Kinda off topic but - Has anybody ever built a Steadycam....

[Marc Peters]

*snarf* You can borrow my penchant for eating too many chocolate hobb nobbs. Not a great vice, but it's yours if you want it. *snarf, snarf*

[argento]

Marc, I though you were gonna offer me a vice GIRL then!!

[Alan Mills]

Looks like you got in before I edited my post. Any clue as to how you put the camera on. Presumably it relies on you buying a bolt with the exact thread as the mount on the bottom of the camera.

Onlyh watched the running down the corridor movie. I have trouble doing any sorts fo downlaod at work (firewall!!!) and then only got half the movie.

It certainly looked ok. I'm not entirely convinced though tbh. The woords used say to practise 'gliding' with the knees bent as you run along. So, it look slike the hard work is in not moving when you run rather than having the steadycam absorb/dampen the motion like they're supposed to. I just get the impression he fimed that all day and shows us the best one.

Basically, I'm a sceptic on this because I just can't fathom how and why it works. It's a rigid structure so how can it dampen movement anhy better than strapping house brick to the camera to increase its weight?

I'd love to be convinced.

[argento]

Well Millsy, I'll cost about £10 to have a go!

You know what they say - Nothing Ventured.... Nothing Ventured.... :lol:

[Alan Mills]

Originally Posted by LJR Millsy, This link explains and demonstrates it much better than I can.

Good link but it doesn;t answer my question. This link explains how the steadycams using spring dampeners and ball and socket joint work. The one in question is a single fixed rigid structure.

Pretty much all the xamples on te second link (or the original post) have some sort of universal joint in them. The one in question does NOT so I wonder how and why it works.

[Alan Mills]

Originally Posted by LJR Millsy, This link explains and demonstrates it much better than I can.

Here's a useless piece of info. The type of steadycam assembly used here is what Vasqez was wearing to hold her big gun in 'Aliens'. They built the rig from a steadycam for the movie.

[Alan Mills]

Originally Posted by argento Well Millsy, I'll cost about £10 to have a go! You know what they say - Nothing Ventured.... Nothing Ventured.... :lol:

You just want me to build one so I can send it you afetrwards eh?

But you've got a point. I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that the extra weight dampens movement by increasig the inertia needed to start the whole thing moving. Also, the physical size of the frame will reduce movement by defintion. i.e. move half an inch on one end of a 10" rod (fnarr fnarr! ) and the fixed end's movement would be negligible.

I might just check out B&Q soon and give this a go, if I can work out how the camera attaches

[argento]

Go for it mate - and if you do want to make two.... :lol:

[Marc Peters]

Did you know it's also a long way to Tipperary, but my heart's right there?

[LJR]

Originally Posted by millsy Originally Posted by LJR Millsy, This link explains and demonstrates it much better than I can. Good link but it doesn;t answer my question. This link explains how the steadycams using spring dampeners and ball and socket joint work. The one in question is a single fixed rigid structure. Pretty much all the xamples on te second link (or the original post) have some sort of universal joint in them. The one in question does NOT so I wonder how and why it works.

You are altering the center of gravity by counter balancing the weight on one end. Therefore this movement is dampened and your arm effectively acts as a pivot point, kind of like a cheap universal joint and dampner all rolled into one. The Steadicam in the link I provided would be too heavy to control in the same way and so this is likely why it has the additional link to the body frame and universal joint and dampner.

This is all conjecture of course.