Who all has built a homebuilt steadycam?

Simon Wilks · October 4th, 2004, 11:40 AM

Wow! it seems those guys at HBS are very advance when it comes to building stabilizers. The formulas alone leaves you boggled.

Check the link out. I don't think I've seen homebuilt at this level before, anywhere else on the net. I could be wrong.
Amazing what these guys can do. I guess you can called it the official site for homebuilding stabilizers ;)

The link as 6 pages. Just go throught it from the beginning. Those pics of the guy's arm in progress is awesome. Looks so pro like:

http://p200.ezboard.com/fhomebuiltst...art=51&stop=55

BTW, Charles Papert, what do you think of all this? Being that you are a steadicam operator. I would like to hear your view.

Charles King · February 25th, 2005, 05:22 AM

His name is Andreas. Nice arm and very well made. His other pics shows the complete rig in it's rightful arena. Totally brilliant build

Alex Filacchione · March 2nd, 2005, 05:38 PM

Dan, when is Volume II coming out????

Alex F

Charles Papert · March 2nd, 2005, 08:16 PM

Jeez, I hate it when I miss questions. Simon, if you are still around all these months later, to answer your question: I think homebuilds are great; made one myself twenty years ago! Not nearly as sophisticated as some of the ones on Charles K.'s site, by a long shot.

Dan Selakovich · March 3rd, 2005, 09:34 AM

Hi Alex,

Originally, volume 2 was to go to the printers back in December, But people kept requesting certain types of rigs, and I kept designing them. This has put the release back by months. The initial outline for the book was a few harder to build rigs and the rest on lighting. But it looks like I'm going to have to put lighting in a 3rd volume. I'm hoping the second volume will be ready by the end of summer. But, once the writing is finished, it still has a battery of tests from beta builders to go through before I feel comfortable taking it to press, so I can't give you a solid date at this point.

Thanks for asking!

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Simon Wilks · March 3rd, 2005, 12:15 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Charles Papert : Jeez, I hate it when I miss questions. Simon, if you are still around all these months later, to answer your question: I think homebuilds are great; made one myself twenty years ago! Not nearly as sophisticated as some of the ones on Charles K.'s site, by a long shot. -->>>

No problem CP. Rather late than never. Got any pictures of your rig?

Charles are you really going to sell your rig?

Anthony Marotti · March 4th, 2005, 08:15 AM

Hello All !

I am new here, and it's great to see a forum dedicated to mounting and stabilization gear... especially home built stuff!

I have built a dolly and several stabilizers since 2000, but I am still in search of my Holly Grail... a good Gimbal that I can purchase for a reasonable price :-(

Any sources??

Thanks :-)

Charles King · September 30th, 2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Marotti

Hello All !

I have built a dolly and several stabilizers since 2000, but I am still in search of my Holly Grail... a good Gimbal that I can purchase for a reasonable price :-(

Any sources??

Thanks :-)

I see this is an old thread but what the hell. I'm going to answer your question. The cheapest I can think of is Glidecam's gimbal, which is around $2000. Gimbals don't come cheap because it is not off the shelf type product. They are usually custombuilt to fit the particular post of the the manufacturer.
They are expensive because of the precision, tolerance, material and of course labor and overhead cost.

Anthony Marotti · October 4th, 2005, 06:35 AM

Thanks for the reply!

I have made my own using ball heads, and they work OK. I have made a 2 bearing assembly that accomplishes the same task but works far better, but it is ugly.

I would never buy a gimbal for 2K when I can buy a great steadycam for under 5K... it's too bad that these parts are not priced better and readily available :-(

Charles King · October 4th, 2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Marotti

Thanks for the reply!

I have made my own using ball heads, and they work OK. I have made a 2 bearing assembly that accomplishes the same task but works far better, but it is ugly.

I would never buy a gimbal for 2K when I can buy a great steadycam for under 5K... it's too bad that these parts are not priced better and readily available :-(

Don't blame you. I'd rather spend that 5 grand on a Flyer :)

Robert Bobson · March 14th, 2006, 06:57 AM

can't access the website http://www.homebuiltstabilizers.com

does anyone know if it's "gone away"?

Charles King · March 14th, 2006, 07:13 AM

Nothing is wrong. I just did. Check again.

Kevin Powis · March 14th, 2006, 08:02 AM

Just for your interest (if any) here's one I designed earlier...

Hope to actually build a prototype one day.

Designed before I'd seen or heard of a Fig Rig - but they are different beasts anyway - they just look similar at first glance.

http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/frontview.gif

http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/sideview.gif

The device self levels on horizontal and vertical. A simple brake system in the handle allows you to lock it off on either plane. When fully locked off on both planes that would be the equivalent to a Fig Rig. When not locked off it would self level.

Charles King · March 14th, 2006, 08:53 AM

Interesting design Kevin. That first pic looks similiar to how the Alien system works. I think that's almost exactly how it works. cool.

Kevin Powis · March 14th, 2006, 11:14 AM

Hi Charles

What's Alien? Just did a quick Google with no stabiliser results..?

(Also offtopic - how do I get an automatic notification of a reply to a post)

October 4th, 2004, 11:40 AM	#61
Simon Wilks New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York Posts: 17	Wow! it seems those guys at HBS are very advance when it comes to building stabilizers. The formulas alone leaves you boggled. Check the link out. I don't think I've seen homebuilt at this level before, anywhere else on the net. I could be wrong. Amazing what these guys can do. I guess you can called it the official site for homebuilding stabilizers ;) The link as 6 pages. Just go throught it from the beginning. Those pics of the guy's arm in progress is awesome. Looks so pro like: http://p200.ezboard.com/fhomebuiltst...art=51&stop=55 BTW, Charles Papert, what do you think of all this? Being that you are a steadicam operator. I would like to hear your view. __________________ Simon Wilks

February 25th, 2005, 05:22 AM	#62
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	His name is Andreas. Nice arm and very well made. His other pics shows the complete rig in it's rightful arena. Totally brilliant build __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

March 2nd, 2005, 08:16 PM	#64
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Jeez, I hate it when I miss questions. Simon, if you are still around all these months later, to answer your question: I think homebuilds are great; made one myself twenty years ago! Not nearly as sophisticated as some of the ones on Charles K.'s site, by a long shot. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 3rd, 2005, 12:15 PM	#66
Simon Wilks New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York Posts: 17	<<<-- Originally posted by Charles Papert : Jeez, I hate it when I miss questions. Simon, if you are still around all these months later, to answer your question: I think homebuilds are great; made one myself twenty years ago! Not nearly as sophisticated as some of the ones on Charles K.'s site, by a long shot. -->>> No problem CP. Rather late than never. Got any pictures of your rig? Charles are you really going to sell your rig? __________________ Simon Wilks

March 4th, 2005, 08:15 AM	#67
Anthony Marotti Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 263	Hello All ! I am new here, and it's great to see a forum dedicated to mounting and stabilization gear... especially home built stuff! I have built a dolly and several stabilizers since 2000, but I am still in search of my Holly Grail... a good Gimbal that I can purchase for a reasonable price :-( Any sources?? Thanks :-) __________________ AM

March 2nd, 2005, 05:38 PM	#63
Alex Filacchione Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 129	Dan, when is Volume II coming out???? Alex F

March 3rd, 2005, 09:34 AM	#65
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	Hi Alex, Originally, volume 2 was to go to the printers back in December, But people kept requesting certain types of rigs, and I kept designing them. This has put the release back by months. The initial outline for the book was a few harder to build rigs and the rest on lighting. But it looks like I'm going to have to put lighting in a 3rd volume. I'm hoping the second volume will be ready by the end of summer. But, once the writing is finished, it still has a battery of tests from beta builders to go through before I feel comfortable taking it to press, so I can't give you a solid date at this point. Thanks for asking! Dan www.DVcameraRigs.com

October 4th, 2005, 06:35 AM	#69
Anthony Marotti Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 263	Thanks for the reply! I have made my own using ball heads, and they work OK. I have made a 2 bearing assembly that accomplishes the same task but works far better, but it is ugly. I would never buy a gimbal for 2K when I can buy a great steadycam for under 5K... it's too bad that these parts are not priced better and readily available :-( __________________ AM

March 14th, 2006, 06:57 AM	#71
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	can't access the website http://www.homebuiltstabilizers.com does anyone know if it's "gone away"?

March 14th, 2006, 07:13 AM	#72
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Nothing is wrong. I just did. Check again. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

March 14th, 2006, 08:02 AM	#73
Kevin Powis Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Midlands • UK Posts: 4	Just for your interest (if any) here's one I designed earlier... Hope to actually build a prototype one day. Designed before I'd seen or heard of a Fig Rig - but they are different beasts anyway - they just look similar at first glance. http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/frontview.gif http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/sideview.gif The device self levels on horizontal and vertical. A simple brake system in the handle allows you to lock it off on either plane. When fully locked off on both planes that would be the equivalent to a Fig Rig. When not locked off it would self level.

March 14th, 2006, 08:53 AM	#74
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Interesting design Kevin. That first pic looks similiar to how the Alien system works. I think that's almost exactly how it works. cool. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

March 14th, 2006, 11:14 AM	#75
Kevin Powis Tourist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Midlands • UK Posts: 4	Hi Charles What's Alien? Just did a quick Google with no stabiliser results..? (Also offtopic - how do I get an automatic notification of a reply to a post)