BaCaSta - Band Cam Stabilizer

thingiverse

A super compact band cam satbilizer that can effectively suppress all rotational induced image unsharpnesses. The Problem Full sized tripods are the best stabisisation method for cameras - no question. But when you're hiking or go to a party they are too heavy and bulky. Most people will think twice and only take a tripod with them if taking photos is the main objective. Also small tripods can't really replace full sized ones. Then there are rope stabilisatiors available but their stabilization effect is very limited. So with the current situation you often have to fall back to harsh and ugly flash light in party situations or you have to use high ISO values for beautiful dawn sceneries making the images unnecessary noisy. The Solution In short it's an elaborate improvement to the rope stabilisator method. (Refer to the images to better understand the following description.) It's a stable H-shaped structure that screws onto the bottom of any camera. This structure provides four eyelets as stabilization points. Through the left two and right two eyelets runs each a wire loop with around 60cm circumference length. (I prototyped with electric wire to attain low tensibility and high outer friction) Those loops make the pitch choosable on the fly and more importantly stabilize the pitch. Thereby vertical smearing in the resulting image is reduced. On the bottom of each loop is a band (again with low tensibility) connected. This is done via hooks and strap-tri-glides with eyelets. The bands are length adjustable and form loops at their ends for the photogrphers feet to slip in. Those two bands make the hight and roll adjustable and more importantly stabilize the roll. Thereby circular smearing around the center of the resulting image is reduced. The yaw instabilities and the assoziated horizontal image smearing must be compensated with the cameras native neck strap. This is intended and must be noted in the "stabilisators" description - it's very important. Usage: Slip into the shoe loops. Take a wide but still comfortable stride. Put the cameras neck strap around you. Pull the camera forward and upward (you may move the loops to adjust pitch). Don't pull too weak or to strong just comfortable and use both hands. Take a THE photo. Handling of the prototype feels good but an overload protection turned out to be neccesary. (Stepping on the bands while walking can break the eyelets.) Performance was not yet quantified. Features: Compact & Lightweight. Rotation stabilisation on all axes. Quickadjustable Pitch. Unobstrusive when mounted. mount screw retention insets for corc/felt/rubber stiff design optimal size for micro 4/3 cameras Instructions To build this you'll need: 2x "Snap In Connector (double-sided)"http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:45669 2x "Walters Customizable Tri Glide with broken edges and eyelet"http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:45219 2x "Walters Customizable Tri Glide with broken edges"http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44559 2x short piece of thick flexible electric wire 2x band around 24mm wide 1x "Photo Equipment Screw" (The one which is 1'' long)http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:45314