Pete holding up the latest technological innovation in Sticks. A stick that helps to keep a camera stable! Pete here has helped us to build our very own DIY steadicam for our videoclip shoot.
Ok, for some of you reading this, you'll just be shaking your heads going WTF are they up to now. For those folks, dont worry, its for a videoclip where we need some stable movement with camera whilst walking.
For other folks (like me) who wanted to get one of these so they could make that videoclip/home movie/Avatar2, whatever, read on for some pics, links and a little giving back to the web after the awesome help we have gotten from it of late.
Ok what is a steadicam? - its a counterweight (at its most simplistic) that helps to keep a camera upright when you're moving and filming.
They're a serious piece of kit, can cost from a few hundred (crap one) to a Whole Lot Of Money (for hollywood) and everywhere in between. But as the forums will tell you, its the operator that makes the shot work, not the gear. God help me.
So, cos we're broke-ass muso's but needed one for a clip, we thought we'd have a go at making one. As I totally suck at metal work, I asked for some help online and Pete here was crazy enough to offer some help.
How often in life do people do what they say they will, or just have a go at something? Huge thanks to Pete. this was some serious machining.
Ok, so here's the giving back to the web bit, and if you're looking to build one, here's what we started with and how
Firstly, I researched the designs on the web.
The Homebuilt stabliser forums are awesome and we used the gimbal design Cody Deegan put there in the tips section. http://homebuiltstabilizers.com/
HBS also has links to suppliers and a forum where you can read about what to do and what not to do. You can also get a full set of plans from Cody at www.codydeegan.com
I didnt need to get the full rig as I came by the vest and arm on ebay at a reasonable price, so we were just working on the Sled (the pole that holds the camera) and the gimbal that it needs to isolate the pole from the movement of your body.
Next, I asked for some help with the metal work bits
I figured the gimbal was the tough bit and went to the forums to ask for some info on who could help me weld something. Luckily for me, the australian wood working forum had a metal work section, so I emailed to ask some questions.
Pete offered to help so next came:
Finding local suppliers
God bless you google!
Pete spent some time looking at Cody's gimbal design and preferred to machine, rather than weld, so thats what we went with.
So here's the useful bits for other folks who are looking ot build the gimbal component and sled.
After a reccomendation from the web, we opted to get a manfrotto monopod, which is apparently what Cody's plan uses for the main pole. that saved a bit of time and effort and cost $86.
Now we go into the picture bits as we show the SHAWCAM (rofl) gimbal design, machined from a single lump of aluminium. Aluminum. ARGH which is the correct spelling?
Anyway, this is all down to Pete's precision work (jeez its smooth) so here are some pics:
The SHAWCAM GIMBAL!
Made from 5 inch by 2 inch block of Aluminium + other bits!
The centre sleeve around the pole is missing from this shot - it sits on top of the collar (see below). The collar, the sleeve etc were all made from the centre piece Pete cut from the main block
Ok, so the outside diameter of the bearing (below) sits in this collar and the centre sleeve sits in the inside of the bearing
Turn the sleeve thing over and insert into the collar et VOILA!!
Ok, now in the gimbal design we were using, Cody suggested welding three pieces of metal together into a C or U shaped bracket.
Pete decided to do his Own thing and machined the surrounds from the single block, using the centre as.....um....the centre
As per Codys design, we used bearing on each of the holes right and left, plus the bit that goes into the curved piece that connects to the Vest and Arm.
The centre piece attached to he gimbal mount with the pole through the centre.
Part 2 - Pete machined it down for weight and smoothness and attached the bit that goes into the curved metal pipe.
So smooooth....now it pivots front back, turns 360 in pan (thanks to the central bearing) and the handle connector (what I am referring to as the turny bit).
And there you have it, the shaw cam. The top camera plate isnt mounted in this shot, but you can see the bottom plate where the balancing weights go, the central pole for the sled and the gimbal that holds the lot and the curved piece that connects to the vest.
Pete put some serious thinking, planning, designing and machining into this, using info from a variety of sources and forums and then plain old figuring it out in his head.
Thanks Pete, you rock.
Now we have to test it and I have to learn how t use it so we can go film the clip for Last Drinks at Glenrowan!