my rig shots - updated rig [Archive]

saxk

08-02-2009, 00:00

this

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3257103779_b31c30c172.jpg

takes these

(as usual, click for larger images, or visit my flickr for full res, see sig)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3261869370_500ed19a7b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3261869370_500ed19a7b_b.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/3261872322_75eff3830b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/3261872322_75eff3830b_b.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3261875128_283f07f933.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3261875128_283f07f933_b.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3261878416_8ff3112e74.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3261878416_8ff3112e74_b.jpg)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3499/3261125901_9d4346a031.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3499/3261125901_9d4346a031_b.jpg)

RichardC27

08-02-2009, 00:06

Very nice rig shots. It's a technique I'm a big fan of, and will have a go at some time soon. Just out of interest, how fast is the car moving in these shots?

saxk

08-02-2009, 00:24

pushed at about 3 mph lol

i now have some ideas on how to improve, cant wait to try again

romper stomper

08-02-2009, 01:02

Look good but I would really like to see some with the whole car in shot :)

saxk

08-02-2009, 01:36

yer i jsut need a bigger boom

but i thin in that last shot, if id spent more time on composition i could have fitted the whole car in, im goig to try with my saxo tomorrow

Wayno

08-02-2009, 07:02

fair play to you for being brave and doing this.
Like Rich says i'm also a big fan of this technique.

can you give use a clue how you made it ie are the the sucktion cups from B&Q and is that a some sort of robust mop handle lol. - nice work though

bsmotorsport

08-02-2009, 07:25

come out really well them mate, just a quick on though, are you using the suction cups on the glass or the car itself? looking forward to some more :thumbs:

Teshi

08-02-2009, 07:28

Nice work but I would be careful if those are designed for glass rather than cars. Keep an eye on where they mount afterwards and see the results.

Matt L

08-02-2009, 08:34

I used the same method last time i tried some of these (i mean same set up).

got on my nerves after a while as they wouldnt seem to stick to the car in certain places as it wasnt perfectly flat :(.

then the whole thing fell off the car (camera included *died*) thankfully it wasnt from a great height but still enough to make me not want to try it for a while

brad mole

08-02-2009, 09:00

i love these type of pics, but the price tag for the setup puts me off, did you make that one yourself as it looks like its just a pair of them suction clamps on a pole? if so any chance of telling me how it was made as i want to make one :D

Matt Sayle

08-02-2009, 09:08

Very good Rig shots.

saxk

08-02-2009, 09:12

hey guys, yes it was stuck to paint work, i have done lots of tests with weight, not a camrea, and its held for 4+ hours. i also make sure they are on very well each time, anc constantly check them.

this is what i used and how i made it

PARTS LIST

Screw fix was the choice for my parts

this,2 x £4.88
http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/70/p1113270_x.jpg

and this £7.92
http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/80/p1128780_x.jpg

then i got some old bolts and nuts. i drilled a hole through the handle of the suction cups, then bolted through the hole at the end of the pole. i had to drill my other hole in the pole about 600mm further down. id like to be able to move them about for different mounts but this was the easiest an cheapest.

then you are left with this

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3257103779_b31c30c172.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/3257933368_bcb2064d59.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3257104607_682e79b852.jpg

then i got the centre pole out of my redsnapper tripod and tapped/cable tied it on the end, then fitted my ball head and camera to the end.

easy :D

muppetdave

08-02-2009, 10:34

Good work there, braver man than me!

saxk

08-02-2009, 10:49

yer it was a little nerve shattering lol

but like i said i tested it, and if thoes suckers are for lifting huge sheets of glass, they must be pretty reliable

Matt989

08-02-2009, 11:20

I think ill need to give this a try some time.....the above shots are ace!

What where your shutter speed and aperture setting?

saxk

08-02-2009, 11:37

all were 2 seconds i think, the appeture was 8-5.6 as the light faded

MikeeB

08-02-2009, 11:44

Thanks for showing us your rig saxk, interesting to see how its made! And the shots came out pretty tidy looking too :D

Dal

08-02-2009, 12:55

Very nice rig shots there. well worth waiting to see them.

In the last shot, you've missed the rig reflection in the bumper, and you can see where you've removed the rig on the bonnet/wing every so slightly.

still cracking shots though.

DeanPhoto

08-02-2009, 13:26

I wouldn't use those suction cups if I were you! They are renowned for damaging paint, pluss they don't hold as much weight as proper ones!

saxk

08-02-2009, 14:32

chers dal, i didnt do the shopping as i suck at it, i got a make to do it. cheers for the heads up ***.

and dean, cheers for the heads up also, they may not be as strong but im jsut only using a very light rig.

motorsportphotos

08-02-2009, 14:50

That stunning.
Scott

DLowe

08-02-2009, 16:21

Love these shots :) wouldn't dare strap my camera to a home made boom ***!!

nice car too ;)

saxk

08-02-2009, 16:42

Love these shots :) wouldn't dare strap my camera to a home made boom ***!!

nice car too ;)

why not, jsut cos it didnt cost £300 doesnt mean its no good

DLowe

08-02-2009, 18:25

sorry, kind of wrote it wrong, i mean any boom, not just home made.

i never really trust a couple of succy cups to hold a few hundred quids worth of equipment :)

saxk

08-02-2009, 19:15

sorry, kind of wrote it wrong, i mean any boom, not just home made.

i never really trust a couple of succy cups to hold a few hundred quids worth of equipment :)

yer i know what you mean, i wasnt sure untill i tested it fully. then i was ok. as long as your carefull and check the placement well, its a tried and tested method.

desantnik

08-02-2009, 19:20

but like i said i tested it, and if thoes suckers are for lifting huge sheets of glass, they must be pretty reliable

We use those things for lifting tiles in computer rooms... it can hold a really damned heavy weight floor tile... but it does depend obviously on being able to get a good seal.... curvy car bodywork.... hmmmmm

saxk

08-02-2009, 19:27

We use those things for lifting tiles in computer rooms... it can hold a really damned heavy weight floor tile... but it does depend obviously on being able to get a good seal.... curvy car bodywork.... hmmmmm

exactly, as long as you make sure all four are stuck fast, or at the very least the back two. and you can tell when its got a good grip as its very hard to flip the lever down.

mxfun

08-02-2009, 19:30

Jeez .... take a brave one to mount a SLR on the end of that ,looking at the shots it's well worth it though excellent results. This style is right up my street .... am away to tell the wife that i need to make a rig to hang a grands worth of kit off the end of it .... NOT:D:D:D

saxk

08-02-2009, 19:33

lol i cant believe how many people are scared to trust a rig

bsmotorsport

08-02-2009, 19:34

Yeah, the results speak for themselves but Id be 5hit scared of damaging the car or the camera :shrug:

desantnik

08-02-2009, 19:38

exactly, as long as you make sure all four are stuck fast, or at the very least the back two. and you can tell when its got a good grip as its very hard to flip the lever down.

Yup! Providing you've got that initial seal, I can't see it coming off in a hurry...

saxk

08-02-2009, 19:41

yer

anyone got any good ideas how i can mount the pumps seperatley so i can get a better fit. so mount one cup (pair) at a time, then attach the pole.

was thinking about rigging two ball heads with super clamps, but tis working out a little expensive

any ideas, possibly not using photographic equipment as it seems to be very expensive and overpriced
any ideas

andrewc

08-02-2009, 19:43

small diameter exhaust clamps with some rubber hose & nuts replaced with wing nuts

saxk

08-02-2009, 19:45

but the pole would still need to be sat flat between the two, thinking if i raise it a little i can have alot more fredom

like the top chrome part of this, then scamp to the top spike

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/67896.jpg

marko

08-02-2009, 20:00

I must admit I wouldn’t trust the suction pads you have.
But I do have a pair off really good aluminium ones to give it a try.

Dal

08-02-2009, 20:51

saxk

08-02-2009, 20:56

Liberalis

08-02-2009, 21:00

Superclamps

saxk

08-02-2009, 21:16

im getting super clamps for the clamp part, but as far as i can see they dont swivel or move.

i hope im wrong

Gary.D

08-02-2009, 21:16

great shots

DeanPhoto

09-02-2009, 10:29

Dean, when you say these damage the paint, do you just mean this type of suction cup or suction cups in general.

I don't know why everyone is worried about hanging the camera off the rig as the camera is never left on its own anyway, if the rig did drop you should be holding the neck strap anyway.

I mean those cups, ie: the ones designed for lifting glass/floor tiles.

I always leave the camera on it's own as I quite often have the cars to myself to shoot so I'm normally sat in the drivers seat rolling along with camera dangling 10ft out!

I had my D3 6ft above my bonnet stuck on a tripod, with 3 manfrotto suction cups chasing a Porsche Cayman at 30mph. You wouldn't catch me doing that with those cups above!!!!

saxk

09-02-2009, 11:40

I mean those cups, ie: the ones designed for lifting glass/floor tiles.

I had my D3 6ft above my bonnet stuck on a tripod, with 3 manfrotto suction cups chasing a Porsche Cayman at 30mph. You wouldn't catch me doing that with those cups above!!!!

granted, but i wasnt moving fast.

also, how do they damage paint.

i think the manfrotto ones are jsut a big scam, these grip hard and will hold a tesco bag with bags of rice and sugar in, on a 8ft pole for 5+ hours.

burrachaga

09-02-2009, 11:54

andrewc

09-02-2009, 11:55

there is a huge thread on POTN about DIY rigs.

saxk

09-02-2009, 12:03

love your work saxk,

im definately going to follow your lead on this project. i would be really grateful if you could keep us up to date on your search for the perfect homemade rig. i'll do a bit of researching with a few phone calls to friends who work on car bodywork and see if they can shed any light on suction cups that do damage to paintwork.

thanks dude, and i will.

made an improvement last night.

where the bolt sits on the bottom part of the handle, i filled this round hole into a mopre slot shape, with a round file, now i can twist/rotate the cup from side to side, so now i can have it on more varied places, like on a bonnet that dips at teh front, i jsut loosen the bolt, place them on then tighten them back up.

ill take some pics later, mabe even a vid :nuts:

saxk

09-02-2009, 12:03

there is a huge thread on POTN about DIY rigs.

there is but not many are diy really, they all use pump cups, super clamps etc

andrewc

09-02-2009, 12:07

The POTN thread uses mostly off the shelf products with their own method of assembly.

This isn't hugely different to your rig being made up off off the shelf components being assembled in a manner of your choosing.

saxk

09-02-2009, 12:42

yer i know jsut there stuff using dedicated photographic equipment, which is expensive is what i meant.

this is a bodge DIY :D

DeanPhoto

09-02-2009, 13:25

i think the manfrotto ones are jsut a big scam

You generally get what you pay for, especially with manfrotto. I'm rigging supercars left right and centre. I wouldn't trust what you're using, nor I doubt would the owners of such cars when seeing the suction cups!

The suction cups you are using are designed specifically for flat surfaces and therefore, the rubber is a lot harder than that of the manfrotto's. This produces 2 problems..

1. You have a to find a flat surface or, risk bending/denting body panels
2. As the rubber is harder it can leave nasty marks in soft paint which only a proper machine polish will remove. If the car is a classic, or has been sprayed (ie: not from the factory) then the chances of damaging the paint permanently, are far greater.

I'm not trying to wee on your rice crispies, I'm just advising you that you should not use those cups. I wouldn't want to be you when you end up damaging some beefcakes Pride and Joy, that's for sure! :bat:

saxk

09-02-2009, 17:03

ok i see your point about the quality of the cup and the materials they are made from.

but ive tested these on a few paint surface, mainly my works van, my old banger etc and have really given it some jerking and sliding etc. and its been fine.

if i was shooting these photos all day long and making money from it, id invest in some proper kit, i love to buy products for all my hobbies, but the fact im shooting mates cars, none of which are that amazing, i cant justify it right now, which im sure alot of people can understand

but i see you point about not wanting to put them on either something freshly painted or a proper nice super car etc.

my previous statement was some what childish and ignorant, ill admint, jsut fed up with everyone turning there nose up at the products im using, also they way people get suckered into buying "proper" kit.

i see it alot with boating, chandlers sell stuff that caravan shops do but at 5x the price. it makes me angry lol

anyway i have an update

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3266467085_6a8213f57a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3267288914_64683c0881.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/3266461005_78393028e1.jpg

Little Man

09-02-2009, 21:27

saxk

11-02-2009, 13:51

Nice little update that fella.

Surely if you're fastening those suction cups to glass ie. a rear window, you wont have any problems at all, as that's what they're designed for?

I've got a couple coming tomorrow morning, I dont intend to fasten them to car bodywork, it's mainly just to have a play from the rear windows/side windows/front window.

chers LM

well yer, keep them on the glass and they will be fine, but said that i can get them to stick hourse lol, so besides the possible dammage to paint, they ahve enough suck for lots of surfaces.

Dino f

11-02-2009, 16:53

Saxk, i cant suss out how the horizonal clamps are held on to the vertical one, are they welded???? Great rig, not too dissimilar to the one im working on, Though at the moment mine uses a Uniloc tripod as this has a right angle hinge on the centre column allowing the camera to go real low.
Dean:)

asterix

11-02-2009, 20:24

good thread, Good rig

vecsri

11-02-2009, 20:33

Love that rig, its exaclty what i've looking to make.

chris250

11-02-2009, 20:45

it looks lik a rivot holding the verticle clamp on.

nice rig, i'm still sorting a shopping list out for mine

saxk

11-02-2009, 21:04

hi guys, cheers for the comments

its welded yes dino. my plan is not to use a tripod part, im getting a small ali tube 500mm long for the upright, so the clamps dont damage my tripod centre comlum

also im looking at getting a one piece 3m 2" ali pole, for more redigity at length, jsut waiting for a cheap/free bit to come along.

im going to do some shots my my missus's saxo on sunday so should have some shots on it on the car and with new pole.

kevtd

12-02-2009, 10:28

well i'm all up for giving it a go.. haha

them pics are realy good and i've been a big fan of this style for a long time but now i have my own camera i'll be setting ym own rig up but i will(like you say) be doing all the tests to make sure they aint going to fall off or anything first haha

saxk

12-02-2009, 13:51

i have another update, today when i was thinking of where to get a new pole from, i thought id check my old stuff at my place of work, i stored loads of junk there when i moved.

what do i find, but my old Browning Ballistic Carp pole, that was damaged and left to ro, it has no second section as it broke, and no tops, but it does have the middle 4, just over 1m each, and its carbon fibre.

so im going to have a play with it tonight and see how i can mounted it, ive tested the strength and with about 1kg on the end there is about 1" in drop :D:D

JJS5

12-02-2009, 16:42

Good shots and a good set up.
Might have to visit B&Q myself now!

saxk

12-02-2009, 16:49

after testing this carbon pole, i dont trust it, not at 3m anyway, think ill use it at 2m

what i might try is using my girlfriends PnS at 4m, to reduce the weight

IanH

21-06-2009, 14:50

Any updates yet Saxk? I like your ingenuity, and the shots.
Cheers
Ian.

saxk

08-07-2009, 16:24

hi ian, no none of yet, i was getting worried at the weight of my setup.

looking at buying a G10 wiich i can use on my 4m carbon pole as it will be ALOT lighter and i can still set manual priorities.

jsut gota buy the camera first :D