Official Automotive Rigs - DIY Thread

Now, is this opinion from experience, or because you have your own product to push (not that it isn't a quality product)?

Looks like they trust it with their gear - and from a comparison of their Subaru to mine - it looks like they don't skimp on their gear.

I've managed to find an old 3 section windsurfing Easton Aluminum mast (2" mostly, tapered at top section) to use in my first rig. Two sections is 12ft, Three sections 16ft. I wonder if it will flex too much or not? Getting my suction cups and clamps together, can't wait to put the rig together for my first try.

After some more reading, I think I'm going to go with the 494 head instead of the magic arm to save weight.

dylanhauge wrote in post #12688404
Now, is this opinion from experience, or because you have your own product to push (not that it isn't a quality product)?

Perfectly understandable.

I have not tried the Manfrotto boom myself. However, I have many friends that have tried all sorts of booms, including this one, and the general consensus is that this product isn't supportive enough, and bounces like mad unless you have the suction cups VERY FAR away from each other. Think about it, it's 5 lbs. And even if it were supportive enough, it's only 12' long.

Tell you what. Buy one and I'll send you my boom for free. If the Manfrotto boom does better than mine under all circumstances, I'll pay to have mine shipped back to me. If it doesn't, then you can buy mine.

I'm not a salesman, I'd be horrible at it, I'm too opinionated, but I know a good product, and my boom was made to my standards. Seen my work? Have a look at my flickr. Very little suits me. Talk to anyone that uses my boom, it sells itself. Yes, you can get away with less money, but there is AlWAYS a trade-off.

Well said - Don't sell yourself short as a salesman.

I planned on buying this as it seems like it could have a lot of valuable uses.

To be honest, I have been reading this thread a while, and with more scrutiny the past couple days. I checked out your link and read the reviews and thought about contacting you. I just saw the photo linked and thought if it worked for them... I also see they are not using it in a way that puts a lot of tension on the boom, and they are using a counterweight system.

I will not deny you have a great product that produces great products (with you steering the ship). I like your idea. "If the Manfrotto boom does better than mine" - I don't necessarily expect it to, but if it works for this application I would rather refrain from spending another $200 at this point. However, if the manfrotto doesn't work out, be it for shake/length/etc. I will be in touch with you - count on it.

Everything also is prime through Amazon, it will be here Wednesday next week - expect a follow up post some time during the week or next weekend.

Sounds good man, I hope it works great for you. I'm not here to peddle my wares, I only sell booms because people asked me to (after using mine), and consider myself a help to the automotive-photography community more than anything. The day something better comes along for cheaper, I'll be on that boat with the rest of you...lol.

Thanks dude - Your honesty is part of what makes you a good salesmen. That, and good products sell them selves. Thanks again, and nice car.

I would have gotten visual's boom too but at that time i ordered the metal from speedy metals *doh

So i spent the next 4 months finding machine places to lathe the inserts and poles lol...

Visual by what i've seen and been through doing it myself your price is very fair as well very convenient. A lot of machine shots here could not do the work for me.

Thanks man, I wish I could do them cheaper, but I'm even hand-making my own boxes as it is. I did talk with a local company about buying in bulk, but even with a $4000 up-front investment I'd only be saving customers $20 per boom, which isn't any sort of money these days (and I don't sell enough booms to support that kind of investment). My current goal is $215 shipped for a 15.5' boom.

First Ford I ever shot, I need ear plugs for these machines...
Just a simple rigshot for a client..

That's a sharp looking car. Nice shot.

Perfect capture! IMO your sig take up too much space

You guys think this was done with a rig? With the curved surfaces of the F1 car would it not make it difficult to get the suction cups and clamps aligned?

As long as at least one cup is on a swivel I can't see it being a problem.