Fig Rig

[Michael Hackney]

Has anyone here used the Bogen / Manfrotto 595B Fig Rig Camera Stabilizer?
I was thinking about getting one down the line, but with so many stabilizers out there... I thought it would be cool to stick with Manfrotto, since i have a tripod of theirs. The Fig Rig is inexpensive and looks like it would work well with the small HV20.

[Goose]

I have been struggling recently with the glidecam 2000 pro so I am borrowing a friends fig rig. I will have a play and let you kow how I get on

[benr]

I have been struggling recently with the glidecam 2000 pro so I am borrowing a friends fig rig. I will have a play and let you kow how I get on

Was a while ago, I know, but any comments on the Fig Rig?

Thanks

[Goose]

Sorry for the delay - still not got round to borrowing the fig rig from my friend - as soon as I get it I will give some feedback

[mordecai7]

I have the Fig Rig for my HV30, and it WORKS GREAT! I also have the Varizoom Flow Pod, but think the Fig Rig is better. Smooth and easy to use, plus really light weight. I am off tomorrow for 5 days in forest and will be using my HV30 in every way possible and will post what happened when I return. Only issue with Fig Rig is, you need a stand or holder for it, once the camera is on, you cannot lay it down, and it will not stand up without support when not in use. Otherwise my first shots are awesome, this is for me however..

[nolonemo]

BTW, for all you DIY-ers, there are plans for a Fig Rig clone made out of PVC pipe for under $20 or so easily found via Google. Given the light weight of the HVx0, this should work fine, though it does not look as sleek as the real thing. But, if you have DIY in your veins, it's a cheap way to find out if the Fig Rig is for you.

[CycleWriter]

There's always this alternative.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300216693085&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

[cornreaper]

BTW, for all you DIY-ers, there are plans for a Fig Rig clone made out of PVC pipe for under $20 or so easily found via Google. Given the light weight of the HVx0, this should work fine, though it does not look as sleek as the real thing. But, if you have DIY in your veins, it's a cheap way to find out if the Fig Rig is for you.


Built it! :hv20-smilie77:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2348/img0149zg7.jpg

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6886/0405081342dr2.jpg

The second image is a little cruddy cuz I did it with my phone....hey, my HV30 is my still cam right now.

[VideJo]

And how about this one?

[greytail]

I use the fig rig extensively, but with an XHA1 and a remote control on the steering wheel for zooming and stop/start. I find that is far more useful than a tripod. You can sit down and produce rock steady shots. I have even put the whole thing on the ground and shot upwards. It is very versatile and while you can't do real smooth dollies as with a Merlin Steadicam, you can do some pretty respectable walk abouts if you are careful. See my videos of the Covered Bridges Half Marathon, the Bridgewater Raft Race and the Annual Strolling of the Heifers on www.video-vermont.com. Everything was shot with the Fig Rig!

[d1g1t]

Is the point of this rig basically to get your hands a good distance apart and therefore reduce how much the natural shakiness of your hands affects the camera? Would two L (flash and handle) brackets, one on either side of the camera, do the same thing? Or do you hold this a different way? There are lots of pics of fig rigs around but could someone please post an action clip of someone actually using one of these?

[VideJo]

As the picture above shows, I managed to make my own version. Also out of aluminum as a material. But basically you could reach similair results witha tray that mum sues to carry the food. Crtical in the use is, that you have to train yourself, walking with bended knees. After a wedding shoot, you will be wrecked.
Disadvantage of the hv20 used on a fig rig is that it lacks lanc.

[Radovic]

Hi,

check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7TMa-v03aE

[nolonemo]

Is the point of this rig basically to get your hands a good distance apart and therefore reduce how much the natural shakiness of your hands affects the camera? Would two L (flash and handle) brackets, one on either side of the camera, do the same thing? Or do you hold this a different way? There are lots of pics of fig rigs around but could someone please post an action clip of someone actually using one of these?

Yep, you just need to get your hands about chest width apart. Everything else is bells and whistles.

[Crosby!]

I've made a couple, first one (upper left in picture below) was made of a material that was too soft and wobbled. The other one was made from a very stiff underground cable sleeve, had to cork it and fill it with boiling water to get it soft enough to flex. The lower two pictures show the removable handle I added. I was going to make a pole and buy a belt pouch to make a body pod. I added a PVC base to make it free-standing. Camera's on a Giottos quick release. Wish I had access to 15" aluminum hoops/rings like Jo_the_big_O.

http://members.cox.net/visorblue/images/assortFigRigs.jpg

For more Fig Rig info and an in-use video go here (http://services.manfrotto.com/figrig/), after the intro (or Skip Intro) click on "Mike Figgis on the Fig Rig" and the others if you like.

[VideJo]

For me the aluminum hoop was the main issue as well. In the end I found a company in my country, that is equiped to bend (roll) aluminum tubes. I received an offer, that stated tooling and set-up costs as well. It was to much comparing with the actual bending costs. That is why I invited other members on a Dutch Forum on video editing to join me in ordering some more. In the end I ordered 5 hoops and made the remaing parts in my own workshop. One of the Rigs I made is still for sale . . . .

[Crosby!]

I had a plumber that was doing a house repipe for me that said he could make a ring for me from rolled copper. I thought that sounded kind of interesting but he changed his mind later, after being paid for the completed work, saying he didn't have the time. :mad:

[VideJo]

Copper is indeed easier to bend than aluminium, but it is much havier. To bend a thin walled aluminium tube, you must fill it with water end plug the ends. Bending it that way will make sure that the tube will remain perfectly round.

[jennacide]

i've used a fig rig extensively (with a different camera) and it was kind of great except my arms would get tired from holding it & my back would start to hurt after a little bit if i propped it against my hip. having the remote control on the steering wheel for start/stop & zoom was key. there is also the issue of having to lean it against something if you need to put it down... you have to be careful not to let it roll away.

[Crosby!]

There's some stands available for Fig Rigs or you can make your own. That's why I put the PVC piece on the bottom of mine, so I could set it down to rest or shoot at a low angle -- it's not glued so I can pivot it. My idea with the handle on mine was to be able to remove the handle and stick a PVC support piece in the socket and stick it in a belt pouch to take the weight off my hands.

[Jennzababe]

If anyone is interested in a fig rig like stabilizer check out the For Sale section. My 12 year old is selling them online. We have a great self-standing design that was built specifically for the HV20/30. Comes with a SIMA quick release head for $39.00.

Here's a LINK (http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=13586) to the thread.