Cheap stabilization rigs - pics!

Matthew Bennett

Matthew Bennett

Well-known member
Planning on making a very cheap wooden pad that comes off the camera, and then sort of impacts/sits on chest

Just a very small stabilizer for handheld work, something so the camera's 'arm' can be a little more braced to the body.
(photos here)
 
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Yeah, but not so big, in keeping with the stealth model. It just seems hard to hold this camera out from the body without surgeon-steady hands.

Also, I'm incredibly cheap. I'll make anything I can except something I don't have the ability to manufacture. It drives me nuts I can't make my own chips+cameras. See my andromeda/m2 rig here:

Rig_1.jpg


scrap wood and felt: cost, $0.00, an afternoon. yes I know it also looks like it... It's actually relaxing and fun to make your own 'crafts' sometimes, too.
 
D90 will inspire a great resurgence in the fig rig since it means a small lcd screen can be attached as well. although i'm unaware at the moment (since my d90 won't arrive till the 19th) how good the video out is to drive a focusing screen.
 
utako.o said:
D90 will inspire a great resurgence in the fig rig since it means a small lcd screen can be attached as well. although i'm unaware at the moment (since my d90 won't arrive till the 19th) how good the video out is to drive a focusing screen.
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Just talked about this with someone a few days ago. The Fig Rig + D90 will be a great tool, the issue will be focusing the lenses when you're on it. One handed = Shakey, off-Balanced.
 
Kholi said:
the issue will be focusing the lenses when you're on it. One handed = Shakey, off-Balanced.
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dang! i forgot about that... i'm so used to my varizoom controller.

but focusing for me is moot. i am gonna pretend it's 1940:
where film stock was iso 50, requiring a couple 5K hot lights to expose a small background and the fifty pound cameras were all on sticks. using the d90 to shoot similar static shots will be a breeze by comparision.


also, we should keep our fingers crossed and hope that a focusing screen soon becomes available
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/cat--Nikon-DSLRs--cat_nikon.html

it will minimize the dependance on requiring external lcds in guerrilla shooting situations.
 
I am sure we can design a sweet rig that uses mass to balance.

Shouldn't be that hard.

I will be building a few when my D90s arrive and will post them if they don't completely suck arse.
 
ekai said:
The bushhawk looks pretty tempting.

http://bushhawk.shopol.com/Item/BH-220D.htm

One hand to stabilize (maybe even able to half press the shutter for VR) and the other to follow focus.

Maybe get the safety orange one just to be on the safe side when out in public.
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VR is already supported when you start recording. And I believe touching the shutter will result in the mirror coming down and LV/movie ending, since it assumes you want to take a still. This is a good thing, of course.
 
kevm14 said:
VR is already supported when you start recording. And I believe touching the shutter will result in the mirror coming down and LV/movie ending, since it assumes you want to take a still. This is a good thing, of course.
Click to expand...

I played with D90 at Photoshop Qorld and it seemed the only way to get VR to work was to hold the shutter half way down as though you are autofocusing unless there is a VR hold I'm not aware of. The only thing I'm not sure with the bushhawk is if the cable release allows the user to lightly press it as though it were auto focusing or it will just go straight to releasing the shutter.

VR is not even really necessary by seeing how the camera is using the shoulder but like you said Kev it will be great for those times you want a still of what you are shooting. No need to reach up ackwardly and press the shutter button.
 
The situation as far as I have figured out is that as long as you pan slowly or move the camera up and down the same way, you can get a pretty smooth and stable image even hand held. But the second you shake it or briefly till it up and down, there goes the image wobbling. And that becomes a problem when you are focusing on the fly because the tendency will be to move it as you do. I don't know how this will work out with a rig, the only sure thing I know so far is use it on a tripod.
 
ekai said:
I played with D90 at Photoshop Qorld and it seemed the only way to get VR to work was to hold the shutter half way down as though you are autofocusing unless there is a VR hold I'm not aware of.
Click to expand...

By all accounts if VR is switched on at the lens, when you press the OK button in LV to record, VR engages. At least they thought of that...
 
Up for this thread:

Glidecam 2000? Plenty of room to pull focus with one hand. And with the camera built up with a mattebox and FF I could see this working out nicely.

Any thoughts?
 
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