My mate is shooting a music video for his band's new album at the end of the month, the plan being to do a single continuous shot on a camera rotating 360°. So the camera needs to spin round on its centre at approximately 1rpm, maybe a little faster. He's tasked me with finding a way of doing this on the cheap but so far I can't find anything that does that fast[!] a speed, so do you lot have any ideas?
He wants the camera to ideally be on a tripod, so the camera itself could be mounted on a rotating head like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IEXDES4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_taa_Q1MMAb7TS1R1Qor it could sit on a big turntable. Personally I don't see why the camera couldn't just sit on a small turntable that's positioned on a table or something taller. Something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011BERSCG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_taa_YbNMAbEJVTTRSBecause the camera itself will be rotating, whatever is turning it has to be ultra smooth and be able to take the weight of a camera and light. The tripod heads I've seen all seem to be aimed at time lapse photography with 60 minute rotation and the photography turntables seem to be wobbly or can't take the weight.
If you know a product that will work then please let me know. Alternatively, is there an easy way to repurpose or cobble something together MacGyver style? I don't know much about electronics but something tells me it shouldn't be difficult to make a platform spin, with adjustable speed.
Ta.
Comments
For a DSLR or bigger, obviously, it would be a lot more expensive - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01K0LLQ38/ref=psdc_1330832031_t3_B00LL12FVO
I'd make something out of Lego Technic/Mindstorms because that's what I've got. A bit of effort to get the gearing right but not tricky.
He's got some pro Canon video gear but might just use his 70D DSLR.
http://www.modelitltd.co.uk/turntable-drives-c102x3333675
Designed for turning model engines on turntables. Not sure about the exact speed, but they will be pretty slow, and probably capable of control by varying the supply voltage.
Worth a call, I'd guess.
*edit* they are intended for use with the Peco 00 gauge turntable kit, but i'm sure a man of your capabilities could adapt it?
These are the clutch gears - they slip if you try to put too much torque through.
https://img.brickowl.com/files/image_cache/larger/lego-gear-with-24-teeth-and-internal-clutch-76019-76244-30.jpg
http://www.movetechukshop.co.uk/product/large-battery-display-turntable-with-or-without-switch/
.. pointing at a mirror mounted at 45 degrees on a small lightweight turntable.
@shrinkwrap clever idea but at some point the apparatus holding the camera above the mirror will come in to view which is no good.
.. or a drone on computer controlled slow rotate.. no, going to wobble too much.
Can drones be tethered to the top of a tripod??
Guy who thought this up should be the one to know how to do it!
£600 to buy. He might go for the £30 day hire though, I'll certainly send him a link thanks.