When taking photographs, there is always a risk of getting a blurry photo. This is especially true when using cameras without image stabilization in the dark or in a room with poor lighting. At longer focal lengths, the appearance of wiggle is even more likely.
The best option is to use a tripod, but it's bulky and if you're just going for a walk, you don't want to carry the extra weight. Especially if you took a compact camera with you. But there is a simple solution that is convenient to use and it is so compact that it fits in the same pocket as the soap dish.
We are talking about a rope tripod. This device will improve the clarity of pictures when shooting in twilight and darkness.
To create a simple tripod, you will need several meters of rope and a bolt that has a thread with a 1/4 pitch. The bolt will screw into the tripod mounting location. Everything you need can be bought at a hardware store.
Features of Rope Tripod:
Comparison of results:
Without rope tripod
A tripod is a special device that allows you to hold the device in one position. The most popular devices are those designed for smartphones, video cameras and microscopes. This article will look at homemade tripods for a phone, microscope, camera, spotlight, and level.
In fact, any thing that can fix the device and hold it for the required time can serve as a tripod for a phone. This is necessary primarily for shooting video or taking photographs. How to make a homemade tripod?
For the first option you will need a regular cable. It needs to be fairly hard, but flexible. You should shape the cable so that it matches the shape of a regular phone tripod:
The design will look as shown in the photo below.
The advantage of such a tripod is that it can be mounted on any pipe by bending the supports to fix the structure.
The second way to make a homemade tripod is from paper clips. You will need 2 clamps and some flat thing to attach them to. You need to clamp the paper clips on a flat surface at such a distance that you can install a phone on their handles. That’s it, the tripod is ready and you can shoot on such a stand no worse than on a regular store-bought one.
Third idea: a homemade tripod made from pencils and rubber bands. You must first connect 3 pencils with rubber bands in the form of a triangle so that the bottom one, which forms the base of the figure, protrudes. Next, you need to secure another pencil behind the others so that it acts as a support. The final design will look like the photo below.
The height and angle of inclination of such a stand can be adjusted simply by moving the rubber bands.
Another way is to make a homemade tripod from a small box. This idea is the simplest, since to implement it you only need a box and a knife. It is necessary to cut the structure so that the base remains intact, and the back part forms a stand for the smartphone. This tripod is a no-brainer, but unfortunately the angle of the phone cannot be adjusted.
Tripods are even more in demand for video cameras than for smartphones. When shooting, you need a clear and static picture to make successful and unforgettable shots. Of course, you can purchase a stand in a store, but the prices for such designs are not exactly low.
For a homemade camera tripod you will need:
The first step is to cut a triangle with equal sides (5-7 cm) from the board. In the middle of the figure you should make a hole with a drill into which you will need to insert a screw. Now on each side of the wooden triangle you need to glue the razors with glue so that they act as tripod legs. You need to screw an O-ring onto the screw so that the camera does not push the screw down. All that remains is to secure the camera to the screw by screwing the screw into the corresponding hole on the device.
This stand looks very beautiful and will also serve as an excellent attribute even for amateur video or photo shooting.
Surprisingly, you can build a homemade tripod from an ordinary bottle. For this you will need:
You need to make a hole in the bottle cap and then insert a screw there. It is better to make the hole with a drill of a smaller diameter than the screw, so that it can be screwed in and fixed. The screw should be screwed in from the inside, after placing the washers inside the cover. Now the structure is ready to install a camera on it. It needs to be screwed onto the screw that protrudes from the outside of the cover.
The bottle must be covered with sand or stones so that it does not tip over along with the camera. Now you just need to screw on the cover with the camera. The homemade tripod is ready.
This design can be attached to a pole or tree using straps or rubber bands so that shooting can be done from a higher place.
For a homemade microscope tripod you will need:
You need to decide where on the table the main pipe on which the remaining parts will be attached will be attached. You need to install it so that it is motionless. Now, at a distance of 5 cm from each other, you need to fix two 20 cm pipes horizontally using fasteners. At the ends of these elements it is necessary to install corners. Then attach another pipe 15 cm long. We get the base of the structure, which is tightly fixed on the table. You can install it in the desired position for work. Next, you need to install the microscope mount that comes with the device onto the last pipe. The device itself is already attached to the stand for it. To prevent the structure from shaking, you can make a stand from books or other objects in the middle of the last pipe.
Despite the complexity of this design, it is very convenient and practical to use due to the fact that it can be installed in any position.
To create the design you will need:
You need to separate 6 parts from the stick. You need to make 3 legs 68.2 cm long; 1 part 110 cm long; 1 part is 99.8 cm long. Now you need to cut out a triangle from the block in which the main stick will be placed. In this triangle you also need to make a square to the size of the base of the stick, which is then placed in this part. Now you need to screw the legs to the resulting triangle on each side using wing nuts. Pre-cut the ends of the legs diagonally. Next, you need to screw another 110 cm long perpendicularly to the main vertical stick so that the attachment point is 20 cm further from the middle of the stick. All that remains is to secure the spotlight handle to the horizontal rod using the same wing nut. At this point, the homemade tripod for the spotlight is ready.
This article introduced the basic tripods and described the step-by-step process of making them. As you can see, you can build a stand for almost any device: telephone, video or photo camera, microscope, spotlight. You can also come up with a homemade tripod for a level and other devices that require a mandatory stationary position when used.
At some moments of photography, it may be necessary to statically fix the camera in order to avoid unnecessary shocks and vibrations, as well as in studio, subject shooting conditions. You need a tripod, but not all amateurs have the opportunity to purchase one. And then there is only one thing left - to make a tripod with your own hands. The same problem confronted me when I wanted to carry out subject photography. My advantage was that I had the opportunity to use different materials, as well as a welding machine. The assembly technology was borrowed from Vintik-Shpuntik - from what was at hand, without the use of turning. As a result of simple actions, such an accessory was born.
One of the main features was the screw itself that secures the camera to the tripod. Here we had to use a mounting head from an existing mini-tripod with plastic legs. As a result of this design, another tripod was created, specifically designed for winter photography. The base remains metal, and wood is used as legs. The tripod turned out to be quite light and tall, which was a plus in deep snow conditions.
The main part of both tripods is a replaceable control head, which I rearrange within a few seconds depending on the upcoming shooting.
P.S. Later on the site Aliexpress I had my eye on an inexpensive, lightweight, compact tripod
with acceptable characteristics at a low price
Ordered it 25 February…Registration on the site is not difficult - … AMarch 25 I already received the tripod in the mail. Delivery was within 4 weeks.
Main advantages: lightweight (just over 400 grams), compact, functional (you can shoot with the camera in both landscape and portrait orientation)... there is a built-in level. The tripod comes with a fabric case….
Stabilizing the camera at the time of shooting is the key to obtaining sharp or clear photographs; your hand will not tremble when you press the button and will not spoil the frame. For long exposures, a tripod is a necessity; without it, you won’t get the right picture at all. Static objects located at a distance from the photographer may turn out blurry when zoomed in without a stable camera position. All such situations require a tripod.
The cost of a good tripod ranges around 7-10 thousand rubles for a standard camera; for heavy optics, increased stabilization will be required, here the price will be even higher. It is not always possible to purchase a store-bought version, especially if nature has not deprived you of dexterity and ingenuity. Then you can make a tripod with your own hands, using almost improvised materials. The cost of materials will be several times less, the time will take a couple of days, and for advanced users who can deftly handle tools - several hours.
In what cases might you need a tripod:
Tripod– an excellent option for a large company, when one person always remains behind the scenes in the group photos. Stabilizing the camera at the desired height and using a remote control will help bring the whole group together in the photo.
In addition to the standard three-legged 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 extreme ones. Depending on the type of camera mounting or mounting on a surface, tripods are:
A professional photographer working in different genres and in any conditions may have a set of tripod mounts. But in most cases, they are used quite rarely and are not an essential item for filming walking photo shoots, love stories, weddings and birthdays, and this is exactly what the average photographer does 95% of the time.
If you decide to make a tripod with your own hands, then you will need the following tools:
It is better to carry out all work outside or in a special room with good ventilation. Glue and paint have an unpleasant odor, and sawdust and shavings are best left outside the house.
The easiest tripod to assemble and make will require a couple of hours of your time, a piece of board, glue and 3 razors, regular or with floating heads. The main thing is that they are the same. The base is cut triangular, processed with sandpaper, a hole is cut in the center and a bolt is screwed in and securely fastened with glue. Screw the nut onto the bolt and place a rubber seal so as not to damage the camera body when attaching it. The razors are glued to the side surfaces or edges of the wooden triangle with a blade to the stand.
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The budget tabletop tripod is ready. We needed:
With a little patience, your small camera tripod is ready to go.
Another budget option is a mini tabletop 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 compact the surface, we glue the area 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 is. You can put a seal under the camera, and if you take a longer bolt, you can slightly increase the stand upwards. For this tripod we needed:
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.
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, secured with a nut, and screwed into the chamber thread. The bottle is weighted with sand or pebbles and screwed on with a prepared cap. The tripod is ready for use; in field conditions, it can significantly save nerves and time, working just as well as a purchased one.
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, and 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, take a square piece of board or thick plywood, approximately 10 x 10 cm in size, and drill a hole in one for a steel tube. We make screw holes in the 3 fasteners and the “legs” of the tripod at the desired angle so that they are in the desired position when the structure is assembled.
From the second panel we assemble a 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:
It will take at least a couple of hours to make such a design, provided you have the skills to work with tools. Suitable even for a medium-heavy camera; check the load in advance so that there are no unexpected incidents at the event.
Another material for creating a holding device for the camera is metal-plastic tubes, used in construction for laying water supplies. They bend quite well, but keep their shape perfectly. 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, and attach the vertical tube with an adapter. At the upper end we attach a platform for the camera.
If you urgently need to take a selfie, but you don’t have a monopod or selfie stick at hand, then you can use any available means to secure the phone. This could be a stick, a branch or a piece of thick wire. It is impossible to create a system for pressing a button in such conditions; we use the delay start function for 2-3 seconds. During this time, we line up the frame and get great pictures without buying a tripod.
From scrap materials you can also assemble an adapter from any camera tripod for a phone mount. To do this, you will need a piece of plastic, for example, a plinth for finishing plastic windows. A part is cut off, slightly shorter than the phone, and holes are drilled in the required places (corresponding to the fastenings on the clamp). The adapter is attached to the tripod with nuts, the structure is ready for use.
The listed options for homemade camera tripods 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, and plastic. But this will require specialized tools and certain knowledge.
Regardless of the material and design, the 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. Choose the right tripod according to your 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 weighs a lot and is quite difficult to carry around for a long time. Therefore, lightweight models are chosen for outdoor photo shoots. The same applies to folded sizes; bulky tripods remain in the photo studio, and compact and easy-to-carry ones are taken when traveling.
This parameter depends on many nuances: material, fastenings, 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. There are 2 main standard threads for attaching the camera to a tripod – 1/4” and 1/8”, the first option is intended for compact models, including point-and-shoot cameras. To work with larger cameras, a 1/8 thread is used. TVs, powerful lenses, heavy cameras are mounted at 3/8, it can withstand heavy loads. All this should be taken into account when choosing a tripod for filming.
Whether to make a lens with your own hands or spend a certain amount on equipment is up to each photographer to decide for himself. But there are several important points:
Based on these points, the conclusion follows that it is better to purchase professional specialized equipment for work. There is no need to skimp on the safety of your camera and optics. But for home or very infrequent use, you can assemble a tripod with your own hands.
