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DIY Stuff to Build Yourself
Home Page Vegas and Editing Tutorials DIY Rig Tutorials DIY Rig Summary
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The cost of getting commercial grips and rigs is more often than not out of the price range of most of us. The solution??? Build them yourself!!! Here are a selection of some of the rigs we have built and we also have step-by-step tutorials for them too!! Most will cost you a fraction of the cost of buying a commercial ready-made unit!!! You can now get professional results at a fraction of the price. If you need any tutorials for the rigs below click the DIY Camcorder Rigs link on the menu above or just CLICK HERE We also have added some quick FREE video tutorials here. Watch 'n Build. If DIY Rigs is your thing, be sure to check out our Mega Tutorial Pack with all 29 rigs in one easy file |
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FLYCAM 5000/COMFORT VEST MODS Do you have a Comfort Arm and Vest/Flycam 5000 Stabilizer??? These sub $500 "stedicams" don't work very well straight out of the box BUT with a few simple modifications you can turn it into a stable and professional rig that will really do justice to your footage. Having owned 3 of these now let me tell you some simple DIY tricks that will make your rig a real pleasure to use and you will NOT BELIEVE how well it will operate!!! Click here to get the tutorial Mods include :
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EXTERNAL ON-CAM BATTERY PACK At Last!! You can STOP paying ridiculous prices for camcorder batteries by building this powerful pack that will literally last a entire day shoot!! What's more it mounts on the rear of bigger cameras AND also can mount on your smaller camcorder using the tripod mount so it's a neat pack under your camera. To compensate for the lack of "battery time left" that manufacturer's batteries sometimes provide, we have even included an integral LED level indicator. Can you imagine having nearly 10ah of capacity that will cost you under $60???? Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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NEW!!!!! MULTI-MODE STABILIZED CAMRIG This will be the MOST USEFUL tool you will ever build for shooting video and you can build it using your existing monopod and a cheap mic stand for just a few dollars. It's balanced like a stedicam for awesome handheld shots and converts your monopod into a stable tripod that goes from ground level to the treetops in seconds. Shoot overheads with the harness and get unbelievable footage at the skateboard park in skatecam mode...You won't believe what you can do with this rig and to think that it started out as just a monopod!!! Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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STABILIZED SHOULDER-MOUNT FRAME Build an awesome aluminium rig that converts your camcorder into a professional shoulder-mount setup just like the professional ENG cameras but without the expense. Rock steady stability with dual handgrips AND a really impressive gimballed body support too!!! Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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MINI-DOLLY TRACK SYSTEM Build a Mini Dolly Track system for less than $50 that will do much the same job as systems costing 10X as much. Simple easy to get materials from your hardware store. (Estimated cost excludes tripod and ballhead) Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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CAMERA SLIDING TRACK SYSTEM Build an an awesome Camera Track system that will allow you to do professional left to right and back to front dolly tracking with a huge 50" range!! Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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LED VIDEO LIGHT PANEL Build a LED light panel for less than $50 which will out-perform current LED Panels that are selling for $1000's or more!!! Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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You can build the same thing for less than $50!! |
EXCITING LED VIDEO LIGHT Build an "on-camera" LED light bank for less than $50 which will out-perform commercial lights that are selling for $399 or more!!! Click here to get the tutorial Features include :
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STUDIO STYLE MONITOR Build a studio style LCD monitor for your camcorder using a Sony Playstation Screen When we do event shoots it's pretty hard to have to squint down at the tiny LCD to check that all is well so I salvaged a Sony PSOne Combo screen (cheap as chips on eBay) and we now have a nice big and portable monitor for under $50 that also has stereo sound!!!
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CFL LIGHTING UNIT Build a Compact Fluorescent Lamp Video Light Are you really tired of using halogen video lights that get hot enough to barbeque a steak and make everyone sweat??? You can now build a light that uses only 20% of the energy and best of all, a 400w (equivalent) one will cost you less than $30 to make AND it runs cool to the touch. Light output is at a convenient 5000K colour temperature too. This project has it's own tutorial and it can be made in less than an hour We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here
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REMOTE CONTROL UNIT Build a Remote for your Panasonic Camcorder Most 3CCD Panasonic Camcorders come with a "MagicWire" remote BUT it only has fast zoom on it and NO way to use an external microphone!!! You can now build our remote which mounts on your tripod handle and boasts both slow and fast zoom speeds, remote still photos, remote start and stop and you can plug in your external mike too!!! Please note that this project requires the special 6 connector plug from the little remote that came with your camera so IF your GS Series camera does NOT have a MagicWire remote then you cannot use this project. |
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DOF ADAPTER Build a Depth of Field Adaptor for your Camcorder
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MATTE BOX Build a Matte Box for your Camcorder Matte Boxes usually cost hundreds of dollars as they are classed as "professional gear". Now you have a chance to keep all the nasty reflected light out of your lens and also add filters too! You may not believe it but this rig will cost you way under $10 to build and you must admit it makes your little camcorder look very professional too!!! |
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Build a Camcorder Mount for your Rig using a cheap tripod This useful idea will save you the cost of having to buy an expensive and hard to use ball head (around $40 +++) by simply using the top half of a cheap tripod that you can buy for often less than $10!!! This tutorial is free for our visitors so you can download it from the link below |
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VEHICLE MOUNT RIG Build a Multipurpose Camcorder Car Mount Rig This useful and versatile vacuum mounted camcorder rig costs less than $20 to make and will support even heavy cams. The vacuum cups are rated at a massive 100kgs (220lbs) and this unit can also mount on the glass as well as be used as a steady mount on the hood of the vehicle!! Just jump out when you see the shot you want and lock it to the roof or hood and you have a powerful and stable mount!!! |
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STABILIZER EXTRAS Build two new improvements to the stabilizer Our stabilizer didn't really have a very simple and easy way to adjust the counterbalance weights on the bottom sled nor was adjusting the camcorder position that accurate. Here are two modifications that you can add to your stabilizer to allow accurate camera positioning for balance and a real easy way to get around having to thread washers on the counnterbalance spindles. If have already built the stabilizer then get these 2 tutorials NOW!!!! They will make your life a whole lot easier!!!! |
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STABILIZER VEST RIG Build a Lite-weight Body Mount for your Stabilizer Using our stabilizer for extended periods can become a little tiring on your arm so here is a REALLY INNOVATIVE harness that you just slip over your shoulders and clip your stabiliser onto for a completely "hands-free" operation. The unique swing arm takes the entire weight of the rig and allows a smooth motion. |
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CAR WINDOW MOUNT Build a Versatile Camcorder Car Mount Rig This useful and versatile vacuum mounted camcorder rig costs less than $10 to make and you can get some amazing shots with it!!! Use it to film the driver or passenger or clamp it on the door panel for cool road shots. Each vacuum cup is rated at 10lbs (max) so it will carry most small DV camcorders |
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OUR FAMOUS MULTI-DOLLY RIG Our AWESOME MULTI-PURPOSE RAIL TRACK DOLLY IS HERE!!! This is the ULTIMATE rig for you to build. Super strong and super lite aluminium track dolly with a lite-weight accessory tower. Ultra versatile change from ride-on to mini-crane in minutes, then to pan head. THIS IS ONE RIG THAT YOU MUST HAVE
This is 3 rigs in one!! Use the crane, use the pan head, just ride the dolly and hand-hold or use your own tripod. |
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CUSTOM CAMERA CASE Build a Custom Case for your Gear This really easy to make gear case looks the same as the ones you see in the camera shops for $350 and it will cost you less than $50 AND it's so easy to customise it EXACTLY to fit all the video gear that needs protecting. PLUS it looks professional too. |
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FIGG STYLE PVC RIG Making a PVC Stablizer Rig You Here are step by step details on how to make this Ultra simple yet extremely useful rig that also has space to mount mikes, video lights and more. PLUS it acts as a stabilizer too!!! All you need is a trip to the garden shop and a hacksaw!!! This will cost you maybe $20 and the commercial version is nearly $500!!!! |
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MIKE BLIMP Making a Mike Wind Shield and Boom You know how hard it is to eliminate wind noise when you shoot outdoors so here is the answer to your problem. The mike blimp and boom are simple to build from easy to get materials and your audio will be perfect again. Are you building this one yet??? |
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CAMCORDER LCD HOOD Making a Camcorder LCD Hood You know how hard it is to use your LCD screen in bright daylight so here is the answer that we use on our camcorders. It's not very pretty BUT you will be able to make it from the pennies in your cookie jar!! and you will wonder why you never made one before. |
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CRANE FRONT END WITH MIC MOUNT Making a front end for the Crane with a 'anti-shock' mic mounting You For those who have already built the mini-crane, we have a new "front-end" tutorial for you which includes a very effective 'anti-shock' mounting for your shotgun mic (which you should be using always!) You can also adapt this to fit on the Rig below so the mic is shock mounted too! |
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CAMCORDER FRAME Making a Camcorder Mounting Rig You know how hard it is to hand-hold a small camcorder so here is the answer that we use to get steady, professional looking shots that don't look like "home movies". This rig will cost you less than $20 and you will wonder why you never used it before. Plus it holds your external mike and other goodies too!! |
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MAKE YOUR OWN STEDICAM Making a Camcorder Stabilizer How would you like to be able to film while walking, running, climbing stairs and get the sort of smooth shots you see in the movies?? Well if you don't have the $1000's for a commercial steadycam then let us show you how to make your own for as little as $30!!!! |
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SIMPLE TRIPOD DOLLY Making a Dolly that runs on Rails You already know how difficult it is to pan smoothly. You have seen those Hollywood shots where the camera smoothly moves around a group of people ? The correct way to do it is to "track" which requires a dolly and track and LOT's of money...correct?? WRONG...our tutorial will show you how easy it is to build a dolly from ordinary irrigation pipe for just a few dollars and get those shots you only used to dream about. |
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OUR CAMCORDER CRANE RIG Making a Mini Crane Rig We have just finished our mini crane system that will make your tripod obselete!!! This clever new rig will allow you the stability of a tripod but the flexibility of being able to smoothly move up and down as well as rotate and all the actions you would only expect the professionals to use. We will show you how to build it yourself for under $50 and that also includes the tripod!! |
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