Make You Own 22" Camera Platform/Riser. Alternative to Spider Pod

nedcam

nedcam

Well-known member
Wanted to share since I finally took some photos. I often have to shoot over the crowd: concerts, conventions, news events, etc. and the risers supplied by the hotel or provided at a news/PR event are too shaky for me, especially on telephoto. I don't shoot news but I do documentaries where I have to cover a press conference and I can't risk shakiness. Over the years I've rented Spider Pods but they are too heavy to shlep and expensive to rent.

Here's some shots of what I built, I've used it several times and it is SOLID. It's rock steady because of an adjustable middle support I have made. The supports are two painters platforms:

http://us.wernerco.com/en/view/Products/Climbing-Equipment/Portable-Scaffold/AP-20

Then I have a 4'x4' 1/2" square of plywood I bolt on and in the middle is $20 of adjustable pipe. Total cost with black cloth is about $160. No more Spider Pods for me!
 

Attachments

  • Secret Ingredient.jpg
    Secret Ingredient.jpg
    84.8 KB · Views: 0
  • Finished Set Up.jpg
    Finished Set Up.jpg
    63.6 KB · Views: 0
  • Peek under the hood.jpg
    Peek under the hood.jpg
    133.2 KB · Views: 0
  • 4'x4' 1:2" Plywood Top.jpg
    4'x4' 1:2" Plywood Top.jpg
    113.8 KB · Views: 0
  • Ned's Camera Platform Base.jpg
    Ned's Camera Platform Base.jpg
    124 KB · Views: 0
Looks nice and solid. The portable 'professional' one we have in our studio is wobbly and difficult to use. You almost can't breath on it without affecting the shot.
 
I have one of those little Werner mini-scaffolds and it is a terrific piece of kit for under $50. They are very solid, and reasonably light.

Grant
 
That is very cool and resourceful! I needed just a slight elevation that gave me about a 9.75". I purchase (3) hard plastic / collapsible folding stool each supporting 300lbs, and (3) Metal Corner Braces 3" and screwed them in the middle of the stoles to keep tripod legs secure and not slipping off the stool. It was the best thing! Light weight, mobility, fast and easy setup. Best part was that it was all under $40 bucks. You can add small sand bags on each for more stubility. Good Luck.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Easy-Rea...tep-Stool-300-lb-Load-Capacity-PL-1/203247301
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-in-Zinc-Plated-Corner-Braces-4-Pack-15307/202033902
 
Thank you so much for this! Did you make the adjustable pipe from parts or can you buy that as-is? I'm having trouble find this at my local hardware stores. Thanks!
 
Nice alternative to Spiderpod

Nice alternative to Spiderpod

I wanted to rent a Spiderpod for an upcoming event, but it is too costly. This looks like a decent, affordable alternative. The only drawback is that it doesn't isolate the tripod from the camera operator, but it looks like it is study enough to not wobble. Thanks!
 
What about shakiness though?

What about shakiness though?

Hey Nedcam, the thing looks awesome and it's the perfect size. But I have a question. Usually the reason why something like the Spiderpod or other solutions have the tripod platform and the person seperate (somewhat). That's generally because any movement shakes the camera and it sucks. I'm sure we've all been there. Don't you get the same problem with this setup? Or is the idea that the "secret ingredient" cuts down on that? I'm not worried about creaking or noise since I always take an XLR drop from AV just concerned me or another camera operator shifting around would shake the thing.

Also, it looks like you didn't install carpet on it (though I guess most of the time I'm filming at conferences it's always on shitty floors so that wouldn't be different). I'm stoked about this option, just wanted to dig in a little bit more! Thanks :)


nedcam said:
Wanted to share since I finally took some photos. I often have to shoot over the crowd: concerts, conventions, news events, etc. and the risers supplied by the hotel or provided at a news/PR event are too shaky for me, especially on telephoto. I don't shoot news but I do documentaries where I have to cover a press conference and I can't risk shakiness. Over the years I've rented Spider Pods but they are too heavy to shlep and expensive to rent.

Here's some shots of what I built, I've used it several times and it is SOLID. It's rock steady because of an adjustable middle support I have made. The supports are two painters platforms:

http://us.wernerco.com/en/view/Products/Climbing-Equipment/Portable-Scaffold/AP-20

Then I have a 4'x4' 1/2" square of plywood I bolt on and in the middle is $20 of adjustable pipe. Total cost with black cloth is about $160. No more Spider Pods for me!
Click to expand...
 
Looks cool. . .one worry I have is that stepping on the very edge would topple the whole thing since the supports are not on the very edge. . .know what I mean?
 
too big

too big

nedcam said:
Wanted to share since I finally took some photos. I often have to shoot over the crowd: concerts, conventions, news events, etc. and the risers supplied by the hotel or provided at a news/PR event are too shaky for me, especially on telephoto. I don't shoot news but I do documentaries where I have to cover a press conference and I can't risk shakiness. Over the years I've rented Spider Pods but they are too heavy to shlep and expensive to rent.

Here's some shots of what I built, I've used it several times and it is SOLID. It's rock steady because of an adjustable middle support I have made. The supports are two painters platforms:

http://us.wernerco.com/en/view/Products/Climbing-Equipment/Portable-Scaffold/AP-20

Then I have a 4'x4' 1/2" square of plywood I bolt on and in the middle is $20 of adjustable pipe. Total cost with black cloth is about $160. No more Spider Pods for me!
Click to expand...

Good luck carrying that monster around.
 
I know this is a very old post.

Our guys (and they were all guys unfortunately) did the same thing once for a corporate shoot because the rental people FORGOT to put the spider pro kit in the truck with all the other gear.

So, it was the hardware store and experience that made it work. It worked well because it was the same height as the rest of the video platform for us.

I think I will do this for my personal shoot, but I would need to get 8 of these platforms I guess for a line of cameras and for the people behind the camera. Still a lot cheaper than getting three spider pro systems.
 
I just use pan bar extensions. A lot easier than building your own platform and trying to transport it in. But I do have an event coming up that I'll have to be on a platform. Not looking forward to it.
 
Paul F said:
Looks nice and solid. The portable 'professional' one we have in our studio is wobbly and difficult to use. You almost can't breath on it without affecting the shot.
Click to expand...

We always use two risers or platforms, nearly butted up to one another when we need risers. One to the front and one behind it. With about a 1-2" gap between them. Camera and tripod on the front one and cameraman on the back one. That way you can move around on the second riser without the shakin' Steven's syndrome affecting the camera riser. Though I do like Nedcam's solution. I've glanced at those trestles at the DIY and through "How can use them I wonder?" I like the fact he's used butterfly nuts for quick disassembly of the platform. Another quick solution I've used is four overturned milk crates and a large industrial carpet square on top of them to stand on. I lock the four crates together with a couple of stretchy Occy-staps, Bungy cords or whatever you call them. For these types of shoot conditions, I ditch my Vinten legs and use a set of Manfrotto four-stage 536 legs which will go to 80" in height. At 5' 10" I can stand under the 536's bowl when the tripod is fully extended. That puts the average camera lens at around 7' to 7' 4" with a 100mm fluid head which works for many situations. The four milk crates carry a load of kit in and out and stack nicely on the Tri-Kart 800. Roll up the carpet square after the shoot and off you go. Just check out the user comments on the link below, mainly positive. Liked by a lot of shooters.

Chris Young.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/556158-REG/Manfrotto_536_536_4_Section_Carbon_Fiber.html
 
Last edited:
I've been using steel deck for years 4x4 with 2' legs. I have a bad back, so everything I have now has wheels, or wheelboards. This looks pretty decent and much lighter than steel deck, but steeldeck is virtually the same as being on the floor, wobble wise, and with long lenses in large rooms, the key for me is can I get onto the platform without the shot moving.
 
This is a problem area as something that is sturdy is going to be more difficult to transport. Plus, the solution by Ned would be great if it was a bit higher. No easy solutions.
 
I agree with Peter, having been on the "rubber chicken" circuit in politics for a while, at the back of the hotel ball room where most of the time the platform installed was shared with the ENG shooters from local media. I bought the a 78" Gitzo carbon tripod and made an extension for the Sachtler handle along with a Noga arm and monitor attached to the legs. It worked most of the time when I was simply shooting talking heads and less Sh1t to carry.
 
A modification to Ned's idea could be to use a couple of these types of platforms. 1150mm long, 450mm wide and extend up to 900mm in height.

In fact, at 450mm wide two of them would run close to a 1 x 1.15-meter square platform. Could easily be clamped together and used without a top board. They weigh in at about 18lbs apiece and a pair of them down here cost just on US$230. I could easily lay two of these down in the bed of the wagon and could easily carry two of these on a Tri-Kart.

A more expensive option would be a regular staging 1 x 1 meter square with the concertina legs.
https://bit.ly/2PuSUav

Chris Young

Gorilla 1150W x 450D x 600-900H.jpg
 
BrianMurphy said:
I agree with Peter, having been on the "rubber chicken" circuit in politics for a while, at the back of the hotel ball room where most of the time the platform installed was shared with the ENG shooters from local media. I bought the a 78" Gitzo carbon tripod and made an extension for the Sachtler handle along with a Noga arm and monitor attached to the legs. It worked most of the time when I was simply shooting talking heads and less Sh1t to carry.
Click to expand...
That's my take on it. I use a Manfrotto tripod with center column https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554071-REG/Manfrotto_161MK2B_161MK2B_Super_Pro_Tripod.html will get over anyone's head. Even though pan bar extenders aren't the smoothest way to control the camera, they're more than adequate for conference style work.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top