Do It Yourself Video Gear

Do It Yourself Video Support Gear

by Craig Hollenback, Abracadabra Films

Here are a few video related projects that I've built in order to save money and achieve at times results that I couldn't readily find in commercial products. I hope that these photos will give you a good idea as to how to build them for yourself. All of the parts used are easily found at home centers and there are links to sites where you can order specialty items that are not. Enjoy.

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Hands free camera support
It's simple to make with easy to use tools. It allows the wearer to support a camcorder steadily for extended periods of time hands free and with little effort.
This comfortable support device is made from 3/4" PVC water pipe and assorted water PVC fittings, T's, 90 degree elbows, 45 degree elbows, a cross connector and 2 pre-curved pieces in grey PVC found in the home center's electrical department.
I strongly suggest buying inexpensive shears to cut the PVC pipe. They make the job go quickly and cleanly. Watch you fingers! The parts are held together with PVC cement (dries VERY quickly!) Invest in some extra trial parts to sample glue in order to get the feel of glue setting time. Also, lightly sand each pipe end to make assembly into the connectors easier. I've added a Bogen swivel to mount the camera on a short telescoping piece. The telescoping piece isn't needed if you cut a custom piece of PVC to the proper length for you. (Optional) I made this unit bolt together where the wing nuts are so I could pack it easily. You can calculate the connector parts and type from the photos. Very little 3/4" pipe is needed for this project. Push all the pieces together without glue first to get a good fit for you. Make adjustments to the PVC pipe lengths to fit. Mark all of the pieces while assembled so you know where they all go and how they are oriented before disassembling. This will make it easier to assemble with the glue. Plan the gluing procedure intelligently.
(WARNING) do not trust your camera by the support unit without gluing the parts together first!
Link to Bogen swivel
PROJECT COST WITH GLUE...under $10.00 (without swivel)
click each image to enlarge

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PVC rig
This is a camera support that is similar to a commercially available model except it has a built in base! The sample shown was a prototype for a concept that was never submitted. It's made with 3/4" PVC water pipe parts and assembled much like the support featured previously. It's easy to build and you can attach mics, lights, receivers, etc. to the frame. Design the piece to fit your camera and be sure to leave room to swing open the camera's viewfinder screen. The camera is attached with a 1/4-20 3-1/2" long bolt with washer. Note that the center connector beneath the camera has a 3/4" PVC plug in the top and bottom. You'll need to drill a 1/4" hole through both plugs and insert the bolt prior to the gluing assembly. I didn't and I had to drill a larger hole through the base to allow the bolt to be inserted later, DUH! This unit measures 18' across. Again, cut, layout and test fit all the pieces first before gluing. Assemble it on a flat surface to keep it symmetrical.
It provides a good steady center of gravity and costs about $5.00 to build.
Paint it flat black to avoid stupid questions.
click each image to enlarge

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Two handed rig
This too is a camera support that is similar to a commercially available model except it is made from 3/4" PVC water pipe. It's very obvious from the pictures what connectors are required. Note that additional plugs can be placed atop each handle to attach accessories. Design it to fit your camera and again, be sure to leave room for the viewfinder door. A 1/4"20 bolt holds the camera to the unit through a glued in fitting plug. Use a socket wrench to tighten the bolt through the fitting. Pre-assemble all parts and mark them for reassembly during gluing. Assemble on a flat surface.
A cross fitting was chosen for the bottom instead of a T so that an additional section of tubing could be can be added as a monopod. Or, design a base from PVC that will support the camera at rest.
Note that you can also hold the rig from two positions, parallel to the floor and perpendicular to the floor. Paint it flat black.
Entire project cost, under $3.00
I use a similar rig to this that I built on a regular basis, except that it's made from aluminum and it has molded plastic hand grips. That rig is similarly supported by a mono pod which is supported in a Bogen belt pouch.
click each image to enlarge

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Camera Crane
After looking at lots of commercial and home built camera cranes, I decided to give it a shot myself. From what I've read, it was suggested not rely on a fluid heads for strength, and to use a heavy weight tripod. Some incorporated bearings for operational smoothness. I made this 8 foot crane from 2" square aluminum tubing that I purchased at Lowes. The long lengths came in 10 foot lengths and were designed to create outdoor screen enclosures. The wall thickness is 1/16" so it's very light, but must be re-enforced in the center with 2 foot long 1/8" L material.

The 1/8" thick L stock was attached with liquid nails and rivets. The control arm is also made from enclosures material except it is 2" x 1".

The two vertical base supports were fabricated from 2" square aluminum tubing with 1/8" wall. Those parts were attached with cast aluminum connectors also from the enclosure hardware. I bolted a flat aluminum plate to the 2 support rear to hold a BW monitor on with velcro.

Lowes sell bronze bearings (bushings) in their specialty hardware section. I used 3/8" steel rod with these bearings. The bearing fit into 1/2" holes in the aluminum. They were used wherever a pivot point occurred. Self locking nuts were used along with nylon and steel washers. All from Lowes.

Note that there is a C stand fitting attached under the camera plate to support the camera end onto a C stand when the crane is at rest. Also note the nylon spacer washers between the square tubing. There is a spacer tube of 3/8"ID 1/2" OD aluminum tubing between the square tubes.

A half round locking plate was cut from angle aluminum and secured with a washed and knob from Lowes.

A 3/4" 4 screw pipe flange was attached to the aluminum plate at the rear of the crane. A 3/4" nipple was screwed into it to hold a 10 pound exercise weight. Then, a removable T was screwed to that to hold the Bogen fine adjustment weight. That slides on the pipe and clamps tightly for adjustment.

The crane is attached to a mounting swivel via a 1/2" bolt from 1/4" thick aluminum plate. That plate is attached to a 1 1/2" 4 screw pipe flange which is attached to a 1 1/2" nipple. The 4 screws protrude from the plate and index into 4 locating holes in the crane support plate. The 1/2" bolts hold it together. The 1 1/2" pipe nipple fits into a pillow block ball bearing assembly. Cost $14.75. That assembly is attached to the Bogen tripod via a 1/4" aluminum plate. 4 large bolts hold the bearing block to the plate. Note that the ball bearing race is designed to wobble in the cast iron housing. You'll need to remove the bearing by tilting it (they'll tell you how to do that) and taping 4 set screws into the cast iron to secure the bearing (easy to do). Do not over tighten.

This bearing is super smooth and very affordable. It's the only bearing that I know of which will accept a standard pipe size. This one accepts 1 1/2" common plumbing pipe from Lowes. I also put a lock set screw on the pipe flanges to prevent accidental unscrewing,

click to play sample footage

It cost $14.75 for the bearing...$60.00 for the aluminum from Lowes. About $30.00 for the bronze bushings, nuts, bolts, rod etc. About $10.00 for the pipe parts. Not more than $150. total. You will need a sturdy tripod however.

Fluorescent Lantern Lighting
coming soon.