Shoulder Rig for DSLR & Camcorders

by chefmichel in Circuits > Cameras

36765 Views, 61 Favorites, 0 Comments

Shoulder Rig for DSLR & Camcorders

Snapshot 2010-09-19 01-00-40.jpg
DSCN1154.JPG
DSCN1124.JPG
DSCN1129.JPG
DSCN1156.jpg
DSCN1123.JPG
DSCN1125.JPG
DSCN1063.JPG
DSCN1066.JPG
DSCN1068.JPG
DSCN1071.JPG
DSCN1081.JPG
DSCN1082.JPG
DSCN1094.JPG
DSCN1103.JPG
DSCN1126.JPG
DSCN1127.JPG
DSCN1155.JPG
DSCN1152.jpg
Does your hand shake ?
Are your friends seasick while watching your home video's ?
Here a cheap,  very easy to build handheld shoulder rig for DSLR and camcorders.
Today's camcorders are very light, and many people shake after 2 minutes of filming.
This DIY rig helps to steady a DSLR or camcorder, so you can walk & film at the same time. 
All parts are easily obtainable, and some "harder to find parts", can be substituted for.
As you can see, I love to repurpose objects.
Estimated cost of the rig is between 15 US$ to 20 US$.

List of Parts

41DjslJmcVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
DSCN1071.JPG
Bracket1364.JPG
1) Yellow Panel Carry Handle made by Stanley ref # 93-301
2) A 90* bracket (70 x 70 x 55 x2.5mm)
3) Pool swimming noodle, (can be substituted by padding foam or cotton rag)
4) Scrap piece of wood
5) a 1/4"  camera screw.
 
For shoulder piece I use a Yellow Panel Carry Handle made by Stanley.
Ref; Stanley 93-301 14-Inch Yellow Panel Carry Handle.
It can be bought at ACE ,Home Depot and many other stores. (Amazon too)
I bought mine in Belgium, at Brico,where it is sold under their own label.
As a shoulder pad, I use a short piece of pool noodle, but this can be substituded.
To the shoulder base, I bolted a scrap piece of wood.
To the wood, I bolted a 90* metal bracket.
One of the holes of the metal bracket has to be widened.
Building this rig is very simple, parts are easy to find and cheap to buy.

Shoulder Pad

DSCN1069.JPG
DSCN1067.JPG
DSCN1063.JPG
As a shoulder pad, I use a short piece of pool noodle
The Yellow Panel Carry  Handle has a few notches at its wider side.
Press the pool noodle against the notches, to mark it.
Use a permanent marker to draw where you are going to cut.
With a sharp cutter knife, cut the noodle.

The Metal Bracket

DSCN1078.JPG
DSCN1093.JPG
DSCN1081.JPG
DSCN1103.JPG
Here you have a few options , just find out which will work best for you.
This metal bracket is a leftover from an old hands-free car phone.
I'll paint the shoulder rig black, it will look better.