DIY Equipment

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power-adapter-canon-t2i

If you've got plans to keep your Canon T2i powered up longer than the normal battery can provide, here's a cheap AC wall adapter. Great power source for taking those super long day to day timelapse photography shots. If you're the daring type like myself, the battery adapter provided is perfect to hack up into a DIY Power pack, perhaps connecting it to something like a Radio Controlled toy car rechargeable battery. You can find several aftermarket AC wall adapters here: Canon T2i / 550D AC Wall Adapter Power Plug

For those running the LP-E6 battery type like the Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, or Canon 60D the AC wall adapter can be found here: http://cheesycam.com/a-diy-canon-dslr-power-pack/

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Jordan M. writes in and shares a clever DIY timelapse panning rig using a simple Kitchen timer for the motor. I've seen many different DIY Egg Timer timelapse panning rigs, but I haven't seen one coupled with a Lazy Susan spinning tray before. It's a simple design and appears every single part of this DIY rig can be purchased at Walmart, so it's within everyone's budget and everyone's skill set. For those who might want to spend a bit more cash, i'm sure you can polish it up into something more fancy looking. I think it's great the way it is, and seems to get the job done just fine for very little coin. [Thanks Jordan!]

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Spinning Kitchen Tray with Kitchen Timer motor - DIY Motion Timelapse Panning Rig

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Here's two videos showing some innovation around DIY Follow Focus projects. This first one (above), sent to me by Phuong H., is a DIY follow focus designed for the Sony NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens Handycam Camcorder. This is probably the first DIY project ever on one of them fancy shiny new camcorders. There's not much information on how you can DIY yourself, but this video might turn on a few light bulbs in your head.

The second video (below), shared by Robert J. takes the simple hose clamp DIY follow focus idea and drums up a new way of adding dry erase focus marks, so that you can wipe them down and start all over.

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Many of you have probably already seen this video. It was posted up over a year ago as Part 1 of 2. I know i've had my eyes on it for quite a while waiting for the follow up, but Part #2 of this project doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon. This one is based on the Gimbal Handle that is used on the Glidecam series stabilizers. There seems to be a million ways to make a Steadicam Merlin gimbal handle, but little ways to make a decent Glidecam type gimbal handle. In this interesting video, there's some really nice techniques in mounting several bearings into some cheap PVC making it into a full 3 axis gimbal. It's been a year already, and there's some really good ideas in here to just let this sit back without being tackled by someone. Since video #2 hasn't been released to follow up on this, i'm curious if anyone has attempted this DIY project, and how far did you get?

If you're not familiar with what a Glidecam Stabilizer is capable of, check out my HD1000 video demonstration here: http://cheesycam.com/glidecam-hd1000-dslr-video-stabilizer-demonstration/

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click image for pricing on Glidecam HD1000 Stabilizer System

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Above - Ted Ramasola's DIY Follow Focus from DVXUser.com

I've seen many versions of a friction based Follow Focus, most of them designed similar to the IDC FF. Above, is a very early example found at the DVXUser.com forum posted by Ted Ramasola. It's been a good foundation for other ideas, and many people have refined it into their own.


Macro Rail available via Amazon

Using the same idea with Canon Lens rear caps and a skate wheel, it looks like DSLRExperiment.com is busy working on a DIY friction based follow focus with a simple way of mounting camera and adjusting the FF to fit different sized lenses. Using an inexpensive Macro sliding rail for XYZ adjustments and a tweaked metal L bracket, this looks like it could be a simple weekend project. Check out the video below from Vimeo member Mathieu Bujold.

These Macro rails are available via Amazon, but if you're looking for something at half that price, you can locate them via eBay. Here's the style Macro Rail that is used in the video: Macro Focus Rail Slider for Canon Nikon Sony Panasonic

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click image for pricing on Macro Rail

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Here's an interesting camera mount for the RC Helicopter hobbyist. This is being sold for the 'Camera Stand' only, but was designed to adapt to different small 450-500 sized helicopters. Images show cameras as small as the GoPro HD Hero up to small HD Camcorders. There's also a tilt mechanism shown in the listing, but i'm not sure how that ties in to the controls. Here's the link to the Camera Mount Stand: Camera Mount Stand for 450-500 Sized Helicopters

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Click image for Pricing

I'm not at all experienced in RC Helicopters, but there are some over seas 450 sized helicopters ready to fly running for around $200 bucks that might be able to complete a fun GoPro flying rig. I've never flown an RC Heli, but I can imagine the damage it can cause to ones camera. For myself, I might be willing to practice on something as robust like a GoPro (those things have fallen from space and survived), but not sure if i'd ever have the huevos to fly a full Canon DSLR on a RC Helicopter. Fly at your own risk... Here's the link to the cheap 450 Sized Helicopters: RC Helicopter 450 Kit ready to Fly - Just needs Batteries

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Click image for Pricing

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John Hwang decided to tackle Hal's DIY PVC shoulder support and provides a timelapse look into the project. With not too much more than a simple Hacksaw, this project was completed right in the living room floor. There's a fun test run at the end complete with sound effects. Of course there's nothing to show it's true stability or how this rig can further be loaded up with accessories, but it looks like a solid foundation that should perform well for a first time rig. This would definitely be something to look into for you GH1, NEX, and PEN fans. You can't complain for a $5 dollar project. [Thanks John].

DIY TIP:
If you're looking to get cleaner, more accurate, and straighter cuts into your PVC projects, check out these twisting PVC Pipe cutters running under $8 dollars. You clamp the unit to a PVC tube and just give it a spin. Continue to tighten and spin until it's cut all the way through. Very simple, and you won't break a sweat. Found here: PVC Pipe Cutter
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click image for pricing on PVC Cutting tool

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You won't find many of my DIY's using PVC, but here's one I think is worth mentioning. Submitted by Hal Robertson, I think it's a project just about anyone can tackle in an afternoon and an ice cream budget. If you're like me, they have the exact same parts available in at least Copper Piping, which I would personally use over PVC. Of course metal pipes are a bit more expensive and requires a little bit more tooling to work with.

This simple design has a few nice features. The double seperated rails keep the rig from rolling off the shoulder, and the angled brackets to the rear provide a shoulder rest and a counterweight mount. There's a crap load of photos, and If you want to check out the complete set of parts, and build instructions, head on over to Hal's blogspot: https://compactvideo.blogspot.com. Hey Hal, why isn't Cheesycam.com on your BlogRoll? LOL. [Thanks Hal]

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Here's a perfect example of "Why Didn't I Think of That???!". I talked about the Yongnuo remote LCD viewfinder a few times and ordered one myself. Article found here: http://cheesycam.com/remote-lcd-live-view-for-dslr-video-exciting/. I've used it for the Palo Alto adapter to do some Painters Pole Photography so that I can frame a shot and fire the camera's shutter. I've also tried to use it as an EVF - Electronic View Finder, but the pixel resolution wasn't suffice for focusing when magnified by a Loupe. So other than PPP photography, it's been on the shelf.

Recently GoPro released firmware to allow Live View video from the GoPro HD to an external monitoring. Since the GoPro doesn't have an LCD (yet), framing a shot is always hit and miss. I've had the Yongnuo + GoPro items on my shelf for months now and didn't think to use them together. Well Cheesycam reader Renato Longona writes in today with a video showing the two being used together. This Yongnuo is a lightweight, inexpensive, portable battery powered LCD monitor perfect for something like the GoPro which has no LCD. I really enjoyed using the built in Timelapse feature on the GoPro, and now i'll be able to accurately view what's going to be captured. Pure genius! [Thanks Renato]

The Yongnuo Live View Remote Portable Battery Powered LCD can be found here: Yongnuo Battery Powered Remote LCD Viewer

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Click image for Pricing on Yongnuo Remote LCD

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Click image for Pricing on GoPro HD Hero