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DIYPhotgraphy.net has a really cool article about using a Padded Bass Case to pack up your light stands. These are long very well padded cases that can hold a few light stands as well as other small items. They have straps and some can be worn with a sling or back pack style. These padded Bass guitar travel cases some around $20 dollars or really really padded high quality for about $80 dollars and up to 47" inches long (That's still cheaper than Photography labeled bags). Most 10' foot light stands can collapse to about 39" inches so you'd have room to spare. These long padded travel bags should be good with other long items you might be traveling with like Monopods and Tripods too, and also makes you look like a Rock Star....(or traveling Guitar Hero geek)..

Padded-Bass-Case
find-price-button Padded Bass Guitar Cases

Also some nice non-shaped ones available via eBay:

padded-bass-guitar-cases
find-price-button Padded Base Guitar Cases via eBay

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Someone asked about a quick release adapter that would work best moving from a Flycam Nano over to some other different rigs. If you're not using a Fluid head like the Manfrotto 701HDV, then there's no reason you need to stick with the Manfrotto Compatible QR Adapter. The best low profile quick release adapter would be the Manfrotto 394. This low profile wide plate is a perfect fit for DSLR's and also doesn't use the twisty little side knobs which makes it perfect for mounting on wide flat surfaces like non Manfrotto Fluid heads, Steadicams, Glidecams, Camera Cranes / Jibs, Sliders, DSLR Cages, and Shoulder Mounts. Yeah sometimes those little twisty knobs off to the side are annoying..


Manfrotto 394
find-price-button Manfrotto Low Profile Quick Release Adapter

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An interesting start to a DIY DSLR shoulder rig inspired by the twist handle shift method. This time YouTube member geedubya101 uses a grip shifter from a bike and runs the firm cable to the lens. Another piece being used is a rotating flash bracket to add a side handle and some extra mounting options for accessories. Everything you need to know is all in the video, and it looks like it will be a cool little shoulder support when it's all done.

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Looks like a few new eBay sellers have picked up this unusual camera support item and now there's some promotional videos online. Folds up, folds out, with extremely large (too large?) handles that can configured into different style stabilizers such as a Shoulder rig, Fig Rig, DSLR Cage. Doesn't look like it can be positioned to get a DSLR with view finder loupe offset properly, but functions as a basic shoulder support with an external monitor attached. Above is the most recent video ad promoting this product labeling it as the 'Spider Steady'. Pricing is still less than desirable....

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find-price-button Multi DSLR Video Camera DV Shoulder Rig Support

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DIY slider video from Vimeo member Lolo Two. Here's a clever way to take some very inexpensive conduit tubing, a coupler, and with a basic set of tools, come up with a very sturdy camera slider. The coupler works out great since it's designed to fit perfectly around the EMT conduit tubing and also has some easy mounting points for the carriage. The video is pretty thorough on what it takes to get things together, but there's also a parts list following the video link. It's a simple DIY, and I believe that you all 'Con Du It' too... [Thanks Lolo Two]

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Screen shot 2011-03-11 at 10.33.33 AM

A brand new Canon 5D Mark II will still run you about $2500 dollars retail on any website. A used Canon 5D Mark II Body over on eBay will still run you over $2100 dollars and that's not knowing it's true condition. Canon right now is running some specials on their Refurbished Equipment website with a 10% off Promotional Code bringing down the Canon 5D Mark II (refurbished) bodies to $1799. Yeah that's a pretty sweet deal for a full frame body with excellent low light capabilities. Sure it's a refurb, but it's coming from Canon with a 90 Day warranty.

If you're looking to pick up used equipment, I think these official Canon refurb units are still a safer bet than going for a used version off the auction site. Aside from the 5D Mark II, there's 7D's, T2i's, 60D's, and a bunch of lenses including L series refurbished. Promotional Code is fam211 and the link is here.

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Vimeo member Switch Flick uses pieces from a Flycam Nano to make a DIY Spidertrax Rotating Dolly. Axles are a bit long on this first version, but it looks pretty legit with attention to details down to the bolts (much like I used in my setup). Of course, this is all assuming you've already dished out a bit of change for the Nano.

If you're not familiar with the Flycam Nano, another video was recently shot using a Canon 5D Mark II + 17-40mm F/4L + Rode Video Mic. That's quite a bit of weight, but Vimeo member Spencer Turley managed to pull off some great footage while doing some charitable work out in Tuvalu. Found here: https://www.vimeo.com/20742652

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find-price-button Flycam Nano Video Camera Stabilizer

If you're not familiar with Rotating Dollies, you can see how the Konova Dolly (cloned after my own design) was used in this video: http://cheesycam.com/test-drive-spidertrax-clone-korean-dolly/

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find-price-button Rotating Video Camera Skater Dolly

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A crane is not a video tool you drag with you everywhere, especially if you're a one man band. But the times when you DO bring out a crane, you'll always come back excited about reviewing the camera movements that are hard to replicate in any other way. I thought about DIY'ing my own crane, but after finding this one for just over $100 dollars, it made sense to start with that and modify it as I go. Unfortunately, they aren't available any longer.

When working with a Crane, make sure you have the correct amount of balance (right down to the ounce). Having perfect balance will allow the camera to move effortlessly. I also mounted this setup on a (discontinued) Manfrotto 503 fluid head with a beefy Manfrotto tripod. I used a Manfrotto tripod dolly to make repositioning easy just by rolling the crane around. This portion of the build is a bit more expensive, but there's other options for Crane stands.

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find-price-button Manfrotto 503 Fluid Head

We had so much fun getting extremely low shots, to very smooth vertical camera movements, i'm looking to either build or buy a smaller 4ft. Crane. It might seem short, but it's also based on Tripod height. If the tripod is set higher, then the POV will be higher. There is one Bargain brand that seems to have a small faithful following with excellent feedback that I might consider - called ProAm. The ProAm crane can be used in either 8ft. or 12ft. lengths and broken down into (3) 4ft. sections for traveling. Lots of other Crane options, Crane accessories, Crane stands, and LCD monitoring are also available from Bargain Camera's lineup. All found below.

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find-price-button Bargain Camera Cranes and Accessories