We make а Quick Release Follow Focus for our beloved DSLR camera.

Follow Focus is called a device that allows you to quickly change the focusing distance when moving an object or camera during video shooting. Although, with the same success, you can use this gadget not only to control the focus, but also the DSLR zoom of the camera.

I hope that this accessory will allow you to implement various camera motion patterns, such as Track (Crab), Follow, Zoom, Dolly Zoom, etc.

This video shows the process of making a gadget

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Smoke Machine 200 watts DIY

Portable tripod head for half an hour with your own hands

The article tells about the homemade smoke machine, the power of 200 watts, made from improvised materials.

I decided to shoot a little smoke when shooting one of the rollers. I wanted to use tobacco, but I was afraid that it would be difficult to get rid of the smell afterwards.

If you can watch videos, then you do not need to read further.

Few details about the DIY smoke machine

If you have two power sources, then such a smoke generator can be built in a couple of hours. But if you use one power source, you will be deprived of the possibility of operational density and the speed of the flow of generated smoke.

For the operational control of the amount of smoke and flow velocity, this simple fan control unit was built.

04 Diagram of electric control of the fan of the machine smoke.

The electrical circuit was assembled on a piece of the breadboard from what was at hand. Probably, it would be possible to build a controller based on LM317 or any DC-DC converter chip. But I chose the scheme on a composite transistor, since it does not have a strict limitation on the maximum permissible supply voltage.

In particular, with the evaporator supply voltage ≈24 Volts, the amplitude value of the rectified voltage, taking into account the range of the mains voltage variation, will be:

24 * 1.05 * √2 ≈ 35.6 (Volts)

And this already exceeds the maximum permissible values ​​of the input voltage of most popular microcircuits – stabilizers. Voltage of the same 24 Volts was selected, proceeding from the available in the presence of nichrome wire AMG24 (0,4мм). The template for spiral winding had a diameter of 10 mm.

The smoke generator works as follows. Glycerin is poured into the evaporator chamber in such quantity that it can be absorbed into the cotton wool. After warming up the spirals, which takes 5-10 seconds, glycerin begins to evaporate. The fan through the air duct pumps air into the evaporator chamber, which mixes with the glycerine vapor and is discharged through the silicone hose. This hose allows you to send smoke to the desired part of the scene during photo-video shooting. Part of the glycerin settles on the inner surface of the hose and when it accumulates a lot, it can be drained back.

The amount of smoke and flow rate can be controlled by changing the supply voltage of both the whole unit and the fan. When the voltage on the fan decreases, the smoke becomes more dense, and the flow rate decreases. If you reduce the supply voltage of the entire smoke of the machine, the amount of generated smoke will decrease.

All accompanying documentation, including the assembly drawing, is in the "Related documentation" section.

About the smoke-liquid

I’m not a chemist and I can be mistaken about the proportions of the smoke of a fluid. But from the recommended proportions: glycerin – 15%, alcohol – 10%, distilled water – 75%, for some reason I began to perspire heavily in the throat. So I used pure glycerin and did not experience any side effects.

Attention! The use of a glycerin-based smoke generator results in the condensation of glycerin vapor on surrounding objects, mostly smooth and cold. For long-term shooting at close range, I recommend to screw the protective filter on the camera to avoid contamination of the front lens of the lens.
Glycerin can be washed off with the help of warm water and any liquid detergent.

Accompanying documentation

This is an assembly drawing of the smoke of a machine, a drawing of a printed circuit board made on the basis of a breadboard, and drawings of templates.

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Portable tripod head for half an hour with your own hands

About how to make a universal portable tripod head with a panning mechanism from all garbage in just half an hour.

You cannot read an article if you can watch a video.

Gathering on the next trip, I did not take photo accessories with me because of excess baggage weight. And of course these irreplaceable glands were needed on vacation in the first days.

When he returned home, he immediately set to work to next time be fully armed. And I still managed to make a very simple tripod head, the stand for which is a standard plastic bottle. Depending on the choice of bottle shape, this head can be used not only for photo-video shooting, but also for resampling documents.

The head can be installed, not only the phone, but also a compact camera. And for the installation does not necessarily have a tripod socket.

For this head, a panning mechanism was also made, which is often in demand when shooting video. The design is fully functional, takes up little space and weighs almost nothing.

The manufacturing process is lit in the video. The drawings are in the "Additional Materials" below.

If it’s too easy for you, then for you I picked up "Related Topics" for self-made photo and video accessories of a more complex design.

Additional materials

Compact tripod head drawing (90КБ).

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The article describes the design and manufacturing process a slider made from standard parts, purchased at retail. The total costs do not exceed $ 20.

As always, you can see instead of reading boring process of making this a useful tool in a short video report.

Prologue

It has long wanted to get a rail slider for revitalization and better watchable movies.

First look ready solutions on Aliexpress, but there price sliders to 1.2 meter starts from $ 160.

Then I reviewed the internet a lot of homemade, but they either were too shabby, either require a lot of manual work and the specific materials that do not find in our stores..

Then I went to the local special stock markets and there in the tent, where they sell furniture accessories, saw a very interesting, steel, chrome tube length 3 meters. The seller said he could on the spot to cut the tube in half. It was exactly what you need to start the project.

On the same day sketched drawing of the slider, the basis of which I took this same pipe and steel mounting plates that are looked after on the same market in a tent hardware products. Then, when looking for fasteners, I saw the same plate and in DIY stores.

The necessary parts and materials

For the manufacture of the slider will need the following parts and fasteners. Fastener really took a lot. But the slider was conceived notable.

Key details

Pipe furniture Ø25x3000mm – 1pc. – $3.75

Plate mounting 160x60mm – 6 pc. – 0,5×6 = $3

The front tie-threaded M4x20mm – 8 pc. – $1.6

Bearing 4x11x4 – 12pc. – $1.8

Bolt 3/4"x25mm – 1pc. – $1.5

Fixing details

Washer M12 – 4+1=5pc.

Nut М6 – 12pc.

Screw М5х16 – 12pc.

Nut М5 – 12шт.

Washer М5 – 24pc.

Spring waesher М5 – 12pc.

Pin М4х1000мм – 1шт.

Screw М4х45 – 2шт.

Screw М4х10 – 16+6=22pc.

Nut М4 – 8+6+6=20pc.

Washer М4 – 16+6+6=28pc.

Spring washer M4 – 16+8+6+2=28pc.

Screw М2,5х10 – 16+4=12pc.

Washer М2,5 – 4pc.

Spreng washer M2,5 – 16+4=20pc.

Expenses

Details – $11,65

Fixture – $5-6

Total: Less than $20

Drawing slider

The drawing shows the basic concept of the rail slider. To reduce friction during movement of the carriage, miniature ball bearings were used. They are located at 120 degrees to each other, and securely hold the carriage rail at any position. All other drawings required for the completion of parts and assembly of the slider are in “Advanced Materials”.

Completion and production of racks that hold the bearings

I have not had the patience to wait for the arrival of the finished racks from China, and I produced their own steel rod with a diameter of 6mm.

First, sawed bars on the workpiece with a margin of about 1 mm to be processed.

Then he made a parting and chamfering using the coarse and fine file.

Stake the center of each side of the workpiece.

Drill through hole in two stages, drills Ø2…3 and Ø3,3mm.

Note that the full face cut in steel thread to a depth of 20mm – a rather difficult task, even with the presence of a tap wrench. Simplify it can be either slicing a thread only to a depth of 5-6 mm on each side, or to ream the hole Ø3,4 and Ø3,5mm even under the “Chinese” thread.

Production of press brake

For bending threaded racks M4h20mm from M12 washers matrix was produced by cutting angled slots.

And for slots hexagonal pillars should be flat.

A cylindrical, respectively – cylindrical.

To fix the rack on the matrix, with each side of the rack has been screwed on the screw and washer.

As punch was applied rod Ø10mm, but instead press – a massive hammer.

Here is the result of bending cylindrical rack.

Brass Rack better to stick with a press, so as not to break. I used to be a bench screw press.

Making the upper bearing mount assemblies

To set the upper (in the drawing) bearing in the mounting plate was drilled four holes up to 12.5mm diameter.

Better for this use a drill with sharpening tsefenbor (tsapfenbor), whose central part has a diameter of 5mm.

In the absence of such diameter drill holes you can cut it out round file.

When finalizing the M12 washers, each was drilled four holes Ø2,1mm.

Then, the same washer M12 were used as conductors in coaxial Ø2,1mm for drilling holes in the mounting plates. Washers recorded two steel plates, strapped bolts. Thus, each washer has been marked so that the assembly could align its holes with the very holes that have been drilled through it.

In consequence, in the plates were tapped M2,5.

Holes in Ø2,1mm washers M12 were drilled to a Ø2,6mm to M2,5 mounting screws.

Four studs at 34mm were cut off each for fixing the upper bearing.

Making shaped screws for fastening pipes

To protect the pipes from deforming and simplifying the assembly process, the screws were fabricated shapes. First M5 washers were bent on a cylinder with a diameter of 25mm.

And then for these washers using active flux and tin-lead solder was soldered M5h16 screws.

Making shaped sleeves

Shaped as sleeves, tubes and extending between the mounting plates, M6 nuts have been used, in which propylene was first cylindrical groove.

And then this slot has been finalized with a steel cylinder with a diameter of 25mm and a large hammer.

The form of the resulting surface was monitored on the end face washers Ø25mm.

Drilling holes in the pipes

Before drilling, were tested perpendicular mating parts.

Before drilling, were tested perpendicular mating parts.

As well as the position of the conductor with respect to the pipe.

And the distance between the pipes.

And only after that the pipes were drilled.

When all assembly units were ready, it remains only to collect a slider, according to the drawing. The assembly process is better to see in the video, which is located at the beginning of the article.

Brakes for rail slider

Progress slider carriage is so light that the slider can be used as a spirit level. Therefore, for the fixation of the carriage during transport and installation of the slider, a brake is required.

Brake unit consists of only three parts: a plate of fiberglass, brake pads made of genuine leather and the clamping screw M2,5.

Feets slider

As is known, large set rail sliders with two racks. And although I drilled at each site reference slider over the hole for the photo-screws 1/4″, two tripods I had not. Therefore, the question of the legs to the slider is open.

Screw the legs, which are usually equipped with factory sliders, I just did not like. Spin the multi-screws are not wanted, and simple design, I did not come up on the basis of finished parts.

Up-arm leg thing and does not come as a simple and more comprehensive solution was found. But first a little digression.

During assembly of the rail slider, I decided to shoot a few action scenes, which again needed a slider, which has not happened. So I hastily gathered from the second slider has acquired parts of the first. Read more about this slider, which can be assembled in 15 minutes, spending just $ 5, read or look here >>>

Then it was found out that in order to install the slider can quite amiss a pair of ordinary wooden chairs.

Actually, these chairs and determine the final design of the legs, whose role has been assigned to the four eccentric cut from fiberglass.

This form allows the cam lock slider on the chair.

If you want to install the slider on an uneven surface or to adjust the tilt of the spontaneous movement, enough to turn the cam to the desired angle and lock its position with the screw.

Small details

Mounting plates obtained by stamping, have very sharp edges which can injure yourself if you try to stop the move to disperse the carriage. Therefore, follow the brake to release only during video shooting.

I did not blunt the sharp edges so as not to damage the plating. But if you are going to paint the details of the slider, it is better to pre-round all sharp edges of the mounting plate.

Furniture pipe, which I used as the rails are in a pronounced weld seam. On the outer side of the pipe in the area of the seam, using tactile sensations can detect small irregularities. Therefore, prior to attaching the pipe to the base, you need to ensure that these irregularities will not fall into the trajectory of ball movement.

To find the bearing to Aliexpess enter into the search box bearings, and then in the search box on the results 4x11x4 ( «x» – English letter X).

Better suited for bending steel sleeve with a through hole. To bend the blind sleeve, they will have to pre-drill.

Find the threaded bushing on our sites may be on keyvodrdam: coupling nut, sleeve nut, sleeve coupling, plate furniture, etc.

On Chinese websites: coupling nuts, threaded spacers, longer hex nut, M4x20, etc.

Additional materials

Download drawings rail slider, designed for shooting a movie (164kb).

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The article talked about how from parts purchased in the store for a few minutes to assemble a universal slider for shooting video and VR-Object-s, not drilled with no holes.

Prologue

While recording video of the construction of a large rail slider, it took some of the scenes take off with the help of mobile cameras. To this end, I decided to hastily erect the easiest parts of the slider is already acquired for the main project. The design was so simple that I collected it in just 15 minutes. If among my subscribers will videoblogery they hope will appreciate the home-made under appreciated.

Of course, I’ll tell you about the rail and the slider, which also will be built entirely from prefabricated parts. But its structure is much more complicated, and financial costs of three times higher.

The three-minute video shows a slider assembly process and the different ways to use it

That’s what it took to build the three-wheeled slider

In the picture all the necessary parts and materials for the assembly of three-wheeled slider.

The main parts and assembly units

1. Plate mounting 160x50mm – 3pc. – 0,5 х 3 = 1,5$
2. Corner furniture 15Х25х25mm – 3pc. – 0,1 х 3 = 0,3$
3. Ball suitable size with an outer diameter 10-15mm – 3pc. – 0,25 х 3 = 0,75$
4. Heat-shrinkable tubing (diameter depending on the availability of bearings) – 0,5$
5. Pair of standard photo cards on 1/4” & 3/8” – 1$

Fasteners (the total value of approximately –1-2$)

1. Washers 2mm thickness for alignment mating parts – 3pc.
2. Screws M4x30 or longer – for mounting bearings – 3pc.
3. Screws M4h30 or longer – for mounting bearings – 6pc.
4. Nuts M4 – 12pc.
5. Washers М4 – 15pc.
6. Washer M4 – 9pc.

———————————–

Total: max 5…6$

Production of video wheel slider

It is hardly necessary to talk about the process of assembling the slider, the more so because there videoillyustratsiya above. I just tell about how "shod" bearings. This can be done by using a hair dryer or a lighter construction. Although lighter use is undesirable, since uneven heating in the flame tube at the thickness may vary around the perimeter of the bearing is stronger than when more evenly heated by hot air.

The fact that the magnitude of detonation (fine vibration) of the slider depends not only on the quality of the surface on which the slider slides, but also on the wheel radial runout. In particular, the wheels on the toys that have been in my possession, did not provide an acceptable level of detonation.

The tube, which I used as a tire, too, is not perfect, and introduces some non-uniformity in the movement of the camera. However, it improves the adhesion of the slider wheel with the supporting surface and protects the latter from damage.

To improve the ride, it is necessary to burden the slider, which creates an additional burden on the supporting surface. In the apartment there exists little perfect surfaces and most likely they will be varnished or polished panels of furniture. "No shoes" bearings can be left on these surfaces traces.

Use the slider for video capture and VR-Object-s

Here’s what happened as a result.

Slider of this design allows the camera to move in a straight line or concentric path which is determined by the angle of rotation of the wheels.

If necessary, remove the three-wheeled slider allows row VR-Object-s (3D models) or a panorama.

Use this slider it was so comfortable, and the design was so successful that I decided to develop the idea that this slider can be taken on the road. For this I used the platform as a thin-walled steel disk from an old lamp. According to the plan, it will be used as ballast bag of sand. Moreover, the experience of using a ballast of sand I had been >>>

To enhance the tripod head mounting bolt 3/8 "cemented paving two homemade large diameter washers. Without these goals, knocking slider resulted in a rocking tripod head with the camera.

The wheel assembly was replaced by the usual furniture squares on the shorter and thicker, which allowed them to cut thread M4. Now, if the tension screws, performing the role of the rotary axes will be weakened tightening will need only a screwdriver.

Small details

When choosing a path of movement of the slider, it takes quite a precise adjustment of the angle of rotation of wheels. For this to become possible, the screws holding the ball bearings are selected so long.

Not soon, when the trajectory of the movement is rotation about the axis of the slider, it is necessary several times to adjust the angle of rotation of each wheel. The first time it took me five minutes. But when I realized the logic of movement three-wheeled platform, it began to occupy less than a minute. Manage this slider is as easy as to put the car on parking in a bottleneck.

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