6 thoughts on “Camera Image Stabilizer by MacGyver”

  1. This guy is serious CT material. Out of curiosity, could anyone go ahead and patent this idea and steal it from CT-guy ?? He has the video proof, but that hasn’t stopped big corporations from stealing ideas and then fighting them in court. Cheaper to settle with a person AFTER you’ve made the millions.

  2. Bah.
    I’ve already improved on the idea to make it more mobile.
    Shorted it and just attach it to your belt. Limiting all the variables created by upper body joints is the point anyway right?
    This way, when done with it just slip it into your pocket while still attached. Stabilize your shots and hold your pants up at the same time.
    Woot Me!

  3. The video was fast and had to rewind a couple of times to see how the string is attached to the rope. I’d still like to see a ‘standalone’ stabilizer that did not require a tripod. I thought of a string with a hook at one end to attach to a hanging tree limb. Other end is attached to a platform with free-spinning inertial storage (eg: bike wheel) You spin the wheel and the camera goes nowhere until the angular momentum is spent.

    Of course, you can’t put this in your pocket.

  4. Bladerunner, I’m pretty sure you’re better off shelling the bucks for in-camera or in-lens IS. Requiring a tree and a bicycle wheel is a bit of a limitation, IMHO, to where you can shoot.

    Along ZBalance’s suggestion, I wonder if you could just use the camera strap, taught against your body, to help stabilize it. Of course, I’m not sure you can beat the stabilization gained from an inelastic string anchored to the earth as shown in the video.

  5. Simple and Cool. But I’ve already outdone Zbalance — by attaching it to my nipple. Either will do. You’ll need to use an ice cube to prime the surface area for attaching the washer (alligator clamps may work best)…but, despite the chaffing and odd stares during picture taking, the end result is worth it. Adjust the flex of your pecs and the yank of the chord for optimal image stabilization.

  6. I think the whole point of using a taught, nonelastic string and grounding it was to eliminate shifting. I think if you’re wearing a really tight belt, it might be supportive enough to clip it on. But with a little tension, I think that’s enough to eliminate the shakes. I might have to try it. The only problem is that a lot of my shots are taken above my subjects, and I don’t see that trick working here.

    But the belt idea made me think of a fairly new invention called the Lighter Leash. It’s like one of those retractable key chains but for your lighter. You know, so no one steals it. I just thought of all the people who would borrow your lighter and let it whip back at your belt. That’s a little too dangerous for my boys.

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