How do i make a budget steadycam

**Captain Chunk** · February 3rd, 2001, 06:43 PM

Is there any way of making a half decent steadycam for my camcorder without spending anything?

Ralph Snart · February 3rd, 2001, 10:40 PM

Steadycam is a broad based term like spraypaint.

A stationary steadycam is a tripod or you standing very still with the camera held in its optimum handling position.

Again a broad based term depending on your camera type and size.

We have all seen the Sting video/car ad
where he is just sort of wandering around holding it like a divining rod. a few years ago it would have still looked cool but he would have been taping the tops of trees, off to the left the ground three feet ahead of his feet.

Now and because of the style of camera he can look cool and still see what he is taping.

There are wheeled monopods, harnesses, trucks, extenders that can be added to make the camera easier to hold.

Decide what you want to do and study the pro models then design your own with what you have handy.

Whatever you decide, make sure you opt for stronger rather than weaker.

"This should be strong enough" is asking the weak link in the chain to break.

If you want say a sholder brace an old backpack.

That is your base. from there mock the rest up with perhaps coathangers and gaffers tape to get a feel then see what you have that is strong enough for your prototype.

Or blueprint it out whatever your most effective working style happens to be.

No matter what if it is attached to your body and you are walking a major factor is going to be how you walk and hold yourself.

There is really no way around practising your basic camera moves and watching the results. Talk into the mic.

"Now I am walking slower, Now I am snaping my leg at the knee."

cover the same ground and do not just wander around.

or wander around keeping a running dialog as to what you are doing. so you can recreate it.

This serves the multifold purpose of

A Hearing your own voice and not wanting to crawl under a rock.

B living through your screw ups and having to see yourself as everyone else does anyway

C You can know exactlly what works and why.

D it is a good way to start looking at your work objectivly.

You can miss your own personal style by bemoaning the last thing that really did stink.

I couldn't watch my own narrations without cringing. (and I do not recommend this) but

SO I got completely sloshed a few times and just ranted away with the tape running.
knowing you are going to look like a drunken idiot when you set down to watch yourself makes it easier to be objective.

Hey this is just before I forgot what I was saying and had to throw up. Wow I look sort of cool.

What was the question again?

I don't mean to sound talk downish but I presume that new posters are bright but ignorant of certain basic principls.
sort of like my spelling skills.
GOOD LUCK.

[This message has been edited by Ralph Snart (edited February 03, 2001).]

**Curtin-Parloe** · February 5th, 2001, 10:37 AM

I found this oar under my bed, and I was looking for somewhere to stick it wink

I heard somewhere that you could make a steadycam by attaching a weight to the bottom of a closed tripod, which stops the camera jiggling when you walk. It sounds plausible enough, but I would imagine that it's not much good for extended takes (unless Lou Ferrigno has volunteered to be your cameraman!)

I haven't tried this myself, so if you do, let me know if it works.

Cheers

Paul

eddie · February 5th, 2001, 10:44 AM

a heavy tripod is a pretty desperate steadicam, but try it out, it does kind of of work. The results might not look steadicam, but at least they dont look hand held.