Camera Rig Material Ideas !?
Discussion
I know this is camera related but due to me needing help and info to build a rig rather than camera tips I thought it might get more replies.
Basically, I would like to make a rig for my camera, which I can attatch to my car to produce images like so:
I already have one mocked up, made from an extendable decorators pole and I have attatched two of these:
which provide more than enough strength to stay stuck to the car, and as they are very soft they leave no marks. I have also covered the part on how I will attatch the camera to the rig, using a Manfrotto Magic arm.
Having tried this setup, I have realised the decorators pole isn't up to the job at all. It is far too flexible, especially when extended and my camera touches the road.
Does anyone have an idea of a material that is quite easy to get hold of that will remain ridged?
Criteria:
- Ridged
- Long (no less than 3 meters, longer the better)
- Relativley light
- Something that can be dismanted or collapse to fit in my car.
All ideas welcome,
Jim.
Basically, I would like to make a rig for my camera, which I can attatch to my car to produce images like so:
I already have one mocked up, made from an extendable decorators pole and I have attatched two of these:
which provide more than enough strength to stay stuck to the car, and as they are very soft they leave no marks. I have also covered the part on how I will attatch the camera to the rig, using a Manfrotto Magic arm.
Having tried this setup, I have realised the decorators pole isn't up to the job at all. It is far too flexible, especially when extended and my camera touches the road.
Does anyone have an idea of a material that is quite easy to get hold of that will remain ridged?
Criteria:
- Ridged
- Long (no less than 3 meters, longer the better)
- Relativley light
- Something that can be dismanted or collapse to fit in my car.
All ideas welcome,
Jim.
Edited by JimNotJon on Thursday 10th February 19:39
A few here mounts here. More for bullet cams or small camcorders.
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/bullet-camera-suction...
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/bullet-camera-suction...
I'm not trying to be clever or anything, but you don't need a rig to take pictures like that!
Unless you have a Citroen DS or something, you'll never get a shot like that without using Photoshop or something! That doesn't look the slightest bit natural to me - I would put money on it that is at least two shots and digital editing - There is no evidence of camera shake on the car at all, yet the background suggests a relatively long exposure has been used.
My guess is a 'panned' photo of a car using a relatively high shutter speed (from a static viewpoint), a zoomed or panned shot of the tunnel using a much slower shutter speed, and judicious use of Photoshop!
Unless you have a Citroen DS or something, you'll never get a shot like that without using Photoshop or something! That doesn't look the slightest bit natural to me - I would put money on it that is at least two shots and digital editing - There is no evidence of camera shake on the car at all, yet the background suggests a relatively long exposure has been used.
My guess is a 'panned' photo of a car using a relatively high shutter speed (from a static viewpoint), a zoomed or panned shot of the tunnel using a much slower shutter speed, and judicious use of Photoshop!
Nothing suitable there im affraid. I am trying to achieve a rig like this, if that helps?
I need something like that metal shaft he has used.
Curtain poles are too short and any longer they would be too flexable. Something like a stair banistar rail (aluminium) would be ideal if I could have it in sections and somehow join it together.
I need something like that metal shaft he has used.
Curtain poles are too short and any longer they would be too flexable. Something like a stair banistar rail (aluminium) would be ideal if I could have it in sections and somehow join it together.
kVA said:
I'm not trying to be clever or anything, but you don't need a rig to take pictures like that!
Unless you have a Citroen DS or something, you'll never get a shot like that without using Photoshop or something! That doesn't look the slightest bit natural to me - I would put money on it that is at least two shots and digital editing - There is no evidence of camera shake on the car at all, yet the background suggests a relatively long exposure has been used.
My guess is a 'panned' photo of a car using a relatively high shutter speed (from a static viewpoint), a zoomed or panned shot of the tunnel using a much slower shutter speed, and judicious use of Photoshop!
You could pan but you would never get that desired effect above. You do indeed use photoshop, once the rig is set up, you take a long exposure of the car going very slow, then take second shot without the rig attatched and edit out the rig on photoshop.Unless you have a Citroen DS or something, you'll never get a shot like that without using Photoshop or something! That doesn't look the slightest bit natural to me - I would put money on it that is at least two shots and digital editing - There is no evidence of camera shake on the car at all, yet the background suggests a relatively long exposure has been used.
My guess is a 'panned' photo of a car using a relatively high shutter speed (from a static viewpoint), a zoomed or panned shot of the tunnel using a much slower shutter speed, and judicious use of Photoshop!
JimNotJon said:
Nothing suitable there im affraid. I am trying to achieve a rig like this, if that helps?
I need something like that metal shaft he has used.
Curtain poles are too short and any longer they would be too flexable. Something like a stair banistar rail (aluminium) would be ideal if I could have it in sections and somehow join it together.
Ooops - time to eat my words I guess, but I'm still not convinced this is the best way to do it and I certainly wouldn't hang £2,000 worth of Nikon on the end of that device (or attach that to my car, for that matter, either!)I need something like that metal shaft he has used.
Curtain poles are too short and any longer they would be too flexable. Something like a stair banistar rail (aluminium) would be ideal if I could have it in sections and somehow join it together.
ETA... If you can afford the risk of damaging both car and camera, how come you can't afford a proper rig, rather than trying to bodge one?)
kVA said:
Ooops - time to eat my words I guess, but I'm still not convinced this is the best way to do it and I certainly wouldn't hang £2,000 worth of Nikon on the end of that device (or attach that to my car, for that matter, either!)
ETA... If you can afford the risk of damaging both car and camera, how come you can't afford a proper rig, rather than trying to bodge one?)
Well most of the top car photographers on here use the same method, but have the funds to allow them to buy the appropriate rig set ups, which I don;t. I could get away with a shorter extension but that would also mean having to pay £450 + for a wide angle lens to get the whole car in view.ETA... If you can afford the risk of damaging both car and camera, how come you can't afford a proper rig, rather than trying to bodge one?)
As for the risk of damaging car and camera, there is little risk at all as the car is travelling at less than walking pace, with some stood walking next to the camera at all times, and the soft rubber of the suction mounts are designed not to leave marks.
I'm looking in to this at the moment, trying to get enough interest together to do a bulk buy on custom-designed and produced carbon tubing with all the right chamfered edges etc. Even a relatively small volume production run is viable (5-10 units) so if you're interested drop me a PM.
There's no exact cost figure yet but it's gonna come in just a bit more than an aluminium poled version as home-built by several forum users- and that includes using proper Manfrotto suction cups rather than window fitters' jobbies which don't have the required flexibility for mounting on curved car panels.
There's no exact cost figure yet but it's gonna come in just a bit more than an aluminium poled version as home-built by several forum users- and that includes using proper Manfrotto suction cups rather than window fitters' jobbies which don't have the required flexibility for mounting on curved car panels.
JimNotJon said:
Well most of the top car photographers on here use the same method
Really?Oh well, I'm obviously not one of the top ones then...
I would never hang my kit off of that - at any speed...
And I certainly wouldn't let anyone stick that contraption on my aluminium bonnet with 4kg of Nikon on the end of a 10-foot pole!!!
AndWhyNot said:
I'm looking in to this at the moment, trying to get enough interest together to do a bulk buy on custom-designed and produced carbon tubing with all the right chamfered edges etc. Even a relatively small volume production run is viable (5-10 units) so if you're interested drop me a PM.
There's no exact cost figure yet but it's gonna come in just a bit more than an aluminium poled version as home-built by several forum users- and that includes using proper Manfrotto suction cups rather than window fitters' jobbies which don't have the required flexibility for mounting on curved car panels.
Keep me informed as to a pricing...might be interested later in the year if it comes out well enoughThere's no exact cost figure yet but it's gonna come in just a bit more than an aluminium poled version as home-built by several forum users- and that includes using proper Manfrotto suction cups rather than window fitters' jobbies which don't have the required flexibility for mounting on curved car panels.
kVA said:
JimNotJon said:
Well most of the top car photographers on here use the same method
Really?Oh well, I'm obviously not one of the top ones then...
I would never hang my kit off of that - at any speed...
And I certainly wouldn't let anyone stick that contraption on my aluminium bonnet with 4kg of Nikon on the end of a 10-foot pole!!!
Guys like George (GFWilliams) and //Dean are brilliant exponents of the art of rig shots oh! and as for hanging it off your car try this thread which is onnly a couple of threads lower than this on the home page - Zonda - McLaren & Ferrari F40 all have rigs and heavy DSLRs attached!!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Yellabelly on Thursday 10th February 22:16
JimNotJon said:
I already have one mocked up, made from an extendable decorators pole and I have attatched two of these:
Do not use these on cars. They are made for flat surfaces only, they do not give enough purchase for a rig that you can trust. I would certainly never use one of these on a car that I'm photographing for fear of damaging it.Yellabelly said:
I think you might be a little behind the game on this one, the rig shots have been around for some time with some really exceptional Togs shooting some real exotica
Nah - not behind the game... Just doesn't float my boat...Still would never let anyone attach that rig to my car - or hang my camera off it - in any case!
I prefer real action shots to 'fakes' and I'm not a huge fan of static car shots either...
I guess I'm just an old-fashioned 'Tog (or maybe just prefer shooting stuff I know I'm going to get paid for
)kVA said:
I guess I'm just an old-fashioned 'Tog (or maybe just prefer shooting stuff I know I'm going to get paid for )
Easton Chang who took that rig shot is paid to fly around the world doing exactly what he did there, by Jaguar amongst other car manufactures. )He came here onto this forum once, true story.
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