dslr stabilizer

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Ready for a sweet little DIY DSLR Cage? Submitted by Andy Clancy, this cage was put together from an off the shelf light tent kit and a cheese style plate. The main part of the cage originally was a light tent for small product photography. A few bike styled handles on the rails, and the rest should be pretty easy to figure out.

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The rails look to be aluminum and can probably be cut down to just about any size camera you own (including small GH2 shooters). Just by looking at how this guy is put together, it looks super light weight, adds tons of ways to stabilize a handheld shot, ability to get some really low shots, and tons of piping to drill mounts or add some cold shoe adapters for accessories (like a monitor). [Thanks Andy]

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find-price-button Product Photography Light Tent

The second part for the 'baseplate' was from a Glidecam Camera Weight (Cheese) Plate.

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find-price-button Glidecam Weight Plate

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If you're an iPhone Video shooter, this Lensse Camera Stabilizer for phones is pretty fluid. (BTW that's not an iPhone. That's the Samsung Galaxy) I'm thinking it should be able to support my GoPro HD once i've added enough counterweights. The drilled brass socket for the Gimbal is smooth, but as other stabilizers like this the angle of rotation is limited. I'll need to really test the weight once my GoPro LCD Bacpac has come in, but it should be fine.

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find-price-button iPhone / Cell Phone Video Camera Stabilizer

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An interesting start to a DIY DSLR shoulder rig inspired by the twist handle shift method. This time YouTube member geedubya101 uses a grip shifter from a bike and runs the firm cable to the lens. Another piece being used is a rotating flash bracket to add a side handle and some extra mounting options for accessories. Everything you need to know is all in the video, and it looks like it will be a cool little shoulder support when it's all done.

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Looks like a few new eBay sellers have picked up this unusual camera support item and now there's some promotional videos online. Folds up, folds out, with extremely large (too large?) handles that can configured into different style stabilizers such as a Shoulder rig, Fig Rig, DSLR Cage. Doesn't look like it can be positioned to get a DSLR with view finder loupe offset properly, but functions as a basic shoulder support with an external monitor attached. Above is the most recent video ad promoting this product labeling it as the 'Spider Steady'. Pricing is still less than desirable....

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find-price-button Multi DSLR Video Camera DV Shoulder Rig Support

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A crane is not a video tool you drag with you everywhere, especially if you're a one man band. But the times when you DO bring out a crane, you'll always come back excited about reviewing the camera movements that are hard to replicate in any other way. I thought about DIY'ing my own crane, but after finding this one for just over $100 dollars, it made sense to start with that and modify it as I go. Unfortunately, they aren't available any longer.

When working with a Crane, make sure you have the correct amount of balance (right down to the ounce). Having perfect balance will allow the camera to move effortlessly. I also mounted this setup on a (discontinued) Manfrotto 503 fluid head with a beefy Manfrotto tripod. I used a Manfrotto tripod dolly to make repositioning easy just by rolling the crane around. This portion of the build is a bit more expensive, but there's other options for Crane stands.

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find-price-button Manfrotto 503 Fluid Head

We had so much fun getting extremely low shots, to very smooth vertical camera movements, i'm looking to either build or buy a smaller 4ft. Crane. It might seem short, but it's also based on Tripod height. If the tripod is set higher, then the POV will be higher. There is one Bargain brand that seems to have a small faithful following with excellent feedback that I might consider - called ProAm. The ProAm crane can be used in either 8ft. or 12ft. lengths and broken down into (3) 4ft. sections for traveling. Lots of other Crane options, Crane accessories, Crane stands, and LCD monitoring are also available from Bargain Camera's lineup. All found below.

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find-price-button Bargain Camera Cranes and Accessories

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There's plenty of stabilizers on the market in all different shapes and sizes, but finding one to support up to 8lbs. of weight narrows the playing field. Now when you're talking about finding a portable lightweight stabilizer + carry 8lbs. the list gets even smaller. The Steadicam Merlin is one of the best performing portable stabilizers i've used, but has specs to support only up to 5lbs for about $800 dollars, the Glidecam 2000 up to 6lbs, and The Glidecam 4000 can support up to 10lbs for about $550.

The Blackbird stabilizer from Camera Motion Research is said to support up to 8lbs, is cheaper in price, and less than half the weight and size (making great for traveling) compared to the Glidecam HD4000. The Gimbal handle design with universal joint is found on other stabilizers, but this is the largest one i've seen. How well does it perform? Well, there's videos of this stabilizer flying a Sony EX1 so any DSLR should be a breeze. Just by looking at the build quality, there's quite a bit of thought placed into every detail about how this thing works. The stage has a quick release system, can be adjusted forward / back, and left / right with fine tuning knobs. The weights on the bottom are mounted to an adjustable post with clear markings for easy repositioning if you have to take the unit apart. (I often use nail polish on my Glidecam posts to make sure I can line things back up) One interesting feature addresses problems with what most people have issues with (stabilizer roll). By adjusting friction into the Gimbal it keeps the stabilizer horizon more consistent.

Here's a great little review from Vimeo member Firewerkz Films

If you understand stabilizers, how they work, this one is clearly made to address all concerns for getting the camera quickly balanced, easy to fly, and travel light. I'll be putting it together and testing it out later this week, but so far it looks like a great little product. I'll have part #2 of this review up soon.

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find-price-button Camera Motion Research BlackBird Stabilizer

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YouTube member mowaska has a new take on a DIY DSLR rig that transforms from a compact travel item into a full Shoulder Rig complete with Counterweight and handles. Completely tool-less, it uses a series of clamp knows to unfold, and even has a way to mount a Manfrotto quick release plate (without adapter). Pretty cool, and some company out there needs to run with this idea..

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YouTube member MrHotRod460 assembles a DIY DSL Shoulder rig. Things seem to be in all the right places to stay in control of all the accessories, keep it well balanced, and ergonomic. Not shown was probably the LCD monitor that goes towards the left hand. If you're not into LCD View finders, placing a lightweight LCD in front instead of the entire camera keeps most of the weight closer to the shoulder support. More comfortable for some people, but obviously more things to carry and manage. Great stuff though.

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Varavon's new Armor adds a few extra handles as well as accessory mounting points. It's a cross between a cage and a hand held stabilizer. I think it looks pretty cool, but i'm not sure how you actually set the thing down. Either way, it keeps the camera looking fairly low profile while still adding functionality to shooting hand held, I think it's pretty cool.

Thinking about what I have laying around to simulate a DIY, it reminds me of a Photographer's Rotating Flash Bracket. Maybe throw a handle here and there, drill a few holes... Check this one out by Custom Brackets.
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find-price-button CB Junior Rotating Flash Bracket Kit

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find-price-button Variety of Rotating Flash Brackets via eBay