Homemade Steadicam

The Filmmaker community was introduced to a revolutionary new device, originally named the "Brown Stabilizer" in 1976. For obvious reasons the device was renamed the "Steadicam." The first film shot with Steadicam was the Movie Bound For Glory, about artist Woodie Guthrie's life. Recently I saw a video on Indy Mogul on how to make an old tripod into a Steadicam system. I had this tripod sitting around that a friend of mine gave me, but I could use it because it was broken.

Materials

1x L-Shaped Scrap Metal

5x 1/4 - 20 Bolts

Assorted Nuts and Washers

Tools

Screwdriver

Tap, With 1/4 - 20 Bit

Adjustable Wrench

Drill

Saw

This particular tripod had no base plate, no tilt lock bolt, no pan lock knob, and no knob for the crank riser. I thought this was a good project for this tripod, I can't lose.

So I don't have a base plate with this particular tripod. So I had to use a 1/4" 20 thread bolt. Now the way it works is you extend the legs on one side to balance out the camera. Now I don't like that the legs are so long and they get in the way if you are going through a door or other enclosed area. What I did was grabbed a small tool bag I had in my car and weighed it down a little on the opposite end of the camera, make sure not too much because of the length of the legs it will take less weight because it is closer to the center of gravity. Using the adjustable crank head I balance the camera and tighten it down. Bingo. Steadicam. Now with this you will be able to get reasonably good steady shots. Here is a test video using my homemade Steadicam.