Sombeech
10-29-2012, 09:06 PM
I've been tinkering around with building a GoPro Cable Cam setup. I built one last week really quick with basically 2 pulleys, a piece of PVC pipe, 100' of cord and a camera clamp.
That part was easy, but then after some experimenting I decided to use a longer piece of PVC pipe, about 2' long now, and then I replaced the cheap wheels in the pulleys with some ball bearing wheels.
Here's my first build:
60623
And over the weekend I tested it out a bit, you can see fragments of this video were filmed with my cable cam. Notice it's a bit shaky, this was due to the pulleys being too close together in my opinion and also the cheap wheels on the pulleys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W99iWtx_qaY
So then tonight I put it to the test on the trail. I quickly found out that 100' of rope just doesn't give you much filming time. I also found out how difficult it is to find a spot where you have a straight shot between two trees without snagging any branches along the way, plus having it at enough of a decline where the camera assembly will freely glide down the rope. This is where I need a remote control motor so it can move along a more level slope if needed. This will come later.....
Here's what it looks like tonight with the longer pipe
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/30/utuvupu3.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/30/rudy5ere.jpg
Here's some footage from tonight, and my patience was put to the test. I knew it would be best if I was alone because I didn't want to be holding anybody up while I was trying to figure this thing out. I tried 4 spots but only 2 of them were successful. The other two either didn't have enough slope or would have the rope crossing the trail so that passers by could get clothes lined. Each shooting spot took about half an hour to set up and get just right. :roll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWnPI4loH8M&feature=youtu.be
I'll be coming back and adding to this thread as I make adjustments and progress with this. Like I said, I'm seriously looking at building a remote control component on it, probably by taking apart a cheap R/C car and just using those parts and putting a third wheel in the middle.
I'm also looking at ditching the PVC pipe frame and making something that folds up, because this did NOT fit in my pack very well. And if I'm going to double my rope, I'm going to be carrying a lot of gear for this setup. I've got to come up with something collapsible.
And finally, the GoPro LCD BacPac has been very helpful in setting up the shots:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21xs33yDwJL._AA300_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090A6WV2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0090A6WV2&linkCode=as2&tag=bogloutdcomm-20)
I would appreciate any feedback or ideas you may have. :cool2:
That part was easy, but then after some experimenting I decided to use a longer piece of PVC pipe, about 2' long now, and then I replaced the cheap wheels in the pulleys with some ball bearing wheels.
Here's my first build:
60623
And over the weekend I tested it out a bit, you can see fragments of this video were filmed with my cable cam. Notice it's a bit shaky, this was due to the pulleys being too close together in my opinion and also the cheap wheels on the pulleys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W99iWtx_qaY
So then tonight I put it to the test on the trail. I quickly found out that 100' of rope just doesn't give you much filming time. I also found out how difficult it is to find a spot where you have a straight shot between two trees without snagging any branches along the way, plus having it at enough of a decline where the camera assembly will freely glide down the rope. This is where I need a remote control motor so it can move along a more level slope if needed. This will come later.....
Here's what it looks like tonight with the longer pipe
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/30/utuvupu3.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/30/rudy5ere.jpg
Here's some footage from tonight, and my patience was put to the test. I knew it would be best if I was alone because I didn't want to be holding anybody up while I was trying to figure this thing out. I tried 4 spots but only 2 of them were successful. The other two either didn't have enough slope or would have the rope crossing the trail so that passers by could get clothes lined. Each shooting spot took about half an hour to set up and get just right. :roll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWnPI4loH8M&feature=youtu.be
I'll be coming back and adding to this thread as I make adjustments and progress with this. Like I said, I'm seriously looking at building a remote control component on it, probably by taking apart a cheap R/C car and just using those parts and putting a third wheel in the middle.
I'm also looking at ditching the PVC pipe frame and making something that folds up, because this did NOT fit in my pack very well. And if I'm going to double my rope, I'm going to be carrying a lot of gear for this setup. I've got to come up with something collapsible.
And finally, the GoPro LCD BacPac has been very helpful in setting up the shots:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21xs33yDwJL._AA300_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090A6WV2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0090A6WV2&linkCode=as2&tag=bogloutdcomm-20)
I would appreciate any feedback or ideas you may have. :cool2: