Cheap Image Stabiliser

[Mumby]

Apologies of this has been seen before, but here is a link to a video tutorial on how to make a cheap but effective IS for your camera. Warning: contains sound, but you will still get the idea if you mute it

$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod

Regards,

Paul

[NickCantle]

Looks good. Might even try this I do wonder how effective it really is though

Cheers Paul

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Looks good. Might even try this I do wonder how effective it really is though

Cheers Paul

i would suspect not very - this will prove a certain ammount of stability upweards but does not provide any support downwards which is where the pull of gravity wants to take your lens - you would also find it restrictive if you were tipping the camera upwards - for instance panning on birds in flight.

a better move is to use a bean bag - a pillow slip filled with rice and doubled over works quite well , and rest it on any convenient fencepost, tree, or girlfreinds shoulder (or head if shes short )

[NickCantle]

Cheers Pete. I can imagine that it's ineffective at all with any lens larger than 300mm. I can see how it might work, but as you say, the beanbag rested on a nearby object, albeit my girlfriend's head, sounds good

Nick

PS- I knew having a 5ft girlfriend would come in handy

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by eeyore

i would suspect not very - this will prove a certain ammount of stability upweards but does not provide any support downwards which is where the pull of gravity wants to take your lens - you would also find it restrictive if you were tipping the camera upwards - for instance panning on birds in flight.

a better move is to use a bean bag - a pillow slip filled with rice and doubled over works quite well , and rest it on any convenient fencepost, tree, or girlfreinds shoulder (or head if shes short )

Hmmm partners head or shoulder..... now thinking of trading in my 6 ft 3 bloke

[Nick T]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Hmmm partners head or shoulder..... now thinking of trading in my 6 ft 3 bloke

I'm only 5ft 10" is that any good

[RichBrew]

I've seen this tip put forward many times over the years, but have never tried it myself. For the initial outlay, I don't think you can go far wrong with trying out this shooting technique, and any support you can muster on location will be beneficial. The crux of the matter is to knock one up, and see if it suits your shooting style.

RichBrew

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Nick T

I'm only 5ft 10" is that any good

Not really as I'm only 5ft 4 so still couldn't reach lol. What about a big beer belly, do you have one of those ?