Here is my DIY figrig solution...it rocks

yeah oregondank, pictures of my rig and the plans are posted on this site under my version of the fig rig...so you got at least one version to look at.
 
{if it had a manfrotto plate it would be as good as the real thing only lighter...i'll be back in a minute to put up some more pics - any questions fire away...
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Stupid messy suggestion... but what if you were add sand inside the pipe? Would that help inscrease the weight in a good way?
 
Here's what mine ended up looking like, welded copper pipe and a shelf mount for the cross bar. With the simple pencil holder shock mount.


IMG_0009.jpg
 
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heres mine filled it with cement (not full) but adds weight and strenth. great thread thanks!!
cost less than 30 bux, and it may not be the best but i notice a difference.
 
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twocik23 said:
Any footage?
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Sorry ahead of time for my website, the usage limit may prohibit your download, so please try again later if it doesn't work.

R-click (cntrl-click) and "save as" please.


Here is what FigRig footage can look like with some practice:

http://www.geocities.com/kingvidiot83/pseudoFigRigTest.mov

The file is Quicktime 7 (h.264) compliant.

Yes, the "purrs" were recorded in real time, and I dropped-out the rest of the audio.

You can also use VideoLAN client to view.
 
Silky smooth footage. Looks like the animal likes the fig rig, too.

I was going to say cat, then I was going to say leopard...

I decided to go with animal because that way I couldn't be wrong.
 
bballplaya283 said:
I decided to go with animal because that way I couldn't be wrong.
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It's a bobcat actually if I'm not mistaken.

Something I've been wondering about these...do you hold the rig with two hands on either side, or with one hand at the top so that the camera acts as its own stabilizing weight? Or is it either depending on the result you're looking for? If that's the case, what's the difference in the footage with each grip?
 
I'm curious too. Before the creation of stabalizers, I would never have thought a steering wheel shape would make for smooth footage.
 
bballplaya283 said:
Silky smooth footage. Looks like the animal likes the fig rig, too.

I was going to say cat, then I was going to say leopard...

I decided to go with animal because that way I couldn't be wrong.
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Thanks. Yeah it was fun shooting that with my buddy the bobcat. She is as curious as any house cat.

By the way, that rig was loaded with some accessories, so it was about 10lbs altogether, but I think that helps with the smooth control. It's a good thing I like to workout, since a few minutes carefully controlling the rig gets tiring.


HappyGobo said:
...do you hold the rig with two hands on either side, or with one hand at the top so that the camera acts as its own stabilizing weight?
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The beauty of the wheel design is that you have several options:

One hand - at the top for skateboard/snowboard vids or using one arm as a "jib" to move up-and-down or in-and-out of an small area.

Two hands - at "ten and two" to drive it around a scene, pivoting and creating swoops and dutch angles on-the-fly.

Two hands - at "12 and 6" for other types of moves.

One hand - on the "post" under the camera (depending on your design, see the original) for and alternative one-handed approach.

The wheel has a lot of surface area to attach accessories like mics, controllers, lights, etc.
 
Here is my version...

PVC.. painted flake black (semi-gloss) from spraycan meant for plastic, basic bolt and washer hardware (Home Depot - around $20). Bent PVC around my smoker grill, using a $15 heat gun and about 20mins of time (and having my wife hold it while it cooled.. she LOVED that).

Handles made with Tennis Raquet Handle wraps (Walmart - about $5), and then the terminal ends of those wrapped tightly with black hockey stick tape to secure them (Modells Sporting Goods - $3).

I need a good, cheap quick release plate on here, but other than that, its about done. I will add a few conduit clamps to it to mount mikes/lights.. coming later.

I have tried to rig my wireless (IR) remote for my camera to the handle where my thumb would be, to give me a rudimentary lens controller.. it worked great indoors (IR bounced off the ceiling, I guess), but I tried it at a funeral I was covering at Arlington National Cemetery and it failed... out in an open field. No biggy, I used my big gorilla thumb. I will work on how to get that to work, though, maybe some kind of reflector to get the IR signal to the camera, or maybe a cheap version of fiber optic??

Any suggestions would be appreciated.



Thanks,
Joseph

ringcopyzc8.jpg
 
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TeamJoeDawn said:
Here is my version...

PVC.. painted flake black (semi-gloss) from spraycan meant for plastic, basic bolt and washer hardware (Home Depot - around $20). Bent PVC around my smoker grill, using a $15 heat gun and about 20mins of time (and having my wife hold it while it cooled.. she LOVED that).

Handles made with Tennis Raquet Handle wraps (Walmart - about $5), and then the terminal ends of those wrapped tightly with black hockey stick tape to secure them (Modells Sporting Goods - $3).

I need a good, cheap quick release plate on here, but other than that, its about done. I will add a few conduit clamps to it to mount mikes/lights.. coming later.

I have tried to rig my wireless (IR) remote for my camera to the handle where my thumb would be, to give me a rudimentary lens controller.. it worked great indoors (IR bounced off the ceiling, I guess), but I tried it at a funeral I was covering at Arlington National Cemetery and it failed... out in an open field. No biggy, I used my big gorilla thumb. I will work on how to get that to work, though, maybe some kind of reflector to get the IR signal to the camera, or maybe a cheap version of fiber optic??

Any suggestions would be appreciated.



Thanks,
Joseph

ringcopyzc8.jpg
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OK.. Im going to try something to guide the IR signal from the remote (velcroed to a spot convenient under my thumb) up to the camera IR port..

I will try this,.. its cheap enough if it fails.. http://willowslover.stores.yahoo.net/aafiop20inse.html

Did a wedding last night with it.. I really enjoyed using it... I did handheld throughout the entire service and the reception, from about 4pm and didn't leave till around 8:30.. I really enjoyed the flexibility to move and setup instantaneously... also, it did not exhaust me as much as carringing it on shoulder or hand would have for that long of a time.

The only drawback? I had to field questions about the rig from at LEAST 10, 12 people..

cheers,
Joseph
 
Mr. J- glad to hear the rig is working so great for you. My short "A NEW FINISH" is going to screen at the LASHORTSFEST on Sept. 12, so I guess the rig work wasn't that bad for me either. Let me know if you get that remote to work because that would be a great addition. Troop
 
troop9242 said:
Mr. J- glad to hear the rig is working so great for you. My short "A NEW FINISH" is going to screen at the LASHORTSFEST on Sept. 12, so I guess the rig work wasn't that bad for me either. Let me know if you get that remote to work because that would be a great addition. Troop
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I think I can get the IR to work.. my biggest goal is keeping it from looking too ghetto.

J
 
Do you guys use the wired remote for zoom/focus with this thing? I want to make one, but need zoom control on the handle at least. If so where do I find that remote?
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