Hi
I just finished making my own version of a steady cam support. I usually use a tripod for taking steady vids-but there are times when you need to move freely while taking vid footage. And it's not always easy in rough places to get steady footage just holding the cam in your hands.
I made this setup out of 20mm pipe from a plumbing outlet.

It's very light and I can take it apart to stow in my daypack.


As you can see you need 3 end caps. 1 tee junction and about 1 mt of tube.
you also need a counter weight the same weight as your vid cam.

I'am using 6mm bolts for this--the top bolt needs to be the same thread size as a standard cam thread fitting. about 1/4 I think. they are usually all standard.

I drilled a hole in both the top and bottom end caps to fit the bolts through--I used large washers on the inside. and for the top I put on a wingnut to screw into the cam with a large supporting washer.
This unit is very steady-it enables you to use both hands to hold the cam while moving and you can also rest it on the ground and pan or tilt the shots.
For the shooters you could also add another tee junction higher up the tube and make a rifle rest for those shooting scenes.
I've played back some footage using this sytem and it is remarkably steady--far more stable than just using the hand held system
I hope you can follow the idea via the pics--and it enables you to take steady shots.


The best way to hold it steady is one hand holding the cross bar and the other just under the tee junction-the counter weight keeps the movement to a minimum.
Cheers Baz.