Hello, I, the DiyDonkey, am proud to present my first project in the TwoBears-Universe.
Here at TwoBearsProduction often videos are produced and in the near future this activity should also be enhanced. For this reason, the TwoBears urged that they like to have a “Camera Cage” for DSLRs or for the GH3 and I should build that.

Now, what is a camera cage anyway?

If you’re shooting videos with DSLRs or similar cameras from the hand then you quickly realize that this things are not really built for it and for this purpose they fit quite bad in the hands. Therefore often a type of housing is built around the camera  thatis  takeen better. Also accessories (lights, monitors, batteries, …) can be mount on this housing. The commercial solutions start at about € 100, – and the price is, as usual, open at the top. If you like you can also google “camera cage”.
But I was thinking of a self-made solution, which should be stable and versatile and can be easily converted at any time. I assume that the first version is not perfect – but I want to be able to improve it from time to time. However, I it shows that I do not use such a camera cage, I want be able take it apart and build something different from the parts.
So-called aluminum system profiles provide such requirements – so you can build quite versatile things and rebuilt, adapt and extend it any time – sounds perfect for that purpose!

No sooner said than done. So I’ve ordered a couple of these aluminum profiles.  My choice here was the 5 series – which has a cross-section of 20×20 mm – they are rather petite – but for these purposes they should work. In addition, I’ve also ordered several connection elements.
Oh yes – I have taken the profiles in black color – they are also available in silver, then they are even slightly cheaper – but I wanted to try the black ones.
The profiles came in a length of 2 m – this is of course far too long – I needed pieces of 20 cm length – so I had to cut them. Hand? – Possible, but it takes rather long and hurts in the arms. So I used an electric miter saw.

Yes, you can actually cut aluminum with it! And works quiet fast and precise! I fear, however, that I need a new and better blade soon  – the current blade has lost two teeth already). Here you can see the cut profiles.

As you can see I’ve also used a few rounded profiles – I thought the fit better in the hand and wanted to take them build the handle bars – but that’s not necessary.
For the connection elements you have to cut M4 treads into the profiles. The holes in the correct size’re there already.

To attach the camera I’ve made a base plate with an aluminum scrap piece.

Then it goes to the Assembly. First, the cube – at the corners the connection elements are installed.

  

Then 2 profiles come down, carrying the base plate and then 2 profiles at the sides and one at the top – where you can keep the whole construct then when recording. These profiles are attached with angle elements. And so the thing looks like when it is finished.

Through the hole in the base plate, the camera is mounted with a 1/4-inch screw.

Here the whole thing finished, with a camera and the proud builder. For the connection and angle elements there are still black plastic covers. I have not yet installed them up to now because then they hide the screws and I am still adapting it.
The whole thing as you can see it here has almost exactly 2 kg – that is quite something! But with a little weight training, you can hold it in your hand for a while.
Of material I used for this:

• Profile 5 20 x20 mm black 0.48 kg/m € 4.50 €/m – 13 pcs x 200 mm
• Connection kit 5 20x20x20 mm € 2.78 / set – 8 pcs.
• Angle kit 5 20×20 ZN € 2.21 / set – 10 pieces.
• Aluminum sheet for base + 4 pcs. Countersunk screws + 4 pcs.
• Nuts
• 1/4 inch screw (for attaching the camera – present)

This gives a total of approximately € 56,04- (excluding shipping, …..)

Conclusion:

For now, I am quite satisfied with my work. It has become a bit large and massive – but I personally can live with that. I’m going to test it in the near future extensively and then see what I need to change and expand. I will definitely keep you up to date.

Best regards
Your DiyDonkey