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DIY Stuff to Build Yourself

   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 less than $50 to build at home with the absolute minimum of tools and everything is easily obtainable from your local hardware store. 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

NEW!!!

Build a Depth of Field Adaptor for your Camcorder

  •  We have an AWESOME DOF adapter for your camcorder that will allow you to use standard 35mm still camera lenses and create REAL depth of field and it will cost you less than $30 to build too!!! This allows you to make video that looks like and has the depth of field or film!!

This is what you can achieve

Take a look at facts on DOF here!!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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!!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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 camera 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

Free Ball Head Tutorial

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!!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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!!!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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.

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

 

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

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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

  • Ride-On or Walk beside the track
  • Quik-Change Pan head add-on
  • Quik-Change Mini-Crane add-on

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.

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

 

Build a Custom Camera 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.

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

Making a PVC Camera 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!!!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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???

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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.

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

 

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!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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!!!!

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

Making a Dolly that runs on Rails

 You already know how difficult it is to pan with your camera 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.

 We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

 

 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 the camera 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!!

  We also have a step-by-step tutorial available - click here

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