / week. But the hardest work is done now, I should have the time to finish the arm this week. I think the vest will be easier to do. Lars: each arm section will have two springs. For those of you who would like to take a look to the pictures: http://sunens.uqac.ca/~jparchib/stab __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

September 5th, 2004, 07:57 PM	#58
Simon Wilks New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York Posts: 17	Curious. How are you going to attach the second spring? Is it going to the other end of the arm? It seems the homebuilt genre is really picking up. With Charles's K. new base module and your arm, boy! I better start building something of my own. :) __________________ Simon Wilks

September 6th, 2004, 10:20 AM	#59
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	I just want to congratulate you on the find job you did with this stabilizer. Are you going to copy the iso-elastic arm that is an important part of the new steadicams? Since you've gone this far, it might be worth the extra trouble. dan www.DVcameraRigs.com

September 8th, 2004, 10:49 AM	#60
Tao-ming Lin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 159	It looks like the universal joint will do the trick. For more info, see http://www.poagao.com/2004/09/it-lives-kind-of.html