DIY Shoulder Mount

[Luis_]

I started building my own shoulder mount today and it's still in progress so I thought I post up and see what kind of responses or help I get for the next step.

I went to home depot and bought a Garden Hose hanger, or at least that's what I think it is. I guess you can hang anything you want on it. A bike, an extension cord? who knows, well I decided to hang my camera on it.

So far so good, the view finder falls perfect onto my eye, but now I need to figure out how to attach something to it so that it can rest on my shoulder.

Here's what I have so far:



http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk157/lcosme00/HoseHanger_01.jpg

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk157/lcosme00/HoseHanger_02.jpg



http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk157/lcosme00/BottomScrew_02.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk157/lcosme00/SampleHold_01.jpg




Now for the next step of making a plate for better support and adding the shoulder part.

I should have something complete by next week.


http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk157/lcosme00/SampleHold_04copy.jpg



Have a great one everyone!

Luis

[Mister Stocks]

I don't know if you plan on doing this or not, but since it isn't on your drawing, I thought I might bring this up:

When making the part that rests on your shoulder, make sure it goes deep enough behind your back, and you may want to put a wait on it, otherwise the rig will be front heavy and your arms will get tired. If you don't you will end up with a cam that would actually be better hand-held.

I have had experience trying to use poorly made shoulder mounts, and let me tell you, balance is everything, you want the weight on your shoulder, not your arms.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Luis_]

I got what your saying... Yes that helps a whole lot,

Thank you!

[Jeff Anderson]

Just echoing what Stocks said - counterweight is your friend :) I use a Zacuto rig and love the balance of it - just let it extend a good bit behind you and strap some weight on to help balance it and put the weight on your shoulder. You may want to look into offsetting the shoulder pad from the camera portion a bit left to right so the VF lines up with your eye better. Checkout Zacuto's Zoffset and their "newsman" kit - the pictures can explain it better than me. I know you are going DIY but if nothing else its a great place to get some ideas.

Jeff

[DM_rider]

I made a fig rig type handheld device out of one of those a while ago.

[Luis_]

thanks Jeff... Zacuto has some really nice stuff!

DM, any pics?

[NoNoob]

:) COOL!

Lose the cheesehead screw bolt.
Get a nice 1/4 20 in brass or something sexy (stainless?)
[just giving you a hard time- hope you don't mind!]

You know I'm gonna go to HD and get me one of those tomorrow.
VERY COOL.
And thanks for sharing.




You really didn't have to show it off by hiring a professional model with the money you've saved.
But, it was a nice gesture. :)

[Luis_]

LOL!!! The models were free, their looking to build their resume ! lol...
Oh so now I have to add some sexy to the mix!
Ok... I like a challenge...
Thursday (my day off) that's when I will continue to figure out how I'm going to finish this thing!
Whish I lived in CA, I would take it to West Coast Choppers and see what they could do with it.