Video Making Equipment you can make easily at home

	PVC Camera Rig: This really easy to make PVC rig for your camcorder is based on the figg design of a wheel that provides good control and also acts as a stabilizer because the centre of gravity is lowered. This is all made from easy to get PVC irrigation pipe and fittings and you can make it just with a hacksaw to cut the pipe. This universal rig ALSO allows you to attach microphones, receivers and video lights to the frame. This simple to make project has it's own tutorial and it can be made in less than an hour and you are ready to shoot. See the tutorial on how to build this rig
	Build your own Mike Blimp: This really effective microphone wind shield is simple to build and also has a great extendable boom. You will be able to build the entire blimp (zepplin) for less than $20 and we found a perfect boom for $15. This simple to make project has it's own tutorial and it virtually eliminates all wind noise when you use your shotgun microphone in the casing. See the tutorial on how to build this rig
	Build your own LCD Hood: Ever tried to use your LCD 'flipout' screen on your camera outdoors?? Right, when the light is bright you see nothing!! I prefer to do intial focus and setup with the EVF but it's a lot easier to follow action using the LCD screen..as long as you can actually see it!!! It works really well and allows you to use the flip-out screen even in bright daylight and get a sharp clear image. See the tutorial on how to build this rig
	Front-end and 'anti-shock' mic mount for our Mini Crane: For those of you who are building our Mini-Crane here's another option to build for the camera mount. Both my MiniDV cameras (for some unknown reason) don't have an accessory shoe so you cannot add an external microphone! Even if you did, there is still the aspect of transmitted noise so we replaced the original camera mount on the crane with the rig on the left which holds the camera nicely and also provides a shock-mount for the shotgun mike on top. See the tutorial on how to build this rig
	Build your own Camcorder Mount Rig: This is simple and it works. We have recently sold all our big, heavy analogue shoulder mount cameras in favour of smaller and lighter DV cameras but you just CAN'T get a steady handheld shot with this small device strapped to one hand. (Even holding the LCD display with your second hand doesn't work that well. Here is the answer...it gives you steady handheld shots and costs under $20 to build and you get the same sort of stability that a shoulder-mount ENG camera gives you. Watch the video See the tutorial on how to build this rig
	Build your own Camcorder Mini Crane: I went one step further and ripped a tripod apart and mounted the pan head on my mini-crane cos it's more useful there. No more juggling around with the tripod trying to get the height and position right!! You just walk left or right, forward or backwards for that perfect shot. PLUS you can do smooth pans and you never have to tilt the camera to get a high shot!! Try doing a low angle pan from a couple of feet of the ground to over 10 feet in the air and then track forwards or backwards in one fluid shot. Watch the video See the tutorial on how to build this rig
	Build your own Camera Stabilizer: If you are making an action movie and your hand-held shots look decidedly amateur, then try using this unique cam stabilizer that will give you silky smooth footage. Believe it or not it not only provides a lower Centre of Gravity for your camcorder but also compensates for yaw, pitch and roll just like the professional units but this one will only cost you around $30 or less!! See the tutorial on how to build this rig Check out this video about the new DIY Camera Stabilizer
	Making a Track Dolly: To attain some degree of professionalism with shots you often need a smooth tracking shot because simply panning the camera looks decidedly amateur. A dolly that runs on wheels is not that expensive to purchase but it really only of any use on a smooth indoor surface. The only way to get smooth tracking shots outdoors is to use a dolly that runs on rails that can be laid down over rough terrain to get that shot you really need. You can build one yourself for a few dollars just using standard PVC irrigation pipe See the tutorial on how to build this rig

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