DIY Video Camera Stabilizer - FLIP or Kodak HD?

if you've ever looked into a glidecam, steadicam,or steadytracker for professional videos, you'll find that they might use a 3 axis Gimbal handle. These stabilizers keep the camera level as you walk so it looks like the camera is 'flying'.

So I decided to make a miniature version. This would be great for those new Flip HD cameras or the Kodak Zi6 HD even other small digital cameras. The handle is adjustable up or down through the threaded rod so you can find the right balance. The weight at the bottom can also be shifted around in case your camera isn't balanced perfectly. Check out http://www.cheesycam.com i'll be posting more information.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• DIY
• Camera
• Stabilzier
• Flip
• HD
• FlipHD
• Kodak
• Zi6
• video
• camcorder
• Steadicam
• Glidecam
• Steadytracker
• camera
• stabilizer
• micro
• steadicam
• mini
• glidecam
• nano
• Mino
• review
• test
• pocket
• videography
• zi6
• KodakHD

[spreadopulence]

I dont know why anyone would give this 1 star, I have been trying to find a small image stabilizer for my Flip Mino HD for the last few hours and this is the closest I have gotten to it! Great job!

[nana2226]

Do a search for a ' Flip Float ' some guy did a nice job with his stabilizer.

[3DotEntertainment]

RIGHT (THE HELL) ON! This vid is more annoying than anything!

[peteloughran]

hell yeah, stop touching it

[ObjectiveVision]

Seems like a quick fix but I recommend shelling out the $38 it takes to pick up a Cam Caddie that will last you years helping you perfect all sort of difficult shots.

[75blain]

if you keep doing that you will go blind lolllllllll XD

[ThumpMonkeyFunk]

@tewkewl, Since I commented a year ago, I have tried it... It completely failed as it is put together in this video (there's no significant reduction in shake between hand held and mounted to the device)... however where there is a bolt here in the video, I attached a handle with a skate ball bearing, so it moves freely from side to side, I also added more weight on top and bottom for stability, and it works remarkably well now. I'll post test footage, and a look at the rig..

[tewkewl]

@TheBill2468 you can make it smaller! since it relies on a ball joint, as long as you make the bottom pretty heavy (i'd say one pound), this thing will massively reduce the shaking on a flip/kodak. as you flip/kodak users know, the shaking is the main downside to these pocket cams.

[tewkewl]

@ThumpMonkeyFunk it reduces the shake a lot. would you arm chair critics try it before you comment?

[tewkewl]

@readysteadyvideo stop it with your guerrilla marketing, okay? no one is going to buy your ready steady. you can make something similar for 3 bucks by using thick string, a large washer and a screw, a small washer, and a wingnut.

[tewkewl]

@Downfacingdog thats why you WD40 the joint like i did.

[tewkewl]

@mabryusmc it is called a tie rod end bearing and they sell it at hardware stores for cheap. all in all, it should cost you more than 20 bucks to build what he built. probably cheaper. i built a steadcam out of a ball joint mini tripod, some heavy bolts some screws and a cheap 2 dollar metal bookshelf bracket for about 10 bucks. but this design looks pretty awesome.