DIY Equipment

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If you're looking for a DIY Project to tackle, check out the RotoRig by YouTube member KrotoFlik. This DIY telescoping jib is based on a couple of very inexpensive Targus MP6710 Monopods held in place with ground clamps found at your local hardware store. Details are in the video and a parts list available in the video description (here).

Targus MP6710 Monopod
find-price-button Targus MP6710 Monopods

It's a pretty cool design to use two monopods, but be weary about how much weight you should attempt to operate with these monopods. They aren't exactly designed to be operated sideways. If you're looking for a lightweight portable telescoping mini jib /crane, don't forget the new versions that have been released recently (found here)

Mini Crane M1 Carbon Fiber Jib
find-price-button Carbon Fiber Telescoping MIni Crane/Jib

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Just showing a quick video of me setting up the DJI Phantom Quadcopter designed specifically for the GoPro Hero cameras. The directions are a little weird, but I got through the user manual and was able to get it off the ground in less than an hour. The Phantom is Ready-To-Fly with no setup required except for a few AA batteries in the remote. Once you place the battery into the Phantom you go through a series of system calibrations and then off you go. Though many will not consider this a professional Quadcopter - THIS IS STILL NOT A TOY.

Video sample of GoPro Hero3 with Phantom

I've already modified a special mount for the Sony RX100 Camera because it has better video quality than the GoPro and built in Image Stabilization. I basically took an old GoPro mount and modified it with a little hacksaw. It fits natively to the Phantom, and the right angle mounts under the RX100 (upside down). The camera is short enough so that it doesn't touch the ground as the Phantom lands.

Cheesycam RX100 Phantom Quadcopter

DJI Phantom RX100 Cheesycam

Quadcopter RX100 DJI Phantom

The test flight was a success and the Phantom has no issues carrying the Sony RX100. It's dark right now so I don't have anything worth showing, but tomorrow i'll try to give her a test flight in an open field and share some of that footage. You can find the DJI Phantom Quadcopter following the link via eBay (click here).

GoPro DJI Phantom Quadcopter DJI QuadCopter
find-price-button DJI Phantom GoPro Quadcopter Kit GPS + NAZA-M - eBay

If you're lucky and they are still in stock, the DJI Phantom Quadcopter Ready-to-Fly kits are also available via Amazon (click here)

DJI Phantom QuadCopter GoPro Hero Flight
find-price-button DJI Phantom QuadCopter for GoPro Video Cameras - Amazon

DJI Phantom Quadcopters Currently on eBay



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Here's a clever little tip for carrying around a portable audio recorder 'hands free' and at the same time having quick access to the screen and controls. Vimeo member Bruno Chansou uses a B-Grip Camera Belt (found here Amazon), normally used to clip a DSLR camera combined with a Manfrotto Ball Head for positioning the recorder. [Thanks Bruno] The B-Grip Camera Belt Holster system can be found via Amazon (click here).

b-grip camera beltb-grip camera holster
find-price-button B-GRIP EVO Camera Belt - via Amazon


b-grip evo belt camera system
find-price-button B-Grip Camera Belt Holster System - via eBay

The B-Grip Camera Belt Holster is a nice little solution for a belt mounted audio recorder, but it's a system that can run over $50 dollars. If this is something you might want to tackle on a budget, there are other belt clip systems that might be modified to work in a similar manner for less than $7 dollars via eBay (found below)

belt clip camera holster cheesycambelt clip camera mount
find-price-button DSLR Belt Clip Camera Holster

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Mike writes in and shares an update about a product that was currently out of stock for a while. It's a tip I shared a while back about Creating a Padded Camera Roller Bag. Although in the video I state it's under $30 dollars, the item is now back online for a slightly increased price of $39.99. Still it's a great tip for making a padded roller bag, and if you're like me I travel with three. Huge cost savings overall, even if it's just for your accessories and not your main camera bag.

You can find pretty much the exact style insert i'm using via Calumet finally back in stock right now following the link (click here).

Calumet Insert DividersCalumet Roller Bag Insert
find-price-button Calumet Padded Roller Insert Dividers

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Phocus (previously known as OWLE) sent over this case for me and I thought it would be a fun product to share since (especially as of late) I receive emails about various iPhone Video Rigs. The Phocus is a case for the iPhone 4/4s that allows you to add 1/4-20 accessories and a single hot shoe accessory. The iPhone needs to be removed from a phone case in order to slide in to the Phocus. The reason for this is to align the iPhone camera directly to the adapted lens for the sharpest results. It is a very snug fit which will also cause problems if you are using an iPhone screen protector.

Overall a great kit if you're a die hard iPhone Videographer. I have not found many other cases to fit such a niche that adds a hotshoe and tripod mounts to an iPhone, but a basic kit can run close to $100 dollars. The Phocus Kits are available in different bundles that come with a set of 2-3 lenses. Personally, I find the most useful lenses are the Macro for better close-up photography, and the wide angle lens for a wider field of view in video mode. The lenses are threaded so that you can attach optional filters and here i've found use for a Yongnuo Macro LED Ring Light. Information about the products can be found below.

Phocus iPhone 2 Lens Kit Phocus iPhone 3 lens kit
find-price-button Phocus iPhone Bundle 2 or 3 Lens Kits

iPhone Microphone Cable
find-price-button iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Musical Instrument Microphone Adapter Straight Cable

Yongnuo Macro LED LightYongnuo LED LightLED Macro Ring Light
find-price-button Yongnuo Macro LED Ring Light

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The Sony RX100 produces great video quality, and performs well in low lit situations, so I was recommending this camera to a Real Estate agent looking to perform low budget YouTube Virtual Tours. Unfortunately, it's widest focal length is approximately 28mm (not the greatest). I got to thinking, and decided to test out the new Carry Speed MagFilter Threaded Ring Adapter. The MagFilter Adapter will allow you to attach your own filters to point and shoot cameras, and here I'm using the RX100 with a cheap 52mm Wide Angle Lens Adapter.

Wide Angle Lens MagFilter Carry Speed RX100
find-price-button Neewer 0.45x 52mm Wide Angle Lens with Macro

To make walk throughs even more stable, I balanced with the Skyler Minicam.

rx100-magfilter-wide-angle-lens
Sony RX100 + Wide Angle Lens + MagFilter Threaded Adapter on Skyler MiniCam Stabilizer


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Looking to travel light, but still have a large battery powered LED light source? In this episode of GearBox from TheC47.com, Jem is planning to use the Triple Shoe Adapter I posted about (seen here) to create a large light source with a few high power Switronix BOLT LED lights (review found here). Those BOLT LED lights are great, but they are pretty expensive. Keep in mind, you could use this same idea with other lights.

Switronix-TorchLED-Bolt
find-price-button Switronix TorchLED Bolt On-Camera Video Light

To create more or less contrast, he could switch out to different sized umbrellas or use a shoot through, or even adjust the angle of each light. When not in use, this lighting kit idea should break down to several small parts. There are two different Triple Adapters I talked about, and both types can be found for just under $14 bucks via eBay (Click Here).

Triple Flash Adapter eBay LED Video Light
find-price-button Triple Flash or LED Video Light Shoe Mounting Bracket

The Metal Bracket Can be Found on Amazon for under $10 bucks + shipping (Click Here).

Screen Shot 2012-08-16 at 10.05.43 AMTriple Flash Adapter Bracket LED Light
find-price-button Triple Flash or LED Video Light Shoe Mounting Bracket - Cast Metal

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It's nice to work in large spaces, but sometimes those large spaces will cause echo in your audio. Too much echo can be distracting to the viewer. Adding furniture like couches, or even inviting more people into a room will help to absorb sound, but that's not always possible. So in this space I setup Audimute sound blankets on Light Stands to help absorb some sound, block deflection, break up the emptiness, and basically just add texture to an open space.

I have dozens of these blankets, and can setup as many as required. These are the same blankets I used to line the walls in a DIY vocal booth (video and example seen here). It's not a perfect solution, but it makes a huge difference and it's easy to stow away for transport. You can try this with heavy moving blankets, and although that should help, I don't think they will perform as well as the more expensive Audimutes.

Audimute Sound Absorption
find-price-button AudiMute Sound Absorption Sheets

I know the Audimute stuff is expensive, and only sold in packs of (4) or (5) count, so if you still need to look for sound absorption type blankets, there are a few on eBay (that look like heavy moving blankets) found here.

Sound Absorption Blanket DIY Vocal
find-price-button Audio Sound Absorption Blanket

There's also a few more varieties found over at Amazon (click here)
41pB0B5VpuL._AA115_41iaidFM08L._AA115_21K1MouolyL._AA115_
find-price-button Audio Sound Absorbing Blankets