So for those interested we have finally finished the first of two camera dollys that seriously assist with vertical bounce. Allows for 3 to 6 inch bounce using a simple compression spring suspension system under the ronin and camera. This allows for use with a field monitor (ipad mini4 with hoodman sunshade and an additional samsung tablet to run the ronin app) this allows us to control full camera functions and the ronin with ease and zero issues. Especially when used with the boom crane.

Built from 1 inch steel tube, swivel seat, 10 inch go cart wheels and a bit of thought and much swearing. Especially getting the mechanical vertical bounce right! No need to walk like a ninja or cat. Very manouverable.

So far has worked flawlessly and is easily transportable, you just need a donkey like me to pull or push it for she who must be obeyed.

this is very clever John, Nice construction, do you have discussion how is sitting and who is stearing?

Flybee Posted at 12-15 03:26
this is very clever John, Nice construction, do you have discussion how is sitting and who is stearing?

Thanks Flybee, yes she tells me I'm the engine and there is no further discussion. I'm changing my name to donkey.

Nice craftsmanship. Thanks for sharing

Sky Carrier Posted at 12-15 05:43
Nice craftsmanship. Thanks for sharing

Thanks, it was trial and error, but we got there in the end.

Additional images ha ha stand on your head

Nice job, Assuming the red cylinder is incase the action gets to hot!

4WDaus Posted at 12-15 11:41
Nice job, Assuming the red cylinder is incase the action gets to hot!

lol it reassures landowners and such when you use hot studio lights especially internally. Fireblankets and heat signs, thats how it has gone.

M2Wair Posted at 12-15 12:09
lol it reassures landowners and such when you use hot studio lights especially internally. Fireblankets and heat signs, thats how it has gone.

I thought I saw an episode of myth busters where they use the fire extinguisher to propel a vehicle forward. Could be an idea for version 2.0!

4WDaus Posted at 12-15 12:16
I thought I saw an episode of myth busters where they use the fire extinguisher to propel a vehicle forward. Could be an idea for version 2.0!

50ft maximum level distance, anything over that the damn camera's will be fitted to the car or the drones come out lol version two has rails

M2Wair Posted at 12-15 12:27
50ft maximum level distance, anything over that the damn camera's will be fitted to the car or the drones come out lol version two has rails

Actually one oversight I am sure you can fix, it needs a cup holder!

4WDaus Posted at 12-15 12:41
Actually one oversight I am sure you can fix, it needs a cup holder!

Don't give her ideas, she'll be asking for all the add ons next lol

She should be grateful, i even painted the kitchen floor for her with a half pot of black gloss paint.....no kidding

M2Wair Posted at 12-15 12:47
Don't give her ideas, she'll be asking for all the add ons next lol

She should be grateful, i even painted the kitchen floor for her with a half pot of black gloss paint.....no kidding

John you are just crazy!

4WDaus Posted at 12-15 13:02
John you are just crazy!

Ohhhhh thats not what she called me..... oh lordy the air turned blue.

4 bath towels ruined and the kitchen still smells of white spirits.

M2Wair Posted at 12-15 13:10
Ohhhhh thats not what she called me..... oh lordy the air turned blue.

4 bath towels ruined and the kitchen still smells of white spirits.

OMG! You did what! Are you still married?

4WDaus Posted at 12-15 13:21
OMG! You did what! Are you still married?

Yup guilty, i was doing a wonderful job painting the dolly and stepped to the side and booted the paint all over the kitchen floor and all hell broke out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS  lol

M2Wair Posted at 12-15 13:33
Yup guilty, i was doing a wonderful job painting the dolly and stepped to the side and booted the paint all over the kitchen floor and all hell broke out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS  lol

Glad to see you survived.
Merry Christmas!

4WDaus Posted at 12-15 13:36
Glad to see you survived.
Merry Christmas!

I bribed her with an osmo pocket that i will borrow when fishing season starts after Christmas lol.

Hey john that’s amazing , really nice piece of work, looks really well built , good luck with that.

hallmark007 Posted at 12-15 14:53
Hey john that’s amazing , really nice piece of work, looks really well built , good luck with that.

Thanks Hallmark its been a labour of love and works extremely well with vertical bounce.

Miche found the ronin a little heavy prior to building the dolly. So now she has everything at her finger tips, no bounce and absolutely loves using the ronin. The field app makes it quick and effortless dialing in camera settings, so the sooner DJI comes up with an app similar to the osmo pocket the better.

Nice one! Very creative

M2Wair Posted at 12-15 06:45
Additional images ha ha stand on your head

[view_image]

They look fine here in Australia, most other photo's come out upside down in this part of the planet

Well done with the buggy though. Now if you can get one of the Gofer motors and a battery then it could save your back

WOW - thats so cool --i love it, well done. deflate the wheels a little for smoother ride? now you need to make a video showing us your dolly in action.

Boffin Posted at 12-15 19:21
They look fine here in Australia, most other photo's come out upside down in this part of the planet

Well done with the buggy though. Now if you can get one of the Gofer motors and a battery then it could save your back

Thanks appreciated. Downunder one of us is upside down lol

I thought about a golf cart, the weight wouldnt make it transportable not to mention woman driver lol

Bekaru MP UAV Posted at 12-15 23:08
WOW - thats so cool --i love it, well done. deflate the wheels a little for smoother ride? now you need to make a video showing us your dolly in action.

Thanks buddy, good idea on tyre inflation, we wont be out anytime soon the weather here is aweful. Roll on warmer weather lol

Ha ha stand on your head

jacksonnai Posted at 12-15 18:21
Nice one! Very creative

Thank you, its a start lol

Very nice craftsmanship. Looks good

Woe Posted at 12-16 05:48
Very nice craftsmanship. Looks good

Thanks Woe, it was a case of having to build something like this. The Ronin with our a7iii and gh5 is managable but as soon as we use our 1dx mkii you need arms like popeye to hold it for any length of time, damn it weighs more than Miche soaking wet, so she demanded a dolly lol

Wow, that is a lot of labor for smooth video!

Very resourceful and creative mate - good work

I am pleased to say it works great, I like the idea of a cupholder Thanks 4WDaus ;)  and i like the idea of the engine thanks Boffin ;)  where is the steering wheel now Boss!! ;)

Montfrooij Posted at 12-16 10:23
Wow, that is a lot of labor for smooth video!

It sure is and was labour intensive, but so much easier now to control vertical bounce, so saves effort in the long term. Try holding a ronin s and 1dx ii and get exhausted quickly.

A CW Posted at 12-16 10:32
Very resourceful and creative mate - good work

Thanks Andy, it is an eye turner lol.

M2Wair Posted at 12-16 11:22
It sure is and was labour intensive, but so much easier now to control vertical bounce, so saves effort in the long term. Try holding a ronin s and 1dx ii and get exhausted quickly.

As a matter of fact, I even had a brainwave about such a device.
But more for hyperlapses that require constant motion for a (very) long period of time (steps).
In my mind it looked somewhat like this btw.

And yes, that is one of the things I am not 100% sure about....
The weight...

Montfrooij Posted at 12-16 13:20
As a matter of fact, I even had a brainwave about such a device.
But more for hyperlapses that require constant motion for a (very) long period of time (steps).
In my mind it looked somewhat like this btw.

We tried a few different devices from a skateboard to a unicycle type of device. They worked but only for short distances and on level flat surfaces, mainly due to the small solid wheels we used that caused a judder effect. I remember a device i seen on a film set i was on a few years ago and decided to build my own, small and light enough to easily pack away and fit in the boot of the car.

The ronin is great but like most gimbals doesnt handle bounce when walking 100%  its good but not silky smooth, mainly because Miche found it quite heavy even with the smaller cameras we have. so the mission was to build a dolly with a mechanical bounce compressor to help her work longer in comfort and control bounce. Really simple but effect use of compression springs to offset the weight of the ronin and whatever camera system she will be using worked the best. It doesn't have to be complicated as the ronin does 99% of the work.

nice work

Mavic_Jay Posted at 12-16 15:10
nice work

Thank you, a work in progress, version 2 underway

M2Wair2 Posted at 12-16 10:56
I am pleased to say it works great, I like the idea of a cupholder Thanks 4WDaus ;)  and i like the idea of the engine thanks Boffin ;)  where is the steering wheel now Boss!! ;)

You dont need a steering wheel lol you got a proper driver innit.

M2Wair Posted at 12-16 14:10
We tried a few different devices from a skateboard to a unicycle type of device. They worked but only for short distances and on level flat surfaces, mainly due to the small solid wheels we used that caused a judder effect. I remember a device i seen on a film set i was on a few years ago and decided to build my own, small and light enough to easily pack away and fit in the boot of the car.

The ronin is great but like most gimbals doesnt handle bounce when walking 100%  its good but not silky smooth, mainly because Miche found it quite heavy even with the smaller cameras we have. so the mission was to build a dolly with a mechanical bounce compressor to help her work longer in comfort and control bounce. Really simple but effect use of compression springs to offset the weight of the ronin and whatever camera system she will be using worked the best. It doesn't have to be complicated as the ronin does 99% of the work.

Nice indeed.
As said, I really wonder if the total weight of the system will be too much for me.
So I will definitely have to take some time to test it out before buying.
(first save enough money though)