Controlling camera movement improves picture quality.
Making professional videos of events requires a stable picture and controlled camera movement. Camera tracking systems help the videographer to move the camera on a stable track that prevents instability from being introduced to the picture that is recorded. Camera tracking systems can be built at home for much less than the price of commercial systems.
Instructions
1. Open the tripod to the standing position and measure the distance between the front legs of the tripod. These measurements will be used to determine where the tripod holders will be placed on the tracking system.
2. Add two inches to each side of the measurement taken between the front legs of the tripod. Cut the PVC pipe to this length to make the front support piece of the camera tracking system.
3. Slide a PVC T-joint to the middle of the front support piece and turn it so that the open part of the joint is parallel to the floor.
4. Measure the distance from the back leg of the setup tripod to the middle point between the two front legs of the tripod. Add 2 inches to this measurement and cut a piece of PVC pipe to that length. This piece will support the back leg of the tripod.
5. Slide one end of the back let tripod support into the end of the T-joint that is in the middle of the front support piece.
6. Slide a T-joint on the other end of the back leg support pipe so that it is positioned 2 inches from the end of the pipe. Position the open part of the T-joint so it points up.
7. Place a T-joint on each end of the front support piece. Both T-joints should be slid up the pipe until they are two inches from the end of the pipe. Position the joints so that the open part of the joint is pointing up.
8. Place a T-joint on the end of the back tripod leg support.
9. Place a ½ inch PVC cap on each pipe end.
10. Cut four- 2 inch by 2 inch blocks of wood with the saw.
11. Cut a ½ inch by ½ inch notch out of one corner of the blocks. Repeat with each block.
12. Position an L-bracket over the side of the corner of the block where the notch was cut out. Secure the bracket to the block with the screws that were provided. This will provide the space needed to attach the skateboard wheels. Repeat with each block.
13. Drill a hole in either side of the L-brackets so the skateboard wheels can be mounted to the L-brackets. Repeat this with each L-bracket. Slide the skateboard wheels into place and secure with the nuts that are provided. Each block should have 2 wheels.
14. Secure the wood to the PVC pipe ends with three inch wood screws that go through the block and into the PVC cap on the end of the pipe. Position the block of wood on the corner of the block with the wheels pointed down.
15. Position the wheels onto ½ inch aluminum piping and position the legs of the tripod in the open ends of the T-joints. The camera can now move along the track and catch the action smoothly.
Tags: front support, front support piece, legs tripod, support piece, back tripod, between front