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PRACTICE CAGE for DV


JakePollock

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Hi Rob!

 

I have finally had some free time to make the cage. It`s not that beutyfull nor great finished but I have tested and it is working great.

 

post-997-1108248009_thumb.jpg

 

It is made of aluminium (I had some pieces in my garage). The total weight is 6kg.

Top plate is 30cm x 15cm x 2cm and 3kg. Bottom plate is 40cm x 15cm x 2cm and 2,7kg. The pillars (pipes :) ) are 30cm in length and 1,5cm diameter weighting all together 0,3kg.

 

Took 4,5 hours to do but now I`m ready to fly :D

 

Thanks again for your help!

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Dear Rob,

 

I know that I had posted earlier that I would be interested in one of your DV / practice cages, and I was in no particular hurry for it. Wouldn't you know it that, I have a job in 10 days where we are going to go back and forth between a 435, and a DVX-100 / Mini 35 / Ultra Prime setup. I've never flown a DV cam, so I'm glad to have a real lens on the setup.

 

Under these time constraints, I had to employ my machinist to fabricate a cage. I'm sorry if you were counting on my order for the next round. I'm sure you'll have plenty of takers.

 

Regrettably,

 

Mark Karavite

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Guest Mark Sayers

With a little bit of thought on my part I have answered my own question. Clearly I haven't looked hard enough. However Rob, I may still be interested in what you have to offer

 

Mark

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You guys can check out Mike O'Shea's website too, he makes a great cage.  Very versatile.

O'Shea's site  www.filmotion.com

 

 

 

Not to be a bastard, Rob, but for us Yanks here in the U.S., I have Mike's cage and it is badasssss. Not just for practice. It comes with two congruous plates connected by 1/4" threaded rods along with additional 1/4" screws for camera. I love its modulararity because I can remove the rods and stack the plates using 1 1/2" long 3/8" slotted screws for those video jobs that the cameras don't exactly fit in. What's great about that is that it still retains the normal height of a normal camera without destroying the tops of doorframes. It has saved my bacon!!!! Made me look like a genius.

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I've basically built my own Practice cage, but got stuck wondering what needs to be tapped (threaded) and what is just a hole.

 

I figured that the 3/8 - 16 holes that will keep the doveplate need to be tapped.

 

I was assuming that the 1/4 - 20 holes are to be tapped too...but when I did that, and have the DV camera on the other side, I can't tighten the camera to the bottom plate.

 

Should it be a straight hole, and if so, what size bit do I need?

 

I have a shoot tomorrow, so I'm needing ti fix this up in a hurry. =)

 

Thanks for the help.

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Hey Bryan,

 

On mine I used tapped holes for the dovetail to cage and and straight 1/4 -3/8 countersunk holes (not tapped) for the camera mounting holes.

 

I use a manfrotto quick release adaptor permanently mounted to the cage for quick camera removal. This allows removal of camera without the need to completely rebalance once placed back on the rig.

 

Hope this helps,

Good luck!

Charles

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Hi Charles,

 

Yes, that helps.

 

I didn't seem to pay attention to the weight cages that we used at the workshop enough to remember. So i was using photos online, and it looked like the holes were all tapped.

 

So, good to know.

 

I'll run out now and get a 1/4in bit and "remove" the threads on the holes I have already. =)

 

one more question, 1/4in i know is for the DV cameras, and ones like that, but what would / will I use the 3/8in (un tapped) holes for?

 

 

Thanks again!

Bryan

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Hi Charles,

 

Yes, that helps.

 

I didn't seem to pay attention to the weight cages that we used at the workshop enough to remember. So i was using photos online, and it looked like the holes were all tapped.

 

So, good to know.

 

I'll run out now and get a 1/4in bit and "remove" the threads on the holes I have already. =)

 

one more question, 1/4in i know is for the DV cameras, and ones like that, but what would / will I use the 3/8in (un tapped) holes for?

 

 

Thanks again!

Bryan

 

 

Bryan make sure you counter sink the holes for the camera screw or the dovetail won't mount properly.

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