The Official: How to Make a Rig/Rigshot

[Travis C]

I've been getting a lot of PM's lately on how I made/took my sig pic, so I've decided to make a DIY.

Major Materials Needed/The materials I used.
- (1) 8-10ft 3/4" electrical conduit, or any metal pole for that matter.
- (2) Suction cups, more is better for stability.
- (1) Rig Arm.
- (1) Camera & Wide angle lens. I use both a 10.5mm and a 18-55mm lens.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/4118499660_73abc89b56_b.jpg

The suction cups that i used can be found here : http://grizzley.com/products/4-Head-Suction-Cup/H5848

The suction cups used to be 4 headed, but i cut them in half to save money and to have twice the stability.

I drilled 2 holes on each suction cup, which are then used to fasten the cups onto the conduit with set screws.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/4118491622_959ff7eba4.jpg

They are also hollow, which fits perfectly over the 3/4" conduit.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/4118417382_3c6b0e5934.jpg

Because the angle of the rig on the car is so steep (at least in my case) I needed to make an adjustment so that the rig could move freely without breaking suction.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4118417994_452b68d621.jpg

This piece allowed the rig to move up and down where i wanted it to be, without breaking suction.

2 set screws were also used to keep the piece in place.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2602/4117650219_6c039b1a87.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4118420968_ea20bca5f4.jpg

The arm

Many different kinds of arms for rigs like this can be found online, but I wanted to save as much money as i could so i made one myself.

Online example : http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-196B-2-2-Section-Articulated-Bracket/dp/B000OPWSYM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1258668577&sr=1-1-fkmr0?tag=citofgamonlco-20

Another : http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-244-Variable-Friction-Bracket/dp/B00193W3Z2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1258668630&sr=1-2-fkmr0

It was machined out of more electrical conduit and aluminum. Its a pretty complicated setup.

I also fitted the head of an old tripod onto the arm.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4117643719_7a3793a069.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4117652231_06bc7e1705.jpg

Once set-up and placed on the car, it should look like this.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3653562210_5934b147cc.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3653560428_e48d3a578c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3652766599_877daf66e4.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3652767963_b58a57f129.jpg

Taking the picture

This is the easiest/hardest part. For many photographers, they will use an ND filter (Neutral Density) which will allow for long exposures during the day. But for me, i do not have the money for an expensive filter, so i take the pictures at dusk or at night.

For many of my rigshots, the exposure time is anywhere from 5 seconds to 30, and I use a remote to release the shutter, but using a timer will work as well. Thats the easy part.

The hard part is keeping your car still enough to not bounce around the rig. Finding a nice parking lot with nice asphalt is the best way to do it. The easy way to keep your rig from bouncing is to have a friend or yourself push your car very slowly, which is why you use a long exposure. For myself, I just jump in my car and drive very slow, under 3mph. Its hard to do with a clutch but its possible.

If everything goes the way it should, and your rig doesn't pop off the hood and break your camera :eek: you should get results like this...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/3913953505_26df5d63a1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3660953822_53c035ec96.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3660952448_cc8b0fae94.jpg

With the rig on the roof.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3660953632_5458436f62.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3660154023_fa88095f82.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3660952784_b16b402c6e.jpg

Removing the rig out of the picture is a whole nother thread ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/3914858132_291dbdfb78.jpg

I got a lot of my information here : http://www.rigshots.com.au/

More pictures of the rig can also be found here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuykendall/sets/72157620169280602/

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[JustinE36M3]

sweet write up

[redefinedM3]

+1 nice write up

[gripracer]

CHEERS! this thread is super-useful!!

also, what focal length is your lens? mine goes to 17mm on an APS-C sized sensor. will that be enough for the length of this rig?

[Travis C]

CHEERS! this thread is super-useful!!

also, what focal length is your lens? mine goes to 17mm on an APS-C sized sensor. will that be enough for the length of this rig?

For the shots that are from the front of my car, I used a 10.5mm on a cropped sensor camera (D300). The other ones are at about 18mm. Depending on the length of the rig, 17mm should be fine.

[rGrissM3]

great writeup travis

[overcast]

It was awesome watching you set this up at that Alderwood meet a little while back. The pics look awesome.
I sure would love me some rig shots :D

[Ryan666]

Nice write-up. Totally solves my rolling shots issues and seems pretty cheap to put together. Thanks.

[iliescu]

Definately very useful, someone sticky this.

[E46Pinoy]

very well done. feelin ur e36 too

[Firebird400]

Thanks for the write up, I'll definitely be trying this.

[Gene1219]

Awesome thread! thanks for the write up

[Bullet Ride]

Good job! Looks like a solid rig.

[DTMdan]

Excellent diy write-up... Thanks a lot!

[Compactive]

can a mod sticky this? Awesome write up.

[IWannaBMW]

cute!

What holds the camera? is it a piece of a tripod screwed in it?

[Chad E36]

:(

i hope i'm not the only photographer that's disappointed by this.

[M3Alpine99]

Nice to see another good write up. Have all the pieces to build a rig in my cart on amazon with some different pieces...

Have some shots I want to get... hmmmm

[Travis C]

cute!

What holds the camera? is it a piece of a tripod screwed in it?

Yes, exactly.


:(

i hope i'm not the only photographer that's disappointed by this.

Whats up

[Zugbert]

Nice write up, just curious about how much did this cost to build, it seems relatively cheap but having a ballpark number would help. Thanks

[daflameking]

Always wanted to ask you howd you get the shot like that in your signature. Answered my lifelong question. Thanks for the excellent writeup :lol3

[Travis C]

Nice write up, just curious about how much did this cost to build, it seems relatively cheap but having a ballpark number would help. Thanks

The total costs for the rig was about $25. Definitely a budget build.

[IWannaBMW]

where do i buy the part that screws into the camera, i wanna build a cam holder for autox

[Travis C]

Its the head of a tripod, so buy a tripod and use the head.

[540iboy]

your awesome.

[BimmerLover84]

Thanks for posting this up so all the photographers with big heads on this forum who think its cool to keep info like this secret get their panties in a bunch. Everyone can afford camera rigs now just like everyone can afford raceland coilovers hahahah!

[Ianbiz]

trying it soon

[Z3speed4me]

Id get better suction cups.... personally. Avenger f1000, there is no other option.

That pole although light in weight, doesnt allow much versatility, it's pretty short and also may bounce a lot.

You are also depending on people having an ultra wide angle lens to take these shots....If you have a 17-18 mm as your wide side, you are going to need at least 8 ft of pole maybe 10.

Everything else is spot on..... good write up!

[Travis C]

Avenger f1000's are definitely a better option and much more safe, but i couldn't justify spending at least $50 a suction cup, when i could spend $12 and get two. I just have to be more careful and make sure there is suction at all times.

The pole that is shown was actually shortened about 3 feet from what i originally had. It was too wobbly when it was longer.

And you're right, most people don't have an ultra wide lens (10.5mm), so a longer pole will be needed with lenses in the 16-18mm range.

[BlakeJones]

sickness