Skater and heavy cameras

[MaxZenk]

Hey there!
One of my first posts in here, great forum, great community and very inspiring!

Anyways, I'm about to built my own Skater (like everyone else is doing... ;) ) While the basic plate, the wheel assembly and all of that is not that big of a problem (i'll have it laser cut just like tlorenzo did with his steel skater), the way to mount my camera on it still gives me headaches.

i want to use my canon xm2 plus sgpro plus lens on that. This solution would be fine with some kind of manfrotto video head.

But since I am going down this rather long process of building a skater, I want it to be ready for heavier cameras like the hvx200 and some arri 16s a well, which would obviusly not work with a simple video head.

I'm thinking of building my own version of the rocker, just like Bill Hawkins did in his acrylic skater, but I thought it might be worth getting some feedback and inspiration from you guys. :)

Who is using a DIY skater with 35mm adapter setups or heavy cameras?
How do you mount your camera on the skater?

Thanks a lot guys!

Take care,
Max.

[TroutPro]

I'm drawing up plans for a skater out of 1/4" aluminum plate which should handle a larger camera. I plan on using my universal 75mm bowl, like I do on my hi-hat, so I'm able to use my fluid head.

I'm not familliar with the "rocker" you're talking about. Do you have links to the steel skater and aluminum skater? I've only seen the plywood one.

Thanks!

[MaxZenk]

My biggest question as far as the fluid heads are concerned is the max. weight:

Does the maximum weight mean when I overload the head it doesn't turn moothly anymore?
This obviusly would not be a problem since I only need the head to hold the camera fixed, the movement comes from the skater (for shots with panning and tilting I would use a regular dolly).

Or does it mean it simply can not hold any camera heavier than this?

For the rocker check out the p + s homepage (http://www.pstechnik.de/en/skater-accessories-30rocker.php) and its demo videos (http://www.pstechnik.de/en/skater-demo-dvd.php)

Acrylic skater with homemade rocker (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=67039)

Steel skater (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=93323)

Aluminium skater (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=59132)


Take care,
Max

[RWM]

Hi Max!

HVX or similar are not big!!!
I didn’t have any big setup picture with my RADIATUS but here is a picture with a big setup and my little Pushdolly. I use the same setup with my RADIATUS and it’s much more stable as the little Pushdolly. It works fine BUT take care! ALWAYS unmount the Camera when you not inside a 1m radius of this toy!!! ;-)

Rudi


http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/1340/1186744373.jpg

[J.R. Hudson]

LOL

A lil' top heavy isn't it ?

[RWM]

...but only a little! ;-)

[MaxZenk]

Nice design Rudi! :)
But on the skater with big setups like this you can't get really low, can you?

Has anyone else (besides mlimbolimbo) tried to build something like the rocker?