If it's cool with everyone, I'd like to show off my "Camera on a stick" build - It's not a car but generates lots of attention at all the car shows.
It was constructed from aluminum to try to keep the weight down. No specialized equipment was used - just basic hand tools.
Laying out the lines for placement of the adjustment holes.
In the shot below, the camera is sitting on the paper towel with the raw rectangular aluminum plate attached, but not shaped or drilled. Also, the centre post had been drilled and tapped and hasthe flats filed by hand. I could have used the mill, but wanted to show that it could be done with basic hand tools. The filing gave me a decent cardio workout and saved me from trying to remember how to set up the mill - haven't used one since grade 10, but it was tempting!
Bottom section of the Camera mount were bent into an 'S' shape by hand in a bench mounted vice using a very large adjustable wrench.
Laying out the holes that will add flash and glamour, but more importantly make the parts lighter. Notice the shiney part at the top of the pic is the base of the camera mount - it was polished with a cotton buffing wheel on a drill press, as were all the reflective bits.
These are the lower camera mount pcs.,drilled and sanded with a D/A sander with 180 grit. (above and below)
Here they are polished after water sanding (below)
Like jewlery!
Here it is fully assembled with the camera mounted(below)
Here you can see the remote trigger set up and the mirror that I added as an after thought, trying it out for the first time at Detroit Autorama helped me to see that it was necessary to frame the image of the subject- a great up grade!
The complete unit.
I used some bicycle parts I had here on the farm including a brake lever, grip and cable.
A view from below showing how I can see the image and frame the subject before squeezing the trigger, even with the camera at a height of 12 ft +!!! Sure saves me from dragging a step ladder everywhere I go!
This was a prototype that worked as expected right out of the gate and I couldn't be happier with it. Just goes to show you, if it's not on the market, there's nothing stopping you from making it yourself. I made this one exclusively from spare parts that I had laying around and literally cost me $0.00 and too much time to build.
One of these days I'm going to work on a REAL car!!!!
-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Friday 4th of April 2014 12:14:29 PM
-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Friday 4th of April 2014 02:32:29 PM
-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Friday 4th of April 2014 02:36:13 PM
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
I was wondering what the mirror was for at first, but I figured it out, lol.
I take it the stick is camera specific? or can you adapt it to your next camera?
Most of these point and shoot cameras are very similar in physical size, as well as the lay out of the screen and trigger button, but if I had to, I could build a different trigger stand (the piece coming up from the base at the back of the camera) to match a camera with a large difference. Slight differences shouldn't be a problem, but it's a good point - I may try out a few other models on it to see if it could work with minor trigger adjustments. I'd likely just take the unit into the store and ask to mount the new camera and get one that fits and has all the features I need. This camera will be good for a good 5+ years though as it is high quality, has a powerful 20.4 MP processor and takes fantastic shots. I have a high end SLR that I use too, and many have asked why I didn't make the stick fit the SLR - short and simple answer? Too big/ too heavy.
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
I saw it at Cobo !! Awesome, and the pictures were great.
Thanks Dan, the mirror is new to you - a new addition since Detroit, and it works awesome, I can actually see what I'm shooting now! Not that the shots from Detroit were horrible, but I was just guessing/estimating what would be in the shot.
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
I saw it at Cobo !! Awesome, and the pictures were great.
Thanks Dan, the mirror is new to you - a new addition since Detroit, and it works awesome, I can actually see what I'm shooting now! Not that the shots from Detroit were horrible, but I was just guessing/estimating what would be in the shot.
That mirror is a good idea, and could have used one on my shoe at Cobo !!
I saw it at Cobo !! Awesome, and the pictures were great.
Thanks Dan, the mirror is new to you - a new addition since Detroit, and it works awesome, I can actually see what I'm shooting now! Not that the shots from Detroit were horrible, but I was just guessing/estimating what would be in the shot.
That mirror is a good idea, and could have used one on my shoe at Cobo !!
Some people have suggested that it would be great for upskirt shots, so I tried it out on Jamie...
Ha ha ha ha, LOVE IT!!!!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
Will, just trying to keep the 'white glove' show guys on their toes! Get down there and scrub the underbelly of that Deuce John! -you never know when I might sneak up on your machine with that rig!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
Do these compact cameras never come with a remote shutter switch? I think my slr has a wired and wireless remote switch. It might seem like a daft option, but if you want to take night shots even on a compact, the camera needs to stay still.
If you could find your next compact with a remote it would not only give a steady image, but you'd cut down on size and weight even more.
I used to have a camera that took pictures quite similar to this . Seems some skirt wearing women took offense and the judge wasn't too impressed either .
(free country my ass)
-- Edited by DB Cooper on Friday 4th of April 2014 03:17:32 PM
Do these compact cameras never come with a remote shutter switch? I think my slr has a wired and wireless remote switch. It might seem like a daft option, but if you want to take night shots even on a compact, the camera needs to stay still.
If you could find your next compact with a remote it would not only give a steady image, but you'd cut down on size and weight even more.
Generally the small point and shoot cameras won't have all the features of an SLR on purpose - They're sneaky that way! They don't overload them with too many options to keep the price point down. The other reason is pure genius - "If you want THOSE features I'd like to show you this nice expensive SLR unit!" It should be noted that I picked up this Nikon S3500 point and shoot camera for $91 and change -$101 taxes in!
My Nikon point and shoot does have a 2second and 12 second delay for the shutter, but you have to manually push the button for each frame.
I have an IR remote for my Olympus and looking to get one for my new Nikon SLR 3200 -, but those remotes are only useful on a tri-pod, it won't work at night or on a long shutter with a hand held mono-pod. This "Camera on a Stick" is only for the unique high or low shots. All other shots are done with the SLR.
-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Friday 4th of April 2014 03:55:28 PM
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
that camera stick looks store bought, ill bet you could make them and sell them
Thanks Rob, I like the 'new you' BTW!
Lots of people are suggesting that eveywhere I go. I didn't pay a cent for anything on it but the camera itself, but for the hours I've got in this one, I wouldn't even take $200 for it - just too much time involved. The next one is going to cost me for materials on top of the time, as my scrap supply of this type of aluminum plate has been depleted. Now, if I could have some blueprints drawn up and sent to China, I'm sure they could replicate it in cheap, light plastic that would last a year or two and only cost $75 - $100!!!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
that camera stick looks store bought, ill bet you could make them and sell them
Thanks Rob, I like the 'new you' BTW!
Lots of people are suggesting that eveywhere I go. I didn't pay a cent for anything on it but the camera itself, but for the hours I've got in this one, I wouldn't even take $200 for it - just too much time involved. The next one is going to cost me for materials on top of the time, as my scrap supply of this type of aluminum plate has been depleted. Now, if I could have some blueprints drawn up and sent to China, I'm sure they could replicate it in cheap, light plastic that would last a year or two and only cost $75 - $100!!!
You could pump those off, real quick, on a small CNC. Know anyone who has one?
I actually considered getting the upper parts with all the holes sand casted at a foundry...with all the holes cast in! A quick tumble polish and all the hard work is done! The stick itself is just dimensional square tubing and a solid rod that fits snug as is - minimal machine work on the bottom end.
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
A few shots from the OTHER perspective- up high!:(yes, these pics were taken with that tiny little camera - nice unit!)
^ This shot is right about 12 feet off the ground looking down on some 6 foot dudes and really shows how busy Detroit Autorama can be on a Saturday afternoon!
-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Friday 4th of April 2014 05:08:23 PM
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
Very very nice. Been a little bit of a camera buff for years and that sir is a great idea and nicely done...yes I am jealous ....PS... Dave has a beaver that he uses to cut metal. Next time you could borrow it ....
Very very nice. Been a little bit of a camera buff for years and that sir is a great idea and nicely done...yes I am jealous ....PS... Dave has a beaver that he uses to cut metal. Next time you could borrow it ....
Ha ha ha! Is that beaver big and brown? I think it used to belong to Wynona!!!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
Steve, I like the camera on a stick. I had the pleasure of seeing it at Homer's garage crawl. Don't forget to make sure the camera is sitting just right.
Steve, I like the camera on a stick. I had the pleasure of seeing it at Homer's garage crawl. Don't forget to make sure the camera is sitting just right.
Oh yeah...Homer's Garage Crawl! I was going to post a few pics from that deal wasn't I? I'll try to get to it today sometime. Thanks for the reminder!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
You couldn't be any worse than some of the presenters. The Dragons seem interested in people who have thought things through,made a prototype and been smart enough to not spend the morgage on something. I would think you qualify there. The only drawback might be a limited market for those big money guys. You could always sell it to those other T.V. guys Ron Popile and the Ronco Ink if they are still around. Remember the Fishin Magician and the spray on hair. Ed
Steve how much time in polishing it was goverment time????????
Let's not go there. Lots of time polishing, but I never really kept track of it either. They actually don't take much more than 3 to 5 minutes per peice to buff using the rouge compound if you water sand any marks and scratches out first, but the parts get so hot you can barely hang onto them!!!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
wowser--way to go fordy--coool
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about the only down side i could figure for me is the binoculars needed for me to view the mirror that far out--lol
good for u
The "Camera on a Stick" got a pretty good work out in Hamilton on Sunday at the Warplane Heritage Museum. A few of those planes were quite high - even sitting right on the floor!
These shots are at full extension at right around 12 feet tall!
I like this one right under the wing:
I even got a few shots of the interiors of these fine birds!
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"If I could get back all the money I've ever spent on cars...I'd spend it ALL on cars !!!
....oh wait...it's already done
- NEVERMIND.
. Seems some skirt wearing women took offense 
and the judge wasn't too impressed either 
