Home made sunshade, because I needed it yesterday!

[soarprod]

Vinyl Fabric - $ .46
Velcro - $ 3.74
Acrylic - $ .12
Mother with a sewing machine and lotsa black thread - priceless. * :

Hey All,
Just wanted to share the info on my new sunshade adapted from the mattblox french flag design. *The simple question you must first ask, does this benefit my daytime photos with the sun? YES! *The other major benefit is it I am pretty sure it will fit the anamorphic lens as well since it is fully adjustable. Also, if i sew on some additional velcro, I could fit the 4x4 filters from the mattblox guys.

The major reason for this, was that I needed the shade for a shoot tomorrow. I didn't have the time and didn't want to spend the money for the mattblox.

I took the web photo of the flag,


Enlarged it and printed a copy so I could measure the dimensions and various angles. *Then I measured the size of the standard sunshade that comes with the dvx as a reference for the size difference from my small printed version of the mattblox and enlarged the dimensions to fit the dvx - and be similar to the french flag. *

I then created a template for the design that I scanned into my comp for future reference - If you want a copy of this, I am glad to help. *

Cut the template, trace around the acrylic with a felt marker, cut acrylic into 4 sections, trace onto fabric, sew together, fit in acrylic sections, sew to seal in, sew velcro to sections.

Make a velcro strip to go around the original plastic dvx sunshade - so that you can velcro the sunshade to the divx. *I used a loop section (look at last photo) so that you can easily tighten it around the plastic. *Then mount and position the sunshade so that you dont see it in frame - I used my laptop to verify and not the LCD. *

Here are some pix to help.





and the original



I will take some better pix later - in the field
Enjoy - Phil Hover
Official title: "HOVERSHADE"
philiph@chsv.net

[danny]

Copying an un protected design for personal use is OK.

Publising it is another thing. It is not a crime but...

Is it Ethical ?

Let's discuss it.

[yuli]

Using Cinetactics web photos and offering the plans to
others does not look very good. It is not ethical.

yuli

[Jim Brennan]

I know that some people won't agree with this, but I don't think it's a problem. People reverse-engineering things for personal use is not unethical. The fact that he's sharing it may be for some, but since he's not looking to profit, I think it's okay. I've never seen the ethics issue brought up in reference to homemade cranes and stabilizers, all of which copy from commercially made ones. And frankly, it's not like this particular device is all that complicated. The only thing that makes it different (and better) than the one I designed for my camera is that it's not cardboard. But that's just my opinion.

[Carrington Benz]

How is this different from making your own dolly or crane or even steady device out of a tripod with weights at the bottom.
Give this guy a break - its not like he's donald trump - looking to market the thing.Us No budget filmmakers need this to get up the ladder - then we go & buy the proper stuff when the green rolls in.
Why would I use home made stuff on bigger budget project's for instance *- this sorta stuff is for the little guy who needs a break right ?


Oop's - I guess I just echoed the above post - well no matter - Im in favor for this kinda thing ;)

[soarprod]

Wow, what a topic change - :o
The design for a sunshade is in no way copyrighted - the design for it has been around for 90 years when the first film makers needed its features for shooting. If you notice, it is not the same shape nor mounting design as the cineantics design - it is actually a little smaller and is adjustable unlike their model. If you remember back, there was a guy who adapted the french flag to fit the anamorphic lens with some velcro - I guess that design is illegal since they now have the anamorphic mattblox : ;) :P
I hope this helps people save $90.
-Phil Hover

[MDKfilms]

Hey Phil, more power to you. It looks great, and I bet everytime you look at it it makes you feel proud. Building something with your own two hands, that looks good and works, is extremely satisfying. Good job.

[J.R. Hudson]

I agree. Get over the DESIGN issue. He's not selling it and it surely isnt a major invention or secret. Props to the guerilla masta! If anything, it shows what these things probally really cost and how we get raped financially.

Looks really good. If it works for you then bravo. My advice is:

Put the ketchup in the fridge.

[soarprod]

Hey John, everybody knows that you dont have to refridgerate ketchup ;D
That is, unless you like the cold feeling with your fries.

[J.R. Hudson]