AMAZING DIY Cable Cam for Mountain Bike Films

[@MarkMatthewsMTB]

So stoked with how those first test shots turned out!

[@ScottBell]

Yeah man, such a fun time playing with this rig!

[@Viddard]

Most will likely not realize the number of hours that went into putting together the cable cam. Between isolating the gimbal, stringing rope through the forest replete with come-alongs and towel stops; this is an engineering feat that combines many skill sets. Your passion for your craft is truly inspirational, Scott. And Mark's hang time in air the time is impressive! Love your work!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching Ed! The cable cam has definitely been a labor of love but we've gotten so many sick shots with it, totally worth it.

[@lukezacharias3245]

Sick video, thank you for bringing us along!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks a lot for watching!

[@HardtailLife]

I really enjoyed seeing the shot being put together. Great work, everyone!

[@ScottBell]

Cheers Steve, thanks for watching!

[@darkknightwithanidea1845]

DAMN !!! That over / under shot of Mark flying. DOPE !!! That’s a MAKE! Victory to those who persevere👍🏻💪🏼💪🏼🎥🎥 Well done Scott .. JESUS !!!! What’s no to love.

[@isaacsamuel9427]

best cable cam footage so far and couldn't believe its a diy👌💯

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching Issac, love what this little rig can do.

[@mtb_lime6639]

Very cool! Props from Germany!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching!

[@maml6479]

Man...that is so dope. Insane shots.

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching man! I'm pretty excited about the potential of this rig. Next up is a remote control for the gimbal and wireless video feed.

[@EddieHarrisonphoto]

Hi, really enjoying watching your videos right now, loads of inspiration, especially this cable cam! I’ve seen from your other videos that this setup has been adapted with a follow focus. I’m wanting to set up my own cable cam to film some MTB here in Scotland. In this video have you preset manual focus prior to the slide? Appreciate this is an older video, but still - sick!

[@ScottBell]

Cheers, thanks for watching, glad it's getting you stoked up! Yup, preset focus, deep focal plane, and maintain a consistent distance from the rider and you don't need to have a follow focus. Good luck!

[@everettbenjamin8666]

so cool! you have really great work, keep up the unreal content!!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching Everett! Glad you like what I'm up to.

[@camillahyllebergphotography]

That worked pretty well. Stoked for ya’ll

[@ScottBell]

Thanks Camilla, appreciate you watching. Pretty excited about what this cheap setup allows me to accomplish.

[@camillahyllebergphotography]

@@ScottBell Later this year I'm going to shot a mountain bike episode in my "A passinated Talk" serie. And if I've got the time, I'll try do make a cable cam myself. Have some old static glacier rope that's more than 10 yrs old - not recommened to use anymore due to safety.

[@clementmagnea8500]

Hi, the pictures are awesome !!! Congrates !!! What lens do you use to film this kind of action?

[@ScottBell]

Cheers, thank you. I can't recall for sure but it was likely the Sigma 18-35.

[@floxfilm]

I build something like that too, but with climbing gear. I made a Rope System that slows the ronin smoothly down.

[@ScottBell]

I would be take keen to see that setup. Could you send a pic of your braking system? Would really appreciate it! [e-mail]

[@donhendricks3190]

I would love to see your setup and some footage! Can you post for us? Cheers!

[@floxfilm]

Don Hendricks look at my IG @floxfilm

[@mathieudeline1897]

Such a nice setup !! can you describe a little bit more how you get attached to the tree on both ends please ? (what nodes for exemple) Thanks !

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching. I use straps a bit like this on the trees to protect them a bit images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81EPe6fNb%2BL._AC_SL1500_.jpg From there I connect a come-along to ratchet up the slack on one end. The other end is attached to the cable line with a carabiner. You could look into slack line setup to get some other ideas.

[@dzg455581]

Amazing content ! Thx a lot for thoses cable cam video, you killed it Did you used a winch at the both end of the rope or did you made a clove hitch around the tree in the side we didn't saw in the video ?

[@ScottBell]

Cheers, thanks for watching. Just one come-along (winch), the other end of the rope is clipped with a carabiner to webbing wrapped around another tree. Doing my best to avoid damaging the bark.

[@DHOBSESSIONS]

looks sick for DIY cable cam, that step up send him to the moon, sick jumps, mates

[@ScottBell]

Thanks! Mark is a gnarly dude, always impressed by what he does on a bike!

[@yuukibriggs6623]

The cable shots are just insanely sick 🤙🏾

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching man. Appreciate the comment!

[@JoelHenleyMusic]

Great job Scott! I wonder if the 4:3 anamorphic mode from the GH5 might be fun to play with on something like this, since it will give you a wider FOV and almost 6K resolution and you can decide in post how you want to frame it. Keep up the great work!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching Joel! That would be cool to try. Been curious about the more affordable anamorphic lenses that have been popping up. Would add a pretty sick look too.

[@repalmore]

I'm not a tree hugger. I love lumber and timber. Because I love the product of trees, I wish to take good care of them. You appear to be trying to protect the tree. If I may suggest a piece of mud flap or something tough flexible material. You are doing good, but maybe, a little more? BTW, good job on the trolley.

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching Robert. This was early testing days and since then I use a wider strap to go around the trees that feels pretty solid at protecting them. Definitely not trying to do damage to these beautiful forests. Thanks for your suggestions!

[@bradstringer6691]

Awesome footage! How do you decide where to focus when it’s in the cable?

[@ScottBell]

Thanks Brad! I had Mark stand on the line at the key point I wanted focus and the distance between him and the camera remained somewhat constant. Also using a smaller aperture and higher ISO to compensate to ensure deeper focal plane means you have a bit of flexibility in your exact focus point.

[@bradstringer6691]

Thanks Scott, have always wondered what focusing techniques people use on shoots like this, cheers and loving your content 🤙

[@ScottBell]

Cheers thanks Brad!

[@bostondonmtb]

I am to wondering how you were able to focus. I just got the Wiral Lite and want to shoot myself riding my mountain bike. I am not familiar with your camera, but I have a Canon M50 as well as 90D and they both have great auto focus. I am going to be a one man show. I figured I would use the Canon app, set the focus on me, hit record, and then start the Wiral on their remote and begin riding. Hoping that the camera will maintain focus as I ride and the Wiral moves. Any help or suggestions would be wonderful. All the best, BostonDon

[@ScottBell]

Hey, I set focus prior to releasing the cable. I have my camera set to manual focus so it holds that point for the duration of the shot. I think you'll be best using a similar method and maintaining a consistent distance from the camera as it travels down the line. You can also use a higher f-stop, which will give you a deeper focal plane, so if you aren't 100% consistent with your distance from camera you should still be pretty sharp. Good luck!

[@minimtb3154]

Sweet, just subbed!

[@ScottBell]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@calebnelson6346]

yo! If there are trees to do it, you should take a long bungee cord and tie it down to trees, stretching it perpendicular to the cable so it catches the cart. I flinch every time i see that thing hit the tarp 😅 love this build tho, will definitely have to make one!

[@ScottBell]

That's a cool idea! Thanks for the thought, could work really well actually!

[@TheGirlSkateBoardCo]

Dude, you must of gotten soooo many baddies off this setup! Also you earned a subscriber off this video tbh.

[@ScottBell]

Cheers Jason, thanks for checking it out!

[@tomleefilms]

Hey man, this is awesome! Have you thought about using the DJI app to pan the gimbal while it’s moving down the line! Could be a good way to keep the rider and camera at a similar speed!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks Tom. I thought about using the app but I don't think the range is long enough to reach the length of the whole line. I went with an RC controller instead and will be wiring it to the Ronin-S when it arrives. Need to pick up a wireless monitor as well. Soon it will be killer though!

[@tomleefilms]

Scott Bell oh that’s a shame! that’s going to be awesome however! Can’t wait to see the results! 👊🏼

[@ScottBell]

Yeah, I'm excited for it to arrive!

[@fabbike1805]

bonne idée

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching!

[@everywherelocal]

yeah! 🤘

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching!

[@ianoffen5322]

sick!

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching Ian.

[@adrianzaharia8885]

You could use a cheap (RC)servo motor with a remote and use it as a break...I think it would cost you around 50-60$ for some ebay stuff.

[@ScottBell]

Totally man, gonna look into it!

[@solomtb]

At some point, it looked like you were line drying the towels on the forest :D

[@ScottBell]

Hahah yup, I actually have switched to a tarp and a heavy blanket, much gentler for the gimbal.

[@atlantaperimeter]

You should be shooting at 120fps at a 200 degree shutter

[@ScottBell]

Why?

[@atlantaperimeter]

More screen run time by shooting at higher frame rates.

[@ScottBell]

For sure, not always the look I'm after though. Thanks for watching.

[@mufeiling2452]

It is not possible to buy wiral lite now

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching. I've worked with the wiral once and it wasn't the best and also could not handle a rig this heavy. I'm looking at other options for down the line but they start at $10k.

[@StravaigingMTB]

Great rig! I've had one as a back burner project for a few years so it's cool to see another diy effort in the wild. Mine was for much lighter cameras but funny that we both decided to use towels to act as a brake! Here's a test shot from my one. instagram.com/p/BebXWQDhfPK/?igshid=17u46hgc2ud8u

[@ScottBell]

Thanks for watching! Yours looks pretty solid, a bit more weight might take out a few of the bumps. Were you running a gimbal on it?

[@StravaigingMTB]

@@ScottBell it has a small vibration plate similar to one on an early drone but no gimbal, that was a test using an old gopro session before weighting up to hold a bigger camera.