The Sphere Arm

Allan Black · July 20th, 2008, 04:58 AM

Check this rig out, ideal for small product adv with a small camera. In fact I've not seen this before, it is brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VetEtxeKVDQ

Cheers.

Paul Kellett · July 20th, 2008, 07:16 AM

I hope that dude patented that before he showed the world.
That's brilliant.
Some company will make that, in a little fold up package, and maybe a large version for filming people instead of the macro stuff.

Paul.

Cole McDonald · July 20th, 2008, 08:40 AM

You could mount heavier cameras and get them balanced by making "S" brackets with weight on the opposite end to counter balance the rig, making the rig smoother and able to pivot a bigger HD camera around too if needed.

Andy Wilkinson · July 20th, 2008, 09:26 AM

Yes, it is brilliant, and like so many things it's because it's so simple yet superbly effective.

I'm a career scientist (when I'm not pointing a camera at something) with my name on a few patents around the world - I'm no patent lawer but for sure I have often worked with them and can tell you that, if he did not patent it before going public with this video (19th July 2008) then he's no chance now. Shame for him.

I could definitely see one of the big boys in tripods etc. going for this. Mind you, as shown it's so simple to make anyway. A nice weekend project for someone who has more time than me right now!

Chris Hurd · July 20th, 2008, 10:02 AM

That's Edwin Bont, who has just joined us as a new member here at DV Info Net. So hopefully he'll find this discussion here and y'all can interact directly. Thread title changed from "This is brilliant" to "The Sphere Arm" (yes it's still brilliant, but it's also completely ambiguous -- please, please, please use specific terms for thread titles to aid future searches here).

Edwin Bont · July 20th, 2008, 11:51 AM

I just started to film insects and i dont like the way tripods work.
On a tripod your camera discribes a circle and "looks" from the inside out.
What i want is that the camera is rotating around the subject.
So i invented this arm.
I have never seen it before so i had to make it myself.
This is a picture of the prototype made out of good old Lego
http://www.edwinbont.nl/forums/Tijdelijk/arm.jpg

Today i made an arm out of metal and wood.
And i made a small movie to demonstrate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VetEtxeKVDQ
HD version: http://vimeo.com/1371515
It is working the way i wanted, so i am happy with the first tests.

The arm is far from finished, ideas are welcome!

Paul Kellett · July 20th, 2008, 01:51 PM

Remove it from youtube as quick as possible then get it patented, i don't know how to do get something patented but it sounds like Andy Wilkinson might know.

Paul.

Paul R Johnson · July 20th, 2008, 02:26 PM

It does strike me that the youtube videos that are dated when they are added is actually a pretty good support for the patent application - very difficult for someone to prove they invented it when the evidence shows different. It would seem such a good idea that patenting is a really good idea.

Vegard Paulsen · July 29th, 2008, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole McDonald

You could mount heavier cameras and get them balanced by making "S" brackets with weight on the opposite end to counter balance the rig, making the rig smoother and able to pivot a bigger HD camera around too if needed.

If you put something on the other side of the rig, it will be in the line of sight of the camera ;)

This is one of the most promising DIY on this forum!
Great work. Hope no-one steals your design to make money from it.
Keep those pictures coming

Paul R Johnson · July 29th, 2008, 03:51 AM

I've been thinking about this. It would seem that it's not a new design, but a modification of an existing one. It is really a post head, with the lens position extended backwards the same distance as the drop in the arm. The balancing advantages of the post arm are lost, of course, but the basic mechanics are the same. Attaching a machined extrusion (I used a spirit level!) to the base of my old post arm, setting the camera mounting plate back 400mm, produces good results, but aching arms!

SO I'm not sure how the patent things works now on a new use, but not totally new idea?

Cole McDonald · July 29th, 2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegard Paulsen

If you put something on the other side of the rig, it will be in the line of sight of the camera ;)

Only if you make the weight and camera form a "U" shape, if you set it in an "S" shape, the counter weight will be out of the line of sight of the camera, but still do the job it needs to in balancing the rig.

Jim Andrada · August 5th, 2008, 02:01 AM

I think similar linkages are used to hold the X-ray cameras at your dentist so the camera can pivot around your head. Not exactly the same, but I've seen other uses of such linkages in the past

July 20th, 2008, 04:58 AM	#1
Allan Black Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 461	The Sphere Arm Check this rig out, ideal for small product adv with a small camera. In fact I've not seen this before, it is brilliant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VetEtxeKVDQ Cheers.

July 20th, 2008, 07:16 AM	#2
Paul Kellett Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 756	I hope that dude patented that before he showed the world. That's brilliant. Some company will make that, in a little fold up package, and maybe a large version for filming people instead of the macro stuff. Paul. __________________ PMW-EX1,Manfrotto ,Sennnheiser ,Glidecam with Smooth Shooter.

July 20th, 2008, 08:40 AM	#3
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,391	You could mount heavier cameras and get them balanced by making "S" brackets with weight on the opposite end to counter balance the rig, making the rig smoother and able to pivot a bigger HD camera around too if needed. __________________ http://www.yafiunderground.com Low/No Budget cinema that looks like a million bucks!

July 20th, 2008, 09:26 AM	#4
Andy Wilkinson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge Area (UK) Posts: 501	Macro 360 degree device Yes, it is brilliant, and like so many things it's because it's so simple yet superbly effective. I'm a career scientist (when I'm not pointing a camera at something) with my name on a few patents around the world - I'm no patent lawer but for sure I have often worked with them and can tell you that, if he did not patent it before going public with this video (19th July 2008) then he's no chance now. Shame for him. I could definitely see one of the big boys in tripods etc. going for this. Mind you, as shown it's so simple to make anyway. A nice weekend project for someone who has more time than me right now! __________________ Andy www.shootingimage.co.uk Last edited by Andy Wilkinson; July 20th, 2008 at 01:10 PM. Reason: corrected video posting date

July 20th, 2008, 10:02 AM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 21,366 Images: 535	That's Edwin Bont, who has just joined us as a new member here at DV Info Net. So hopefully he'll find this discussion here and y'all can interact directly. Thread title changed from "This is brilliant" to "The Sphere Arm" (yes it's still brilliant, but it's also completely ambiguous -- please, please, please use specific terms for thread titles to aid future searches here). __________________ CH Search DV Info Net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DV Info Net Sponsors \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 20th, 2008, 11:51 AM	#6
Edwin Bont Tourist Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alkmaar Netherlands Posts: 1	The Sphere Arm, a camera arm for filming small things, like insects I just started to film insects and i dont like the way tripods work. On a tripod your camera discribes a circle and "looks" from the inside out. What i want is that the camera is rotating around the subject. So i invented this arm. I have never seen it before so i had to make it myself. This is a picture of the prototype made out of good old Lego http://www.edwinbont.nl/forums/Tijdelijk/arm.jpg Today i made an arm out of metal and wood. And i made a small movie to demonstrate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VetEtxeKVDQ HD version: http://vimeo.com/1371515 It is working the way i wanted, so i am happy with the first tests. The arm is far from finished, ideas are welcome!

July 20th, 2008, 01:51 PM	#7
Paul Kellett Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 756	Here's an idea !!! Remove it from youtube as quick as possible then get it patented, i don't know how to do get something patented but it sounds like Andy Wilkinson might know. Paul. __________________ PMW-EX1,Manfrotto ,Sennnheiser ,Glidecam with Smooth Shooter. Last edited by Paul Kellett; July 20th, 2008 at 01:52 PM. Reason: .

July 20th, 2008, 02:26 PM	#8
Paul R Johnson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: LOWESTOFT - UK Posts: 221	It does strike me that the youtube videos that are dated when they are added is actually a pretty good support for the patent application - very difficult for someone to prove they invented it when the evidence shows different. It would seem such a good idea that patenting is a really good idea.

July 29th, 2008, 03:51 AM	#10
Paul R Johnson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: LOWESTOFT - UK Posts: 221	I've been thinking about this. It would seem that it's not a new design, but a modification of an existing one. It is really a post head, with the lens position extended backwards the same distance as the drop in the arm. The balancing advantages of the post arm are lost, of course, but the basic mechanics are the same. Attaching a machined extrusion (I used a spirit level!) to the base of my old post arm, setting the camera mounting plate back 400mm, produces good results, but aching arms! SO I'm not sure how the patent things works now on a new use, but not totally new idea?

August 5th, 2008, 02:01 AM	#12
Jim Andrada Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 715	I think similar linkages are used to hold the X-ray cameras at your dentist so the camera can pivot around your head. Not exactly the same, but I've seen other uses of such linkages in the past

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