I can't find proper gimbals here in Taiwan, but I have found a couple of other things that might stand in. We're building a tilted L-shaped device and were planning to use either the wheel from a cart with a handle welded onto the wheel (the wheel turns and also swivels, providing two directions of mobility). I'm thinking I might get a swivelling handle as well, but I'm not sure if that would work or not.

The other option would be to use a universal joint, which I know where to find and buy, for the handle below the camera. Essentially the functions are the same as a gimbal, but unlike the cart wheel, the joint has the two directions swivelling from the same point rather than being seperated. The cart wheel has bearings, though. Which sounds like a better design? Would I be better off with a ball joint?

Glidecams here are all imported and prohibitively expensive, btw.

Tao-ming lin,
Are you looking at creating a large device, because the homemade gimbal from the inline skate wheel sounds like the direction you're heading towards.
It provides the two axis of movement and can incorporate a swivel handle. Dan's plans cover this. See if he can ship internationally.
Also see if he will send you just the parts list first for the stabilizer to make sure you can get the parts locally. I bet he would. That way you don't have to buy the book and pay for shipping only to discover that you can't buy any materials that you need.

You can reach him at www.dvcamerarigs.com

Again, I don't get a kick back, just awfully pleased with the product and service.

I only need something big enough to support a Panny DVX100, possibly with accessories but not many. The shopping cart wheel we have might work, or a universal joint might work as well. I'm not sure which to go with, as the prices for the welding involved makes it about the same. We have the stabilizer parts, basically a couple of aluminium pieces put together in a Steadicam Jr. configuration type thing. It all hinges around the gimbal and what we use to balance the handle.

It sounds like Dan's plans would do the trick for the dvx100. Actually I'm sure of it. I just used the dvx on a shoot and the director bought a Glidecam which was virtually identical to my homemade rig.

The central part is the gimbal made from an inline skate wheel that you can totally make yourself with a drill and some screws and epoxy.

Whichever model you go with it's going to get heavy so I would recommend short shots. And maybe a wrist splint, those sports type things, to alleviate some of the strain.

Oh btw, if I hadn't gone through Dan's instructions first I never would have been able to balance the fancy glidecam one. The glidecam instructions were without a doubt the worst set of instructions I have ever seen for any piece of equipment period.

Jean-Philippe Archibald, I really like your arm. Pretty impressive. If you all havn't seen it check out the link on the HBS forum under members systems.

One question. Your system was in the gallery under systems but I assume you did not follow cody's arm plan. Regardless, it's a nice looking arm.

Jean-Philippe, when will you be done?

Just checked it out. Wow!, nice! How many springs will you be using? Congrats Jean.

Hey guys, thank you for your kind words! I havn't finish it yet and I receive plenty of comments! That's really cool!

Simon: You know, I am working on it on my spare time, and I only have access to the machine shop a few hours / week. But the hardest work is done now, I should have the time to finish the arm this week. I think the vest will be easier to do.

Lars: each arm section will have two springs.

For those of you who would like to take a look to the pictures: http://sunens.uqac.ca/~jparchib/stab

Curious. How are you going to attach the second spring? Is it going to the other end of the arm?

It seems the homebuilt genre is really picking up. With Charles's K. new base module and your arm, boy! I better start building something of my own. :)

I just want to congratulate you on the find job you did with this stabilizer. Are you going to copy the iso-elastic arm that is an important part of the new steadicams? Since you've gone this far, it might be worth the extra trouble.

dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

It looks like the universal joint will do the trick. For more info, see

http://www.poagao.com/2004/09/it-lives-kind-of.html

Wow! it seems those guys at HBS are very advance when it comes to building stabilizers. The formulas alone leaves you boggled.

Check the link out. I don't think I've seen homebuilt at this level before, anywhere else on the net. I could be wrong.
Amazing what these guys can do. I guess you can called it the official site for homebuilding stabilizers ;)

The link as 6 pages. Just go throught it from the beginning. Those pics of the guy's arm in progress is awesome. Looks so pro like:

http://p200.ezboard.com/fhomebuiltstabilizersfrm17.showMessageRange?topicID=76.topic&start=51&stop=55

BTW, Charles Papert, what do you think of all this? Being that you are a steadicam operator. I would like to hear your view.

His name is Andreas. Nice arm and very well made. His other pics shows the complete rig in it's rightful arena. Totally brilliant build

Dan, when is Volume II coming out????

Alex F

Jeez, I hate it when I miss questions. Simon, if you are still around all these months later, to answer your question: I think homebuilds are great; made one myself twenty years ago! Not nearly as sophisticated as some of the ones on Charles K.'s site, by a long shot.

Hi Alex,

Originally, volume 2 was to go to the printers back in December, But people kept requesting certain types of rigs, and I kept designing them. This has put the release back by months. The initial outline for the book was a few harder to build rigs and the rest on lighting. But it looks like I'm going to have to put lighting in a 3rd volume. I'm hoping the second volume will be ready by the end of summer. But, once the writing is finished, it still has a battery of tests from beta builders to go through before I feel comfortable taking it to press, so I can't give you a solid date at this point.

Thanks for asking!

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

<<<-- Originally posted by Charles Papert : Jeez, I hate it when I miss questions. Simon, if you are still around all these months later, to answer your question: I think homebuilds are great; made one myself twenty years ago! Not nearly as sophisticated as some of the ones on Charles K.'s site, by a long shot. -->>>


No problem CP. Rather late than never. Got any pictures of your rig?

Charles are you really going to sell your rig?

Hello All !

I am new here, and it's great to see a forum dedicated to mounting and stabilization gear... especially home built stuff!

I have built a dolly and several stabilizers since 2000, but I am still in search of my Holly Grail... a good Gimbal that I can purchase for a reasonable price :-(

Any sources??

Thanks :-)

Hello All !

I have built a dolly and several stabilizers since 2000, but I am still in search of my Holly Grail... a good Gimbal that I can purchase for a reasonable price :-(

Any sources??

Thanks :-)

I see this is an old thread but what the hell. I'm going to answer your question. The cheapest I can think of is Glidecam's gimbal, which is around $2000. Gimbals don't come cheap because it is not off the shelf type product. They are usually custombuilt to fit the particular post of the the manufacturer.
They are expensive because of the precision, tolerance, material and of course labor and overhead cost.

Thanks for the reply!

I have made my own using ball heads, and they work OK. I have made a 2 bearing assembly that accomplishes the same task but works far better, but it is ugly.

I would never buy a gimbal for 2K when I can buy a great steadycam for under 5K... it's too bad that these parts are not priced better and readily available :-(

Thanks for the reply!

I have made my own using ball heads, and they work OK. I have made a 2 bearing assembly that accomplishes the same task but works far better, but it is ugly.

I would never buy a gimbal for 2K when I can buy a great steadycam for under 5K... it's too bad that these parts are not priced better and readily available :-(

Don't blame you. I'd rather spend that 5 grand on a Flyer :)

can't access the website http://www.homebuiltstabilizers.com

does anyone know if it's "gone away"?

Nothing is wrong. I just did. Check again.

Just for your interest (if any) here's one I designed earlier...

Hope to actually build a prototype one day.

Designed before I'd seen or heard of a Fig Rig - but they are different beasts anyway - they just look similar at first glance.

http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/frontview.gif

http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/sideview.gif

The device self levels on horizontal and vertical. A simple brake system in the handle allows you to lock it off on either plane. When fully locked off on both planes that would be the equivalent to a Fig Rig. When not locked off it would self level.

Interesting design Kevin. That first pic looks similiar to how the Alien system works. I think that's almost exactly how it works. cool.

Hi Charles

What's Alien? Just did a quick Google with no stabiliser results..?

(Also offtopic - how do I get an automatic notification of a reply to a post)

Her you go: http://www.mk-v-ar.com/

To get an automatic e-mail notification just make sure the option is chosen when you reply. Yes, the option is given to you when you reply to a post. Just look at the small window below the reply window, when you are going to reply to a post.

Quick addition/clarification to Charles's comment for those that dont' know. The AlienRevolution is motorized and electronically leveled. -And in deed, moves in a similar fasion to the above design.

Also note that the above system would loose horizon as you went around a corner (think a bowl of water) unless it was perfectly balanced (which in turn would prevent self leveling.) Quite a chalenge!

- Mikko

Well done ;-)

Regards
Leigh

Just for your interest (if any) here's one I designed earlier...

Hope to actually build a prototype one day.

Designed before I'd seen or heard of a Fig Rig - but they are different beasts anyway - they just look similar at first glance.

http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/frontview.gif

http://www.videotutor.co.uk/stabiliser/sideview.gif

The device self levels on horizontal and vertical. A simple brake system in the handle allows you to lock it off on either plane. When fully locked off on both planes that would be the equivalent to a Fig Rig. When not locked off it would self level.

For the past 17 years, I've been developing a shouldermount/steadying rig that is quite different from a Steadycam. My device is not intended to allow for a moving camera, but rather to help hold it steady when the camera operator is stationary. Mine is especially useful when shooting with a long lens and with it, I rarely need to use a tripod. It has several removable segments and can be varied from a simple, lightweight thing to something weighing about 12 lbs. and very complicated. An adjustable monopod leg is one of the optional features, as is a counterweight down low. I use a different assembly of the many parts for each occasion. I hope to set up a website soon that has several photos and diagrams for building it. It's made of fiberglass, aluminum tubing, wood and stiff foam. I've used versions of it on camcorders as large as a 17-lb. Beta, down to a 2-lb TRV730.

i know someone else already asked but whoever wants to sell their rig please email me or send me a pm.

well someone sent me an email to their website. Thanks buddy but if I was going to pay 2k I would buy the glidecam smooth shooter for $1400 on stealbay. That being said I did buy this fellows unit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7600768046&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

He was very "helpful "over the phone

Her you go: http://www.mk-v-ar.com/

To get an automatic e-mail notification just make sure the option is chosen when you reply. Yes, the option is given to you when you reply to a post. Just look at the small window below the reply window, when you are going to reply to a post.

wow that is a sled, you look like robocop. \and the website is very professional . What program did you use to do the website. im assuming it was with a mac.

Charles, I think you misunderstood me. I'm not the owner of the site. I just directed Kevin to the site that displayed the AR to which he was inquiring about the meaning of the word Alien. ;)

It's Howard's site the guy who helped developed the system. I saw it at IBC last year and was very impressed.