When photographing, there is always a risk of getting a blurry picture. This is especially true when using cameras without image stabilization at night or indoors with poor lighting. At longer focal lengths, shaking is even more likely.
The best solution is to use a tripod, but it is bulky and if you are just going for a walk, you do not want to carry extra weight. Especially if you took compact camera. But there is a simple solution that is convenient to use and is so compact that it will fit in the same pocket as the "soap dish".
It's a rope tripod. Such a device will improve the clarity of images while shooting in the twilight and darkness.
For creating a simple tripod you will need several meters of rope and a bolt that has a thread in 1/4 increments. The bolt will screw into the tripod mount. Everything you need can be bought at the hardware store.
Rope tripod features:
- cheap materials for manufacturing
- ease and speed of manufacture
- no special tools needed for making
- compact tripod that fits in almost any pocket
- easy to use in any place, even where a conventional tripod cannot be used, for example in museums
- easy to make a new tripod in case of loss
- easily rotate the camera and quickly take a new position
Comparison of results:
Without rope tripod
Stabilizing the camera at the time of shooting is the key to obtaining sharp or clear shots, the hand will not tremble when you press the button and will not spoil the frame. For long exposures, a tripod is a must, without it you won’t get the right picture at all. Static subjects that are far away from the photographer may appear blurry when zooming out without a steady camera position. For all these situations, a tripod is required.
The cost of a good tripod fluctuates around 7-10 thousand rubles for a standard camera, heavy optics will require increased stabilization, here the price will be even higher. It is not always possible to purchase a store option, especially if nature has not deprived you of skill and ingenuity. Then you can make a tripod with your own hands, practically from improvised means. The cost of materials will be many times less, it will take a couple of days in time, and for advanced users who can deftly manage tools, it will take several hours.
When you might need a tripod:
- Shooting on long exposure– 100% hard stabilization required;
- Shooting at night, in addition to a tripod, a device for remote shutter release can also come in handy;
- Sports competitions or work with fast moving objects;
- Shooting with background blur;
- Photographing at high magnification (zooming), including macro photography;
- Portrait and studio shooting involves stabilizing the camera for professional, clear shots;
- Shooting architecture and landscapes and many other options.
Tripod- great option for big company when one is always left behind the scenes on shared photos. Stabilizing the camera at the right height and a remote control (RC) will help to collect the whole company in the photo.
Tripod types
In addition to the standard three-leg stand, there are many different tripods for different purposes and situations. The most popular is the tripod, it is used in all types of filming, except for extreme ones. According to the type of camera mounting or surface mounting, tripods are:
- Monopods used to mount a camera mobile phone to increase the distance between the camera and the subject. Most often used for selfie photos;
- tripod– professional equipment with camera mount, has 3 legs or stands. You can adjust the height, tilt, and other parameters;
- Multipod- a collapsible tripod, when unwound, a monopod is obtained. Camping version of the equipment;
- Mini tripods, or desktop are used less often, but quite convenient and inexpensive. Height approximately 30-40 cm when unfolded.
- Fastening on the belt is used for photo and video filming, it is convenient for constant movement;
- Tripods-clamps are attached to tables and other surfaces that are inconvenient for outdoor shooting;
- Clothespin tripods similar to the previous version, but fastened with a clamping mechanism and a screw;
- Flexible tripods- models on rubberized legs, consisting of movable elements. By changing the shape of the legs, the height is adjustable. Compact and convenient models allow you to mount the cameras on almost any surface.
A professional photographer working in different genres and in any conditions there can be a set of tripod mounts. But in most cases, they are used quite rarely and are not essential for shooting walking photo shoots, love-story, weddings and birthdays, and this is exactly what the average photos do 95% of the time.
Tools needed to build a tripod
If you still decide to make a tripod with your own hands, then you will need the following tools:
- Drill and drills of different diameters;
- Saw or hacksaw;
- Sandpaper of different grain sizes;
- Screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters (in some cases);
- Vices and clamps (in some cases);
- Glue and necessary materials.
It is better to perform all work outside or in a special room with good ventilation. Glue and paint have an unpleasant smell, and sawdust and shavings are best left outside the house.
Do-it-yourself tripod from a razor
The easiest tripod to assemble and manufacture will require a couple of hours of your time, a piece of board, glue and 3 regular or floating razors. The main thing is that they are the same. The base is sawn triangular, processed with sandpaper, a hole is cut in the center and a bolt is screwed in and securely fastened with glue. We screw the nut onto the bolt and lay the rubber seal so as not to damage the camera body during mounting. To the side surfaces, or edges of the wooden triangle, razors are glued with a blade to the stand.
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Budget desktop tripod is ready. We needed:
- A piece of board or plywood;
- Bolt of suitable diameter for mounting the camera;
- Drill and drill with a bolt diameter;
- Nut for bolt;
- seal;
- Sandpaper;
- Glue;
- Paint, if desired;
- 3 razors.
A little patience and a small camera tripod is ready to go.
Option to assemble a tripod from a tennis ball
Another budget option is a tabletop mini tripod made from a tennis ball. To do this, you need a knife, glue, a bolt and a nut. The ball is cut in such a way that most of it is stable on the table, to seal the surface we glue the place under the camera with a second layer from the remaining piece. A hole is made in the center and a bolt is glued. then you can paint the structure or leave it as it is. You can put a seal under the camera, and if you take a longer bolt, you can slightly increase the stand up. For this tripod we needed:
- tennis ball;
- Bolt with a diameter for mounting on the camera;
- Nut and seal on the bolt;
- Glue and an hour of time.
This option is not suitable for a serious event, but it is quite suitable for home use with a small camera, it certainly will not hold heavy optics.
Plastic bottle tripod
The easiest option to implement is to use an empty plastic bottle to create a tripod. A hole of the required diameter is drilled in the cover, a bolt is inserted, fastened with a nut, screwed into the chamber thread. The bottle is weighted with sand or pebbles and twisted with a prepared cap. The tripod is ready for use, in field conditions it can significantly save nerves and time, having worked no worse than the purchased one.
Do-it-yourself camera tripod from ski poles
A more complex option will require you to have some skills in using scissors or a hacksaw, a file, a drill, as well as time. The aluminum tube is cut into 3 parts with "ears" for fastening, the parts are processed with a file, holes for the bolts are drilled.
We cut the ski poles into 4 equal parts, they will be the legs of the tripod. For the base, a square piece of board or thick plywood is taken, approximately 10 x 10 cm in size, a hole is drilled in one for a steel tube. In 3 parts of fasteners and “legs” of the tripod, we make holes for the screw at the right angle so that they are in the right position when the structure is assembled.
From the second socket we assemble the mount for the camera.
We connect both parts, install the camera on the screw, the tripod is ready for use.
Thus, we needed to manufacture this design:
- 2 ski poles;
- steel tube;
- 2 pieces of board or plywood;
- a small piece of flattened aluminum tube;
- self-tapping screws, or screws, a bolt for the camera;
- file, pliers, hacksaw, screwdriver, drill.
It will take at least a couple of hours to make such a design, subject to the skills of working with tools. Suitable even for a medium-weight camera, check the load in advance so that there are no unexpected incidents at the event.
PVC tubing for tripod
Another material for creating a holding device for the camera is metal-plastic tubes used in construction for laying water supply. They bend well, but hold their shape well. You can fasten them together with plastic corners, self-tapping screws, bolts or screws. We assemble the base from pieces of pipe and corner fittings, fasten the vertical tube with an adapter. At the top end we fix the platform for the camera.
Monopod (selfie stick) from improvised materials
If you urgently need to take a selfie, and there is no monopod or selfie stick at hand, then you can use any means at hand to secure the phone. It can be a stick, a branch or a piece of thick wire. It is impossible to create a system for pressing a button under such conditions; we use the delay start function for 2-3 seconds. During this time, we build a frame and get great pictures without buying a tripod.
Stand-adapter for phone
From improvised materials, you can also assemble an adapter from any tripod from the camera to mount the phone. To do this, you need a piece of plastic, for example, a plinth for finishing plastic windows. A part is cut off, a little shorter than the phone, holes are drilled in the right places (corresponding to the fasteners on the latch). The adapter is fastened with nuts to the tripod, the design is ready for use.
Other tripod materials
The listed options for homemade tripods for the camera do not require special skills and knowledge, almost anyone can make them without much effort. In addition to these materials, you can use wooden slats and bars, metal tubes, plastic. But here you will need specialized tools and certain knowledge.
Camera tripod requirements
Regardless of the material and design, a tripod must meet certain requirements and perform functions.
working height. Each tripod has a minimum and maximum height depending on the design of the device. Tripods have the widest range and are therefore the most popular among photographers. Correctly select a tripod for height, it should be slightly higher so that you can shoot from above.
Weight and dimensions. The most important parameter for "field" filming. professional equipment It weighs a lot and is quite difficult to carry with you for a long time. Therefore, lightweight models are chosen for outdoor photo shoots. The same applies to the dimensions when folded, bulky tripods remain in the photo studio, and compact and easy to carry are taken on the go.
This parameter depends on many nuances: material, fasteners, design features. For a photographer, the workload is more important - you need to be guided by it when choosing a model for the weight of the camera.
Thread. To attach the camera to a tripod, there are 2 main standard threads - 1/4 ”and 1/8”, the first option is designed for compact models, including “soap dishes”. To work with larger cameras, a 1/8 thread is used. Telephotos, powerful lenses, heavy cameras are mounted on 3/8, it can withstand heavy loads. All this should be taken into account when choosing a tripod for shooting.
Afterword
Whether to make a lens with your own hands or spend a certain amount on equipment is up to each photographer to decide on their own. But there are a few important points:
- If homemade equipment were better than professional equipment, it would have ceased to be produced by now;
- Experienced photographers with expensive optics will not rely on a "self-made" tripod and will purchase a suitable weight and material for the safety of equipment;
- For daily shooting you need a good tripod, from improvised means - for 1 time;
- You will still have to spend a certain amount on materials, and time to make a tripod;
- Homemade tripods are inconvenient for frequent movements, they are not compact and it is problematic to carry them with you.
Based on these points, it follows that it is better to purchase professional specialized equipment for work. Save on the safety of the camera and optics is not worth it. But for home or very infrequent use, you can assemble a tripod with your own hands.
Those who are involved in photography know that in order to get a good picture, you need to ensure that the focus is clear. This is done by fixing the camera in a fixed position, for example, on a tripod. The latter are represented on the market by various models and manufacturers. They are not cheap, therefore they are acquired more by those who are engaged in photography professionally, or are not constrained by money.
But, if desired, a tripod for the camera can be made independently. At the same time, inexpensive and affordable components are used, which ultimately makes it possible to obtain a reliable device, the consumer properties of which are no worse than those of factory ones.
It is not necessary to come up with your own design. The problem has long been solved by many craftsmen - you can take advantage of their suggestions. For example, described below:
As accessories for the future tripod can be:
- Razors - you need three of them;
- The expired term will do, but has not lost its appearance;
- small board;
- A bolt with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 4 ... 5 cm;
- Seal ring and nut for bolt;
- Glue, for example, "Moment"; black enamel (can be replaced with Kuzbass varnish).
Begin work with the preparation of a wooden base. An isosceles triangle is cut out of the board, the length of the sides of which is half a centimeter larger than the size of razor blades. In the center, using a drill, make a hole with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the bolt shaft.
Applying force, screw the bolt into the resulting hole until its head rests on the base. At the wooden part, the corners are slightly rounded, the surfaces are polished; then covered with black paint or Kuzbass varnish.
Razor heads from the side of the blades are glued to the sides of the triangular base. The free end of the bolt should be directed upwards - in the direction opposite to the direction of the razor handles.
A nut is screwed onto the free end of the bolt, it is easily tightened. This fixes the position of the bolt, does not allow it to move in the hole.
The tripod is ready. When using it with the ends of the handles of razors, they are installed on the surface. Above, at the protruding end of the bolt, a camera is attached.
Having made a tripod for the camera with your own hands, you can create a unique accessory for your camera.
With it, the picture of the resulting videos will be well stabilized and you will not have to spend a large amount, because the product can be created from improvised materials.
Content:In the process of taking pictures or novice photographers often face the problem of a blurry frame.
Image stabilization does not depend on the shooting location, but on a good tripod that will hold the camera securely and prevent it from moving.
The best option for creating high-quality photos and videos is to use a tripod. Camera stands can be of several types:
- Tripods - the most stable structures with three supports that are installed on the floor or table;
- Monopods - standard stands with a magnetic or conventional base;
- Multipods;
- Stand-belt. Most often used for video filming;
- Rope tripods and other suspended structures.
We make a stable tripod with our own hands
The tripod is the most expensive type of tripod. On specialized sites, the price of a structure can reach up to 5-7 thousand rubles.
But is such a waste justified if the stand can be made independently?
To create your own tripod, you will need 2 rectangular tubes with rounded edges. Also, you should purchase 2 ski poles made of aluminum material.
To create a strong base, take a piece of chrome-plated steel pipe (about half a meter long). To connect all the elements, it is necessary to purchase self-tapping screws, screws, nuts with washers.
Of the repair tools you need:
- Standard drill with a drill;
- Hacksaw blade;
- File;
- Wrench;
- Regular screwdriver;
- Hammer, sandpaper;
- Two small wooden boards (squares 10x10 centimeters);
- Pliers.
Take three rectangular tubes and cut three small pieces from it as shown in the picture below. Make incisions and bend the "ears", creating brackets.
You should get three such details:
Fig. 3 - the resulting elements of the tripod (total 3)
Take the ski shelves and sand them well with a few sheets of sandpaper. Make sure all paint is removed. Now cut both elements in half.
In the future, half of the polished stick will be the base of the tripod.
Fig. 4 - grinding parts
Take one of the wooden boards and make a round hole in it to install the camera and mount it.
The diameter of the hole must match the diameter of the previously ground tube:
Fig.5 - creating a hole
Now let's move on to creating the legs of the tripod. One of the brackets made in the first step will be used as a mount.
Mount the bracket on top of the tube as shown in the picture below and drill a screw hole so that you can adjust the tripod position with it.
Fig.6 - fixing one bracket
Install the chrome tube into the hole in the base. Then install three brackets into the base, each of which has a rectangular tube attached with screws.
You should get the following structure:
Fig. 7 - the finished base for the tripod
Now take the second board, which is identical in size to the first. Make another bracket and attach it like this:
Fig. 8 - creating the upper part of the tripod mount
Take a self-tapping screw and drill it into the base so that part of the part appears on its back.
The camera will be screwed to it, so carefully select the size of the self-tapping screw:
Fig. 9 - completion of the base
The result should be the following tripod design:
Fig. 10 - finished product
As you can see, a homemade tripod looks no different from a purchased one. Its main plus is that the base can be rotated, which allows you to set the desired angle of the picture.
If you take larger boards, you can create a structure that can withstand heavier cameras without problems.
By extending the part of the tripod, you can set the camera in both horizontal and vertical positions:
Rice. 11 - an example of using a homemade tripod
DIY: Cheap Tripod for Home Shooting
This tripod variant resembles a simple camera stand. You can use it to mount the camera on a table or other elevated flat surface.
As practice shows, such tripods make autofocus more accurate, because the gadget does not move at all during shooting.
To build a tripod at home, you will need a few inexpensive parts:
- Plastic soda bottle. We will use a standard 0.5 liter container. Note that the larger the volume of the bottle, the better the stability of the structure will be. The ideal option is to use a five-liter container;
- Bolt that fits the tripod socket on your camera
- two washers standard size;
- Screw.
Fig.12 - preparation of materials
It is advisable to take a bottle with a wide neck, so you can achieve better stability, because the cap is the base of the tripod. It will have a camera on it.
You should get the following scheme:
Fig.13 - creating a base for a tripod
The resulting product should not stagger or unwind. You can use a tripod already in this state if the camera is light. He will hold up well.
If you need to lift the gadget above the surface, use the rest of the bottle.
With its help, you can make the future tripod heavier so that it does not overturn and hold the camera well.
A simple weighting option is water. Just put it in a bottle and screw on the cap. Attach a camera to the resulting product.
Also, you can pour a full bottle of sand - this will reduce the likelihood that if a possible fall, water will spill and damage the camera.
A homemade camera stand will look like this:
Fig.14 - appearance homemade tripod
As you can see, the product turns out to be very practical and you will not spend a penny on it. Operating Tips:
- Should not be used big cameras with this tripod. Most likely, it will not hold a weighty gadget;
- Install the tripod only on flat surfaces, as it cannot be fixed, which may cause the camera to fall;
- Handle the bottle filled with water carefully so as not to spill liquid on the device.
Creating a magnetic tripod
Using the idea of the previous instruction, you can create more than just a stable tripod.
By attaching a strong magnet to the base, you get a universal mount that can be installed on any surface.
Often such products are used in cars for shooting videos, because the magnet firmly holds the camcorder, preventing blurry pictures.
It is better to buy a magnet as thick as possible. The larger its dimension, the better the camera will be fixed on the surface. If necessary, the mount can be cut.
Rice. 15 - an example of a magnetic tripod for a camera and its attachment to a surface
A well-made product can secure the camera even in a vertical state.
Stable razor tripod
This option is perfect for beginner photographers who are not yet ready to spend large sums on purchasing professional camera accessories.
The stand raises the camera 10-15 centimeters above the surface. Suitable for placing on a table, floor or other flat surface.
Rice. 16 - an example of a finished stand
To create a short tripod, you will need:
- Three razors;
- small board;
- Super glue;
- One screw, the length of which is 5 cm and the diameter is 0.5 cm;
- Screw;
- seal;
- Lacquer of any color;
- Drill.
On the board, cut out a small triangle, which will be the base. Make a round hole in its center. Screw the screw into the resulting hole.
Attach three looms to the sides of the triangle and paint the structure with colored varnish.
Place the sealing ring on the screw and screw in the nut. Attach the camera.
Fig.17 - an example of using the stand
rope tripod
This tripod option is perfect if you need to shoot outdoors, but there is no way or desire to carry heavy structures for mounting with you.
A rope tripod is an accessory that you can make yourself in less than 5 minutes.
Its peculiarity lies in the fact that you can put the stand in your pocket, and if necessary, fix it anywhere: on a tree branch, table, bench and other places.
The sturdy stand allows you to improve the quality of photos in the dark and twilight. Autofocus will start to work many times better, and you will get great pictures even with detailed viewing under magnification.
After following the instructions, you will receive a tripod like this:
Fig. 18 - a simple rope camera stand
You will need:
- 2-3 meters of good rope;
- Bolt with a hook, the thread of which has a ¼ pitch. This variety is suitable for most cameras, because the bolt is attached to the camera base in a special connector;
- The camera itself. For such a simple design, you should not take too heavy gadgets. A regular digital camera will do.
The necessary bolt can be purchased at any hardware store for less than 20 rubles. The rope will cost 150-200 rubles, depending on its diameter and strength.
When I started this project, I wanted to make a device that could replace two or three devices that are usually found in a photographer's backpack. My project eventually culminated in the creation of a flexible camera stand, which I will simply refer to as "flexible stand".
The stand is based on 90 centimeters of annealed super-flexible copper wire, at each end of which there is a screw for mounting the camera. All of this is housed in a vinyl tube that keeps the wire clean and safe, plus it has a soft surface that feels comfortable when bending/unfolding the mount. This tool can replace many other photo tools, including:
- Standard tripod - form a base from the wire and bend one end up, then install the camera.
- Selfie Stick - Bend one end of the flexible stand into a loop and wrap it around your arm or wrist. Attach the camera to the other end of the gooseneck and bend that end to your desired angle for a premium selfie.
- Shoulder (swivel) camera mount - you can wrap 90 cm soft copper around anything and secure your camera just about anywhere.
Among other things, the flexible stand rolls up into a very small piece that's easy to take when traveling and wraps around your wrist comfortably as you move from one place to another.
Step 1: What You'll Need
- 2 bolts suitable for camera mount connector
- Vinyl tube with an inner diameter of 0.6 cm
- Copper wire with a diameter of 0.3 cm
- 2 brass sleeves 1.3 cm
- Epoxy
- Tube and Wire Cutting Tools
- wire cutters
- Burner
- A bucket of water
- Dishwashing liquid
Everything you need to assemble the stand can be purchased at local stores for about 500 rubles, and everyone usually has all the tools used in the pantry.
Step 2: Design
It takes only a little effort to understand how to assemble a tripod for a camera with your own hands. Assembly is simple, but takes time combing through local home improvement stores. From my previous projects, I know that there is a huge selection of large diameter copper wire in stores and that copper is very flexible especially when fired.
Adding the threads directly to the wire proved a little tricky, and I ended up making a sandwich inside a vinyl tube, with copper wire on one end and a bolt on the other to match the camera threads, over which I put a coupler to hold the joint together. To further strengthen the design, I filled the connection area with epoxy. Check out the picture above to get an idea of how the whole connection comes together in life.
Aside from the mechanics of putting the components together, I also had to decide on the length of the makeshift tripod. I settled on 90 cm, which I felt was the sweet spot between being so long that you could wrap the wire around things and use it as a selfie stick, and so short that you could easily roll it up and store it in your bag or pocket. pants.
Step 3: Burn the Copper Wire
The first step in making a mini holder is to fire the copper wire. If you are not familiar with the firing process, then its essence is to relax the metal by heating and cooling. When firing copper, you must heat it to a dull red color and then quickly lower it into water. This allows you to weaken the crystal structure of copper, making it more flexible. When you heat the copper, be sure to hold it with something like a vise, as the copper wire quickly conducts heat from the torch to your hand.
Note: If you don't have a torch, you can skip this step, as copper is already quite soft when you buy it from the store. Firing simply makes the copper as soft as possible, making the device easier to use and more durable.
Step 4: Clean the Copper Wire
After firing, the copper wire will be covered with a layer of oxide, a quick cleaning with steel wool dipped in alcohol will give the copper its original appearance. At this point, for ease of threading the copper into the vinyl tube, I straightened it out. To do this, I fixed both ends of the wire in pliers and asked a friend to help me - we stretched the ends in different directions. The pliers left marks on the ends of the wire, which was to my advantage, as these marks provided a good bonding surface for the epoxy to be used to hold the wires together inside the vinyl tubing.
Step 5: Cut the Vinyl Tube
After the wire was ready, it was necessary to cut the tube to the desired length. The tube insulates the wire, keeping it clean and making the camera stand feel good to the touch. I cut the tube so long that there was an extra 2-3 cm of length left on each end. This length is required to secure the bolt that will be screwed into the chamber. Look at the last photo attached in this step to understand what's what.
Step 6: Put the sleeve on the tube
In this step, we need to put a brass sleeve on the tube. The sleeve will act as a collar, securing the connection between the wire and the bolt from the outside. My couplings were very tight on the tube, so I lubricated them with liquid soap.
Step 7: Cut the Bolts
I bought bolts to match the threads of the camera. All you need to do is cut off the head of the bolt, so take a hacksaw and cut it off, leaving a tail about 3 cm long. 2.5 cm of the bolt will go to the connection, and the remaining 0.5 cm will be screwed into the chamber.
Step 8: Putting All the Components Together
It's time to bring everything into one design. Do it according to the list:
- Pass the copper wire through the vinyl tube, the tube should be about 2-3 cm longer on each side.
- Mix the epoxy
- Fill one end of the tube with epoxy
- Push 1 of the bolt pieces into the tube through the epoxy. The bolt will push some of the epoxy even deeper and it will secure the wire. Also, some of the epoxy will squeeze out, securing the bolt securely in the tube. Make sure about 0.5 cm of threaded bolts are outside the tube - you will need them to secure the camera.
- Give the epoxy time to set.
- Repeat steps 3-5 on the other end of the tube.
Once the epoxy has set, your flexible stand is ready to go!