Poor Man's Camera Stabilizer Example Usage - Two Cams

[rikokun]

Hallo sir.

First i woul'd like to thank you for your idea. I have build steadycam based on your design and i like it very much.

The only problem i have is that the weight on the bottom of the steadycam tends to act like pendulum and it's rocking forwards and backwards as i walk, which translates to the captured image as slight (but easily noticable) horizontal movement. It's rather smooth, so it's not really a problem, but i was wondering if you have any tip how to get rid of it...

Thanks a lot.

[true1188]

@rikokun you need to use a smaller weight at the bottom, it should be light enough to move side by side or forward backward with out the pendulum effect. Alternatively lower you hand grip so as to balance the top and bottom when holding it main shaft horizontally, this should have a similar effect.

[rikokun]

@true1188 Thanks for your reply.

I know about this video and was watching it several times, but at the moment i still can't produce simillar results. I blame myself, lack of training with the steadycam, the fact that my camcoder is VERY light and that it has next to none image stabilization ^_^

Was thinking about putting some extra weight under the actual camcoder to compensate for the lack of it's weight, but i'm unsure if it will give me the desired effect...

[altoso99]

This footage is awesome looks like a film I just built this I'll try this with my 550d when I get home!

[MTpoolVision]

Not bad but I would suggest people look into the Cam Caddie Scorpion. It's only $38 and it's helped me capture shots as smooth as these if not better.

[jbroccoli]

I'm fairly sure that the subject of this was in THE PARKING LOT MOVIE

[killaindian]

The tutorial he gives you is needs to be tweaked a bit to get his results. Keep the 10" inch camera mount bar, but the bar with the weight has to be longer. Maybe 18" or so will do the trick. The lower the bar the better. It forces the camera down more. This is great for those people without the tools or expertise for the gimble design. I don't know sh!t about hardware, but I was able to make this with relative ease. Perfect for my uses. Just requires lots practices is all. 8/10.

[Roncace]

I've just made this kind of steadicam with my dad's help and it certainly is helping to keep my images steady

[perfectseanie]

Thanks to the parts list and the quality in the example videos we successfully made use of the "poorman's steadycam" on our recent indie feature Sick Boy. Many thanks to y'all, it worked out great and impressed several skeptical members of the crew.

I ended up cannibalizing the support plate from a Sony tabletop tripod that came free with a DCR-PC1000 camcorder and dubbed my variant on your idea "Ghetto-Glide"

[sonicballer8888]

the poor man's steadycam was designed horribly. A good stabilizer needs to have a floating gimble on an axis. There are plenty of Diy stabilizers with real gimbles, and they are still as cheap as this. This design is really just...bad. Two poles and a weight? Really now?

[killaindian]

@sonicballer8888 It works pretty well. I just made one. I have a cheap kodak zi8 portable camera. I just use it to make promotional video. The key with this one is too have a small upper bar and a long lower bar (the one with the weight). This minimizes the shaking for me by a lot. Next thing is you have to try and walk steady. It requires some practice. This steadycam is perfect for those who do not want to or dont have the tools or expertise to make the gimble design (looked into this). Try it

[frost5000000]

The tripod is being held incorrectly in such a manner that will induce vibration. The clacking can be solved by putting a rubber band or two around rhe legs. The test is flawed.

[Raymint]

That's right. It's simply using the weight of the tripod to steady the camera. they also spelled "Steadicam" wrong - or was that intentional ...

[j6sj7]

I printed your parts list, took it to the hardware store and just handed it to the clerk who took about 5 minutes to gather everything. She asked, "This isn't a plumbing project, is it?" My response, "Nope...Photography." $17 and 20 minutes of assembly later, I had my PMSC. I used it with my little Flip cam to take video of my old player piano and the difference between the with/without vids is huge. I attached a video response of it. Thanks for the idea!

[shilpinator]

much better demonstratino that other videos on youtube of this design

[honeybeever]

I made this design of steadicam. I have a demonstration video on my channel if you want to further get an idea what it's like.

[theryaner]

ok... MOST of the videos i've seen on youtube using the poor man's steady cam or horrible. The reason why is most of them are using light weight cameras. If that's the case you guys have to balance out the weight with the camera, by holding the steady cam in a different location than the given handle. The steadycam and the counter balance have to be able to sit on one finger without any tilt; that's when you know you're holding it in the right place.

[Jdub1515]

lets not forget it takes years learning how to handle any steadycam poor or rich ..

[jjho8]

I'm considering building one, I've been using my tripod as as a steady cam which gives some surprising results. but it's just way to bulky. You can see results from the tripod steady cam in some of my videos.

[alternativequizshell]

Monopod my friend, does the same thing as a Steadicam, only depending on the size of your camera.

[natranr]

I like using Monopods, just put it in your belt to hold it in place for certain shots.

[astronomerroyal]

The person using the folded tripod was not allowing it to swing freely under gravity, part of the reason her footage was less pleasing.

I made the poor-man's steadicam some months ago and the results weren't terribly impressive when applied to a small camcorder. Something with more inertia helps; either a larger camera or adding weights.

Still, the point is not the novelty of the design as much as the notion that something adequate can be made for about 10 dollars.

[SwagBucks797]

Dude, Pro youtube videos here I come!

[Hostile]

This is so brilliant. I should probably buy one.

[LilRandom2008]

I see the comparison, but it would help those watching if the steadycam video wasn't twice as large as the folded tripod video. Good job

[test123ok]

this is hella cool

[Sumtroubled1]

You've made a pogo cam.. which is a completely different then a steady cam

[djangobelgo]

Amazing! How such a cheap little device can make such a big difference.

[sgarcia420]

Whats the point???

[SR0Penne0Brillo]

to show the better camera, duh

[pabloeian]

thats an awesome idea

[zice39]

the difference in steadiness has more to do with hand placement than anything else. the PMS operator had both hands at the balance point. the tripod cam had one hand high and one low completely neutralizing the inertial dampening effect of the tripod.

[toaster99soke]

Hmm the guy on the top screen is the same guy in the faceAPI demonstration videos, lol Johnny Lee and friends trying to cash in on the Desktop Virtual Reality stuff ;)

[jowswe]

and?

[speeed0]

and you are an idiot

[nicexe]

This is great but can you describe the procedure made to accomplish that?

[ttk1opc]

Look in the info, there is a link.

[isshiahluk]

and Hollywood uses million dollar cameras...haha...what do they know! lol

[Meenotue]

they know they have money

[dargis49]

It is a lot smoother.

[JackHL]

Awesome.

I have been wanting to build a steady cam for a long time. I have tried a couple of things but haven't done it right yet.

[lineriderking12345]

i dont get it

[landonb1985]

The beginning of this really reminds me of the way The Office is filmed. Pretty good steadycam...especially for an inexpensive one.

[sourcerror]

Nicely shot footage. It has the hollywood feeling. Producing 101 :)

[menace82]

Indeed!

[LaNuzaWorks]

this is great!!!! 5 stars!

[whatthedoe]

I built this! Works pretty well. Just be careful people, it is plausible that your camera's threads could strip if you aren't cautious.

[Roncace]

what sort of things can cause that problems while using this device?

I am trying to be carful too but I am not sure what I have to be the most careful with to make sure it doesn't happen

[cyy76]

Re: comment about it as a product, if you go to the website, there is a pictorial on how you could build one yourself. The author is selling ones that he builds to supplement his own income

[ImpagliazzoBR]

Awesome job, simple and cheap.

I'll buy one next month.

Keep up the good work!

[frankygunpowder]

Really good looking stuff!

[DMCmaniac86]

Wow, really awesome. Did you built everything from the ground up or was it bought online with all the pieces ready to be assembled?

[AttemptingReason]

they just held a regular tripod at its balance point to take advantage of its high angular momentum. The weight of the tripod keeps the shot smooth and in control. The cool thing about it is that you don't need any special equipment.

[ImpagliazzoBR]

Dude, you do know that POOR MAN'S STEADICAM is a product right, this video is not about folding tripods.

[AttemptingReason]

Damn, wasn't paying attention. they are comparing it to a tripod steady cam though.

[ImpagliazzoBR]

Yes...

lol