DIY Video Camera Rail

[jenic]

I wanted one of these to have a play with, cut didn't want to spend a fortune on one.

So with some inspiration from Greg's recent design, which i have yet to see up close but have been told about, i decided to make one after work today.

I went to screwfix and bought some drawer rails, smooth ones for just over £8 and the rest of the stuff i found lying around the garage.

It looks rough, but it works. I'm going to try and find some nicer wood for the camera part but until then it'll do!

I'd also have liked it a little longer, this is 550mm long and is the longest they had in stock. I'll keep an eye out for longer rails though.

DIY_Rail_V1.0 by mjenic, on Flickr

DIY_Rail_V1.0 by mjenic, on Flickr

DIY_Rail_V1.0 by mjenic, on Flickr

DIY_Rail_V1.0 by mjenic, on Flickr

And a little test video, its boring but sort of shows it

 

[Scott™]

Brilliant mate. Who cares if it looks crap. It does the job.

 

[Feirny]

Decent! Very similar to mine!

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Looks neat! Nice one.

 

[.Andy.]

Impressive! Great job!

 

[Whisker biscuit]

If its extra length your looking (insert joke here) is there not some sort of model train track you could use ?

 

[Wick]

Haha that is brilliant! Top effort!

 

[Hixle]

Nice one Mike. I know what I'm doing this week

 

[Feirny]

If its extra length your looking (insert joke here) is there not some sort of model train track you could use ?

Had that idea, but in terms of transport and setting up, it's a fcuking nightmare.

 

[Whisker biscuit]

Had that idea, but in terms of transport and setting up, it's a fcuking nightmare.

Its only gonna be 8 foot or whatever of childrens model train track !

 

[jenic]

Train tracks would be no good, since when you get 2kg of body lens and head it would press down too much on the track to move smoothly

 

[JamesBryan]

Group buy?

What mount is that on top by the way?

 

[Andy.]

Nice job!! Might have to try this myself.

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

I would try but my D3 doesn't do video

 

[Andy.]

A justification for the upgrade to the rumoured D4 this year?

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Seriously don't tempt me lol!

 

[Andy.]

Haha. It's a bad hobby in at respect. There is always something that you want, and it normally costs ££££'s. The 5DIII is going to rape my pig bank if/ when it appears.

 

[Feirny]

Haha. It's a bad hobby in at respect. There is always something that you want, and it normally costs ££££'s. The 5DIII is going to rape my pig bank if/ when it appears.

You had to mention it you b*stard.

 

[jenic]

Group buy?

What mount is that on top by the way?

It's the head from the bargain tripod ipodsandguns recommended, there's a thread just below about it

The 5DIII is going to rape my pig bank if/ when it appears.

Lol, same

Well depending on the features, I really want full frame though. My challenge for this summer is to use my camera stuff more and get better at it. It would be nice to be able to use my 24-70 as a true walkabout without having to grab my 10-20 when I need to.

 

[Revels]

Practice not taking stealth pictures of me from a distance.

That would be a good start.

 

[Hixle]

Mike, were these the one's you bought mate?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/drawer-runners-550mm/20420

 

[jenic]

Yep, that's them

 

[mugglesquop]

Train tracks would be no good, since when you get 2kg of body lens and head it would press down too much on the track to move smoothly

what.

OO/HO track can be stood on and it doesnt bend/break, its all very good quality. Good carriages had metal wheels

you can get it in 1m flexible sections too

 

[Hixle]

Yep, that's them

Nice one. Ordered

 

[jenic]

Nice one. Ordered

Did you buy a tripod for the head? You can just buy a jessops head for a tenner if not

 

[Feirny]

Wanna play on Sunday morning Mike?

 

[jenic]

Wanna play on Sunday morning Mike?

Yeh definitely up for it, got another new video toy to play with that should be here Friday too :quiet:

 

[Hixle]

I want to come and play too, bloody northerners have all the fun.

Did you buy a tripod for the head? You can just buy a jessops head for a tenner if not

I just ordered the one from giraffes thread mate, will just dismantle my old one.

 

[Feirny]

Yeh definitely up for it, got another new video toy to play with that should be here Friday too :quiet:

FFS! PM me what it is.

 

[jenic]

You'll have to wait and see!

You got any locations in mind?

 

[Feirny]

Not really, have you?

 

[jenic]

No, I never have well find/think of something I'm sure

There's a location at work I want to use, a long wide tunnel which enters a warehouse with loads of good artificial lighting but i doubt I'd get permission to use it at short notice, and if I was caught using it without permission I'd be in mega trouble lol

 

[ipodsandguns]

I want to come and play too, bloody northerners have all the fun.



I just ordered the one from Ipods thread mate, will just dismantle my old one.

OOO Mike I hope you'v not got what I plan on getting next!

 

[jenic]

OOO Mike I hope you'v not got what I plan on getting next!

Whats that then? Pm me so Greg doesn't know

 

[Hixle]

Lol @ the above edit...sorry mate!

I'm after so many video goodies atm, steadicam and adjustable ND filters are at the top...

 

[dunganick]

Are you just pushing it along? The slide doesn't look 100% smooth, perhaps setup a pulley to do the motion instead?

Looks cool though, nice low cost solution.

 

[ipodsandguns]

yeah a motor is ideal. but at about 7 quid to make its great.

 

[Cup_Phil]

That's really cool

I saw a guide where a guy had put a long elastic band from the mount and used that to pull the camera along - gives a nice soft start/finish to the movement and removes any hand jerkiness

 

[jenic]

Are you just pushing it along? The slide doesn't look 100% smooth, perhaps setup a pulley to do the motion instead?

Looks cool though, nice low cost solution.

yeah a motor is ideal. but at about 7 quid to make its great.

Yep, i need a little motor for it.

The small servo motors from a mindstorms kit would be ideal, but as it is, it'll do.

 

[Feirny]

Go on then, spill the beans Mike.