The Ultimate Car Rig Photography Thread!

Mikehamilton said:
Cool, Props to whoever pointed you to those poles.

They are a good cheap option for a first rig :)
Click to expand...

Where did you get the poles Simmy, I'd love to have a go at this.
 
How much would it cost to get someone to do a few shots?
 
Right it's nearly payday and I want to have a go at this so thinking of splashing out on some manfrotto clamps, suction cups and maybe an arm but wondering about poles?? Any advice??
 
Donnie said:
Right it's nearly payday and I want to have a go at this so thinking of splashing out on some manfrotto clamps, suction cups and maybe an arm but wondering about poles?? Any advice??
Click to expand...

I made mine myself using Ali section bolted together. Some use aerial masts etc.
 
I went for 2 x 2.4m x 1.5" 16G masts (split to 4 x 1.2m), and I have slightly smaller diameter tubing to act as connecting inserts (it's a tight fit at the moment, so will need some work). - http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/ae3061/8-x-1-5-mast-alloy-16g/dp/AP02283

Woods cups - http://www.ggrglass.co.uk/suction-mounts

..and Chinese clamps (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390627894201) and magic arms (http://dx.com/s/magic+arm).

Untested yet though... but I am reasonably confident it will all come together nicely. :D
 
JT74 said:
I went for 2 x 2.4m x 1.5" 16G masts (split to 4 x 1.2m), and I have slightly smaller diameter tubing to act as connecting inserts (it's a tight fit at the moment, so will need some work). - http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/ae3061/8-x-1-5-mast-alloy-16g/dp/AP02283 Woods cups - http://www.ggrglass.co.uk/suction-mounts ..and Chinese clamps (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390627894201) and magic arms (http://dx.com/s/magic+arm). Untested yet though... but I am reasonably confident it will all come together nicely. :D
Click to expand...

How does all that go together lol!!

Asking as I'm interested but I have no idea what goes where!! Also the suction cups, which one did you buy?
 
:D

Being a budget build, I went for the one of the cheapest suction cups, but if they aren't up to the job (they are bloody strong!), I'll go bigger. These are the ones I have - http://www.ggrglass.co.uk/lj45amc-18kg

Each has a 1/4" thread insert, the same as a standard tripod mount, so I can fit 7" magic arms directly on to them, with a clamp on the other end. Something like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-inch-Arti...-Clamp-DSLR-Rig-LCD-Monitor-LED-/161021856265 These two will hold the mast.

Then another clamp with an 11" arm on the far end, to hold the camera.

I have the clamps already and they have more than enough grip on a 1.5" mast, but that's their limit. My 'magic arms' (2 x 7" and 1 x 11") are due in the post tomorrow, and I'll know then how it will all work together - the magic arms may not be rigid enough when locked, and I'll have to figure something else out.

The only issue I can foresee after that is flex/bounce...
 
Last edited:
Awesome thread, Joined the forum mainly to keep an eye on this. I spent the last 3 hours reading and admiring the pics, Only found it as i was googling budget car rigs!

Been taking to a mate of mine who is handy with this sort of thing who is going to price up throwing one together for me with 4 x 1.5 meter poles so i can use varying lengths.

I was thinking to attatch the poles together what about the clasp like you get on old cookie and jam jars? Would that work?

Like this:

moP2lfXWTz6MyLb9jrKDEog.jpg
 
This is how I will give it a go. A 200mm long smaller diameter tube is inserted half way into the 1.2m long tube, permanently, and the next one slips over when required and is fixed with a clamp.

SHDUG3B.jpg


It's very tight at the moment, so I'm working on that.
 
Always worth considering, whats the boom going to do to the car if it fell on it? One reason I'm thinking Carbon, doubt it would do much tbh, much less than Ali anyway.
 
Could always throw some tightly wrapped bubble wrap around it but then that is going to give you more to photoshop out.
 
One thing i wanted to ask is with the cheap B&Q and Wickes double suction cups how do you connect the poles to them? Can i get a close up pic to give me an idea? Thanks.
 
eZjnOlq.jpg


This is a very compact kit, but I need to test these for rigidity. They seem to lock up pretty tight (needs some threadlock between cup and arm, arm and clamp).
 
byngmeister said:
This is my first couple of rig shots with my new car, comments please :)

10543272164_4968ebbff0_b.jpg


Couple on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/byngmeister/10543272164/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/byngmeister/10564990633/

Some of my older shots http://www.flickr.com/photos/byngmeister/sets/72157621920577415/

Thanks for any advise!
Click to expand...
great start to your rig work, the post needs a bit more of a polish though, look above the roof over the rear 1/4 window and you can clearly see some iffy clone work extending down into the roof line.
 
My nephew decided to visit (he's into his photography) so using bits and pieces we had a quick hour or so messing about on the road.

Using bits I had lying around, and some pipes, some clamps and some duct tape all played their part in what was good fun.

The photos are crap, his camera sensor was filthy and the sky is blown out, and he's not pin sharp but it was hoot none the less.

Landy%20Lowdown.jpg


and for complete messing about :
Bob%20hanging%20off%20landy.jpg
 
digitalfailure said:
great start to your rig work, the post needs a bit more of a polish though, look above the roof over the rear 1/4 window and you can clearly see some iffy clone work extending down into the roof line.
Click to expand...

Very true, I need to manual focus the car to get the plate sharp, find a better backdrop, reduce the bounce in the pole, and take more care in PS :)
 
The plate or the slight motion blur didn't bother me, the ghostly apparition above the car does :D
 
Right, so I now have x 2 avenger cups with fixed pins, x2 manfrotto superclamps, another superclamp plus magic arm on it's way courtesy of the wanted section and a camera bracket also courtesy of the forum :-)

So, still a bit stuck re a pole and found this guy on ebay selling lengths of 30 x 2mm aluminium?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151011939080?var=450159149886

Was thinking of getting 6m and then cutting to 1m lengths then using some slip joints. seems a good price with a 3m length delivered to your door for less than 20 quid?
 
Well poles arrived, cut and shut and thought I'd go out and have a quick play before the sun went down.

Cant believe the amount of bounce on the pole :-(

Looks like I'll be rigging up a t piece arm to take that out of it then. :-(

auz6o3.jpg
 
Just seen your build. 30mm may be a bit to narrow causing your bounce. I used 38mm (1 1/2") and that still had some bounce.
Have you got a test shot with the car not moving? If your getting bounce when not moving you'll need a bigger diameter pole. A tension wire will help but you need something fairly stable to start with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top