Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (
More info?)
<echasin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1104849815.922526.114490@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone here can recommend a tripod to me. I'm putting
> together an inexpensive "pencil test" machine, which is for capturing
> drawings (for animation) one at a time to my PC. I'll have a simple
> MiniDV camera hooked up to the PC via firewire, and need a tripod. I
> know diddly about tripods. Do they all more or less allow the camera
> to swivel so it's pointing directly downwards? Do I want a standard,
> compact, or tabletop tripod? I'd prefer to spend $50 or less.
> Thanks,
I'm not an expert in either video or animation, but have a certain degree of
mechanical aptitude and at least a familiarity with basic animation
techniques. Seems to me a tripod would be a somewhat jury-rigged and
undependable way to hold the camera. What if you knock the camera over or
even just bump it accidentally? How are you ever going to get it aligned
*exactly* the way it was before?
Looking at pictures of old Disney animation studio stuff, seems they used
purpose-built frames to hold the camera at a precise, calibrated distance
from the cels. I'm guessing that for not much more than $50 and some careful
design and planning, you could home-build an animation rig out of basic
material like wood, plastic, sheet aluminum etc. that will accomodate your
DV camera.
Surely there must be tons of books and articles on hobbyist animation to be
found on the internet or at the public library, microfiche etc. that could
be adapted to your purposes.