Cheap steadicam for the 7D

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=14301

This one works very well. I built one of these and also a GlideCam type and like this one better. Plus the flash bracket can be folded a differant way to provide an extra handle for normal shooting without the steadicam use.

Cost me about $50 to build.

steady.jpg
steadyC.jpg
 
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im trying to decide the same thing now (for my D90, and possibly if i upgrade to a 7D eventually)

I kinda want to make one, but i might mess it up, and if i can find one to buy for $100 or so, that would be awesome, been searching without much luck though so far.

If you bump your budget to closer to $200 there is plenty of options, but thats to much for me right now as i just bought an H4n for sound and my budget is tapped for now.
 
Well the one I linked to is made of all off the shelf parts so there isn't really anything to screw up as long as you got the right parts and have the skills to put TinkerToys together.
 
so you actually built one?

Any pics? Do you have your actual parts list that you used? $50 spent isnt to bad.

Im not to bad with mechanical stuff i used to build robotics prototypes for NASA, but sadly i dont have any tools of my own to do machine work.

But if all it takes is one of those brackets i might try it out.

jon!
 
If you have Final Cut Pro, "stillcam" does a pretty good job. Or http://www.coremelt.com/products/lock-and-load/lock-and-load.html kicks arse.

Until you can afford what you want, I'd highly recommend trying out software... I have a steadicam but when (for whatever reason) I can't use it, I use stillcam to match the shots. Sometimes I'll even use stillcam ON my steadicam shots to make everything ULTRA-SMOOTH.

Only downside is that if the shot is all over the place, stillcam will zoom in to smooth out the edge's causing a loss of quality. I only use it on small clips, but if you concentrate on being still while handheld, I don't see a problem with it working great.
 
I don't get it, could you explain me in which situations you want to put your DSLR on a stabilizer with a floating gimble, which only works if you don't touch the DSLR anymore? I personally can't think of any situation that demands stabilization where I didn't have to constantly pull focus, except for very (very) wide shots maybe.

How about this?

http://www.dynamicmotionvideo.com/products/cb105.php

the counterbalance gives you proper stability, you can control the cam and it's very cheap

This video has been shot using it with a Canon 500D

http://vimeo.com/5603639
 
stip said:
I don't get it, could you explain me in which situations you want to put your DSLR on a stabilizer with a floating gimble, which only works if you don't touch the DSLR anymore? I personally can't think of any situation that demands stabilization where I didn't have to constantly pull focus, except for very (very) wide shots maybe.
Click to expand...

Practice usually nets results worth keeping. Actors have to hit a focus mark, you have to keep them in focus. It's a delicate dance.

I shot an entire music video using a Glidecam HD4000. Checked initial focus and calculated where the pocket with the sweet spot was, and kept in that range.

It's not easy. Nothing worth doing ever is ;)
 
Very nice indeed, do you by any chance have a parts list to share? Looks like you
found some very affordable as well as workable parts for your rig. Thanks.

Gene
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/U-Shape-Flash-B...ZCamera_Flash_Accessories?hash=item27acb24003

Also need:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMERA-SCREW-TR...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item53ddd4dd0e

http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-Compact...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257557118&sr=8-1

Something like this:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=quick+release&hl=en&cid=13799446160930012153&sa=title#p

If you aren't as cheap as I you could get a nicer quick release assembly

I made an aluminum bar with two holes to hold the weights but you can check the thread I mentioned earlier to find a slotted bracket instead...I was too cheap to spring for it. Read the thread. I took a bicycle hand-grip and slipped it over the mini tripod legs.

And yeah...I guess I spent more like $55-60
 
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Like I stated earlier, the nice thing about using the flash bracket is that you can fold it a differant way and use it like an L-bracket for handheld shots. it also folds up nice. The list I provided are the main elements, you still need the weights (washers), nut and bolt to attach the weights and like I mentioned a bicycle handgrip if you want (better gripping).

Again I took a small piece of half inch aluminum (about 6" long) and drilled a hole on each end, one to attach to the bracket and one for the bolt to hold the weights. But you could order the slotted bracket mentioned in the thread instead.
 
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