The Frugal Floater (DIY Steadicam)

[JacanaProductions]

Wondering what the max camera weight this little guy can support? I have a smaller camera like yours but was wondering if it's work with a bigger one, 2 or 3 lb?

[venuslnd]

wow, that's smooth. I was wondering if I can use this with my NEX5?

[musicfrendlii96]

@thefrugalfilmmaker do you think this will work for point and shooters? if sowould there need to be any mods? great vid as always

[palicipan]

Traxxas 5151 universal joint for RC car - i cannot find this thing/ part here at malaysia..

[KNbmxer51]

did you use after effects for you intro?

[dennieguitargod]

do you need a backweight when you're using a dslr?

[billyd20012001]

can you please provide me with the link of the video for the pole cam on 00.33 of this show.....please i been looking everywhere for it. thank you in advance.

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@billyd20012001 Since I can't post a link here, look for "Camera Crane / Jib for $30" and you'll find it.

[MrNyuntshwe]

I'm going to try to copy your model, but it's hard to find u-joints considerably cheap in Japan. The cheapest one I bought online was plastic and cost me about 25 US$ and very upsetting! Anyway, I will try my best and show you the result.

[onlywhenpissed]

My diy skills are rubbish plus it would take me too much time to get all the bits together so I'd like to buy a commercial version. Any tips for affordable ready made models? Thanks

[pipo702]

would you sell one already made? and how much?

[terencehood]

need to be able to adjust the distance between the lower weights and the camera platform to fine tune your center of gravity. You reduce wobble, simplify balancing, and use minimal weights.

[terencehood]

Easier way to cut this would be with a soldering iron hot razor blade attachment.

[penzilla27]

Wow Very BADASS and Nifty too! God Bless your Creativity Man! :)

[shapeworkstudios1]

oh! ive seen that macroslider rail before! some guy on cheezycam made a follow focus out of one!

[jj2J2J]

@thefrugalfilmmaker: Love the vids! Easier way to whittle down the male end of the Traxxas joint: a course metal file available at your local dollar store, and your vice to hold it while you smooth it out.

That's how I plan to do it when I build this. I just ordered the Traxxas joints and the slider rail

[Lillebror9494]

The intro music made me think of The A-team.

[Reu360]

I was working on building one myself. For the bar that drops below the gimbal (I called it the "C-bar") I curved my cpvc pipe. To do this I stuck it in my oven on an aluminum pan at 250F for about 10minutes, pulled it out and was able to bend it to shape. I repeated this a few times to get the right curve then cooled it in water. While this works well to get the shape one thing I have learned is you want to be able to change the arc length for balancing purposes.

[iplaydrumsye]

I would love it if you could make a chest/shoulder mount out of PVC and stuff. They're so expensive! and all of the cheap ones on amazon, use cheap crappy screws and it can't handle my DSLR! :(

[Pocket2Aces]

Hey Great Videos!!! Unfortunately I designed a more professional Steadicam for about $25 which in terms of savings is much more frugal. Nice attempt though, if you want to see what I have just search Simpli-Steadi, Nautilus. Perfect for the up to 2lb video cam. Allot are moving towards using dslr's for video and so I am re-designing it for heavier cameras. Keep it up as I greatly appreciate your videos and instructions. Thank you. Ace 808

[loganriscool]

you sound like Norm MacDonald 

[onesheisty]

@monstertunes so what I am having to do is use a extra bit of 3/4" pipe and a cap with a flat top and a different size 1/4-20 bolt to make it work. I guess I should make a response video at some point to show what i came up with. In any case thanks @thefrugalfilmmaker for your work!

[onesheisty]

Wow. I have reached a miles stone in my internet life. I just got a reply/mention in a YouTube video! lol thanks for the response. @monstertunes I guess I should have been more clear. My local Hard ware suppliers do have plugs, but the construction is different then the one TFF uses. Instead of being flat on the top, these plugs have a depression that goes down inside the plug. Effectively eliminating the base/stage that the camera sits on.

[monstertunes]

The smoothness of this footage is AMAZING for the price.

[onesheisty]

Where do you get the PVC plugs?! I am working on a couple of your builds. But HomeDepot nor Lowes has those plugs here in ca. So it throws off the parts list. I have to go back and get longer bolts to make it work.

[monstertunes]

@onesheisty hmm, all the Lowes and Homedepot should have PVC plugs. Should be in the same isle where you fine the T-joints and couplers.

[jmills2087]

Now you need to make an arm and a vest

[xXxGnuVirusxXx]

you could have used a drimel and awesome steadycam

[defnyung]

Try not to hold the gimbal at a verticle position when you walk because it will give you that ugly 'up and down' motion. I see it in soooo many stabilizer videos, even with expensive ones.

Check out my $15 DSLR 'Silver Flyer' steadicam. Looks better, works better, cost about the same and can handle much more weight.

Good stuff though and thanks!

[vicvic19841]

I'm trying to find the plug that you used i your project but failed. can you tell me the complete specs of that 1/2" plug?

[vicvic19841]

can you show how did you assemble the universal Joint?

[terminatorgir]

Phenomenal vid and ingenious execution. Thanks.

[nedar1]

This setup is pretty cool. I would imagine this would be a pain to use with SLR(T2i) especially if you have to change lens and re-balance. Has anybody used this setup with an SLR??

P.S: Thanks for sharing your creations.

[defnyung]

@nedar1 check out my $15 'Silver Flyer' DIY steadicam for DSLR

[blissonwheels]

Pure genius - couldn't keep the grin off my face watching this. Thanks for articulating the steps so clearly and for sharing, Scott!

[ashuntboy]

@thefrugalfilmmaker

i was wondering before i attempt this rig if its possible to use a ball head mount (you use them a lot) instead of the gimble thing? thanks and love ur vids!

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@ashuntboy I tried using my favorite eBay ball head, which I really, REALLY wanted to work due to its simplicity. Sadly, it failed as a gimble, so I had to scrap it.

[nandolugofilms]

Where might I find those weights?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@nandolugofilms Any hardware store. They are the fender washers found in the parts list.

[mr4y]

What if this was made to be held with two hands like the PVC Stabilizer?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@mr4y It would be trickier to operate, since the rig "floats" on a single point (the gimble). I would think a wider point of control would impede the range of motion.

[jledge1983]

@thefrugalfilmmaker I think they mean like |--+--| the 2 vertical lines would be handles, the dashes would be like a crossbeam and the plus sign would be where the gimble mounts. I think it would work like that. You?

[geofferzh79]

You love pvc pipe dont you...

[filipljevar1]

@thefrugalfilmmaker did you watch BFX?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@filipljevar1 I did, on and off, for quite awhile.

[cumanagoto]

As always, great work!

[desaad37]

Hug a Bug and Suck a Duck? 16:00

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@desaad37 I believe what I said was "Hug-a-bug-a-sug-a-dug-a".  Whatever makes the kids laugh.

[desaad37]

@thefrugalfilmmaker Just busting your balls. By the way, I've made two of your rigs and used them for shooting a couple events I was hired on. It worked out great! Thanks a ton! I can send you some photos if you'd like.

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@desaad37 Pictures would be great! Send me a writeup about your experience with the rig(s) and I will happily publish them on my blog and link back to you.

[desaad37]

@thefrugalfilmmaker Here are the two rigs I made, one of them being your model: watch?v=aPIWgZod3qQ

[lukespinner711]

What's better for a DSLR? A gimbal based steadicam or a fig rig? I've heard fig rig before, and if that's wrong, what about a weighted fig rig?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@lukespinner711 It all depends on your needs. a FigRig is much easier to master, but is more "hand-held" looking. A Steadicam/Glidecam has more of a "floating" image, but has a steeper learning curve and more expense.

[lukespinner711]

@thefrugalfilmmaker that makes sense. What if you put a counter balance weight on a fig rig? Could you potentially get the best of both worlds?

[pagani8]

Thanks man! I'll have to try this!

[cheapgeek1]

Nice! I need to make one of these! Very excited. Good Job Thanks.

[Belltyler91]

Can anyone link me to the CPVC coupler that i can buy online? I want to make sure to get the correct one.

[vitalandassosiates]

could u use the Traxxas U Joint with Grub Screws 1539R in stead of wilting it down

[brotherblonde]

Excellent! For a heavier camera, is it possible to rig up some form of shoulder strap to take the weight of the arm/s ?

[StanGrunder]

did the camcorder you tested on have image stabilization??

[newpageone]

YESSS! i've been waiting for scott's take on the merlin, can't wait to give this a try.

[Belltyler91]

IM having a hard time finding the right CPVC coupler. All the ones ive seen at home depot are copper. Any help?

[JimmyGentry]

@Belltyler91 I got mine from Ace Hardware.

[JimmyGentry]

I used a CPVC female adapter for my panning ring and wrapped the bearing with yellow teflon tape till it was a snug fit. To keep the axle shaft round and centered I ran progressively smaller thread dies down the shaft cutting off the nibs as needed with a fresh blade then finished it up with a file. I also used 45º 1/2" electrical PVC sweeps for the counter balance Check out my latest video "DIY Steadicam Demo" for some test shots and photos.

thank you for all of the awesome design ideas!

[SvendKnuten]

I love all of your videos. they are very helpfull, Im definitally use some of these stuff.

[BRENNANSTECHBITE]

Glad you are back, thanks for sharing all of your awesome ideas!

[OniLinkSword]

Are you using a wide angle lens with your Vixia?

[BrassKeyFilms]

Isnt that like a merlin's steadicam? Sweet I needed those

[m00tmike]

This looks like a great build and it's exciting to see a cheap glidecam. I love your steadicam build and I use it almost all the time.

[tirian2564]

Would this work with a dslr do you think? My lens is pretty heavy

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@tirian2564 With proper counterweight, any camera "should" work. I'm not sure of the weight limit since I've only tested with my small Canon HFS100 camcorder.

[kristinetissue]

@tirian2564 my concern is that i think the whole "floating" design is so to reduce handshake so you dont have to directly handle the camera.i feel like it will kinda counteracts the point bc you will be continuously focusing with your hands on the camera

[909Films]

Thanks so much! This rig has amazing results and looks rather inexpensive.

[TheHDreality]

That girl is terribly inefficient at skipping.

[cashimirs]

Hey can i run with this rig

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@cashimirs Haven't had a lot of running tests (wind was a problem during testing), so I'll have to try it out.

[DynastyOfWhatnots]

After I blow my savings on a glidecam...of corse x_x

[mybasicllc]

awesome vid..... can this be used with an HVX 200?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@mybasicllc I imagine, but I've only tested it with my Canon HFS100 camcorder.

[talkout]

Great work.... Thanks....

[duketorres]

Nice. Congratulations!

Two Thumbs Up, from Brazil!

[ThePaparoachfan4ever]

haha, floater.

[nandolugofilms]

Great job! Awesome build :)

[bizzlekizzy]

will this work with an iPhone 4S with otterbox case?

[mrhulot101]

Whenever some one posts a DIY steadycam rig I turn off the sound and watch my cursor on the screen to see how steady the video is. Your example in the beginning of your video was about as good as it gets. The video example at the end of your video was a bit shaky but the first example rocked! I also thought your explanation of the construction was excellent, close up with good sound and lighting. better than the majority of youtube DIY videos. Thanks for sharing.

[TheHDreality]

@mrhulot101 "better than the majority of youtube DIY videos" Because most aren't made with quality in mind, they're made by people who just want to share their ideas, or alternatively (this happens alot with free software tutorials) you get someone who has no idea what they're doing sharing an undeveloped idea or just something common knowledge because they just learnt it, search for software tutorials for any free software and see what I mean.

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@mrhulot101 It's interesting, but I noticed that when you are following a subject, you pay less attention to how smooth the shot really is. The POV, however, has nothing to hide behind. I also noticed that the extra lift in my step makes it look very first-person-shooterish.

[jsketchie2]

I actually stop, take off my hat, and salute when your intro music kicks in :)

great vid as usual, very helpful and inspiring ;)

[baherroth]

Can a DSLR such as a Canon Rebel series fit on this schematic of it?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@baherroth In theory, any camera should work with the proper counterweights. In theory.

[Woodenarrows]

Great video. Thanks! Any part numbers or help with finding the correct bearing for the gimbal?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@Woodenarrows Not sure, since I'm using the remnants of an old pair of Rollerblades found at a thrift store.

[JimmyGentry]

@Woodenarrows Roller blade and skateboard bearings are standard sizes so pretty much anything will work.

If using CPVC you will need to increase the diameter of the bearing just a bit, I used a few wraps of yellow teflon tape (yellow is thicker than white, but white works too). Bearings can also be pressed into standard 1/2' PVC fittings using a bench vise, but it distorts the end and it can't be removed.

[Woodenarrows]

@JimmyGentry Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I'll have to see what I can find, hopefuly at the second hand store :-)

[sticktodrum]

This is brilliant! I love it. Thank you for the ideas and tips.

[arepicks]

amazing! look just like the merlin. Great job.

[shaolonbros]

you didnt glue any of the pvc parts? Are you worried about it all falling apart?

[thefrugalfilmmaker]

@shaolonbros I usually never glue my PVC builds since I'll have to disassemble them for the show. If I need them to be sturdy, I'll often put a small piece of gaffter's tape on the end of the pipe to increase the friction when assembled.

[pixelsonia]

You´r the best ;)

[pawel134679]

Cool, I've made the WSCLATER's version about 6 months ago and it's awesome. Your version is easier to do so thumb up : )

[Douchefilm]

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