My new "converti-RIG"

[FiddlerMD]

so i finally decided to build some sort of support system for my dvx. before I go on, i'd like to say that the inspiration and idea (and most of the design) came directly from the design of the spider brace so credit goes mostly to that.
I went to home depot yesterday and got a bunch of pvc electrical conduit and connecting box and some other miscellaneous parts. maybe total of like $5-$8 worth of parts. about 3 hours of tinkering and smelling melting PVC later, I came up with a convertible rig that's so far very promising.
Thusfar I came up with 3 configuarations for it. One is very close to the spiderbrace, one seems more convenient for me (the placement of the handles) and one is a fig-rig style .. pictures follow:

Here's the sb like config:

http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/conf1_back.jpg
http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/conf1_side.jpg
http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/conf1_top.jpg

Here is my altered config (i find this more comfortable)
http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/conf2_front.jpg
http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/conf2_top.jpg

here's the fig-rig type setup
http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/figrig.jpg

I also put a cap on the back of the main shoulder support that allows you to screw something in (so far i've tried a weight with reasonable success, but technically one can fashion any type of adapter plate and stick batteries, firestore, wireless receiver, etc there)
http://www.story-tailors.com/convertirig/screw_back.jpg

Basically all 3 arms are removable, and i'm gonna come up with some sort of a secure quick-release mechanism to hold them in place (right now they either hold by friction or i can use screws to secure them. I'm thinking of something like a cotter pin or the like.

let me know what you all think :)
happy tweaking!

[Inexistence]

Very cool! Any footage of it in use?

[FiddlerMD]

not yet - do you want to see footage of me using it or footage shot with it?

[-zach-]

Well I'd like to see how you fit it on your shoulders, it looks either too broad or not enough.

[sjmvideo]

Both!

[Inexistence]

^^^^what sjm said^^^^

[Kelly Olsen]

This is very cool looking and I also would like to see video of it in action as well as how it fits on your shoulder. But very nice and the price is great.

[bilgami]

cool rig!! the cap at the end can be used to screw in some wheels thats what i did with my sb2.

[FiddlerMD]

cool rig!! the cap at the end can be used to screw in some wheels thats what i did with my sb2.
good idea! i've been meaning to make a table-dolly!
i'll try to take some pics or video of it on the shoulder
I don't quite see what you guys mean by "too wide" and such, but i guess you'll be able to judge it better in relation to an actual person holding it :)

[FiddlerMD]

by the way - i didnt mention that the setup, as pictured, works very well for viewfinder work - the rear piece needs to be a little longer for just chest-level screen work .. i'll be making a different rear-end piece for that

[FiddlerMD]

ok so i made a few modifications to the rig .. first off, i re-did the back piece to fit a bit more comfortably, added a system of hitch pins to easily put together and take the thing apart and change configurations and added screw-in pieces on all legs to accomodate wheels (thanks bilgami!) .. finally, here's a little
demo video (http://www.story-tailors.com/play.php?movieid=666)
sorry for the quality - this was like a 5 minute quickie thing ..
let me know what you all think

[FiddlerMD]

oh .. and i've re-dubbed it the Configu-RIG :)

[Drew Ott]

Do you plan to put some weight on the back? It doesn't look like it is doing much, because the bar that is supposedly resting on your shoulder doesn't look like it is helping support at all.

[FiddlerMD]

what it does help with is lessening the load on my hands and stabilizing it a bit (side to side). basically it becomes a 'tripod' since u have 2 hands and a shoulder to hold it.

this was not intended as a balance mechanism, although i did try adding weight .. i need to make the shoulder rest more comfy before that's a reality :)