Camera hacks : The budget (DIY) way of doing things

oeb · 22-08-2008 10:34am #1

I dunno have any of you guys seen this, but it looks pretty handy and I just came accross it today.

http://www.techamok.com/?pid=3974

Nice little camera hack using twine, a bolt and a big washer. The bolt goes into the tripod mount hole on the camera, the twine onto that and then to the washer. By standing on the washer and pulling the twine taut it's much easier to keep the camera stable.

What other neat camera hacks have you found? A cheap DIY way of doing something that normally requires expensive equipment?

Covey · 22-08-2008 10:43am

I've adapted two small mirrors to attach to my camera for street shots. Much like a car's wing mirrors, but smaller.

That way, I can look through the viewfinder and with my second eye keep a look out for who might be coming into the shot from outside the frame.

Rather bizarrly I get a lot of tourists taking shots of me lately.

oeb · 22-08-2008 10:50am

What a great Idea!

There is some useful items here : http://www.camerahacker.com/directory/Hacks.shtml

Might be worth noting that some of the items here would void your cameras warrenty (Any of them that require opening it)

paudie · 22-08-2008 11:03am

Post a shot of your setup covey

ThOnda · 22-08-2008 11:14am

Covey, what about keeping your second eye opened?

oeb · 22-08-2008 11:20am

ThOnda wrote: »

Covey, what about keeping your second eye opened?

You mean the one on the back of your head that can already see behind you and see the people that are about to step into your shot and ruin your lovely composition?

ThOnda · 22-08-2008 11:51am

Well, my widest lens is 28mm only, so most of the time I see who or what is going to be in viewfinder. I just didn't understand it from the description.
And I can't wait to see it/you :-)

Covey · 22-08-2008 11:53am

ThOnda wrote: »

Covey, what about keeping your second eye opened?

I can do that also, thats why I bought the 40D as it has "Live View"

T.

AnCatDubh · 22-08-2008 12:58pm

Haven't done it but thought "The Photojojo DIY Sky-Cam" was a neat idea.

Don't think i'd trust a SLR on it though

DaireQuinlan · 22-08-2008 1:32pm

One of my own from a while back, DIY tilt/shift with a homemade bellows.

Some examples...

(more on my stream)

CabanSail · 22-08-2008 3:39pm

Another string Tripod

Covey · 22-08-2008 3:54pm

paudie wrote: »

Post a shot of your setup covey

I've just bought an enhancement which I hope to have operational tomorrow.

Although the mirrors work grand, it only alerts me to people coming into the frame and never seems to actually stop them. So, I've just bought a bicycle horn and have a way of attaching it to the hotshoe, which hopefully will keep those pesky "extras" outta the frame.

That should work I think. Post a piccie tomorrow.

tr33lo · 22-08-2008 6:48pm

I made one of these $1 image stabalizers and use it for panoramas i find it much better and easier to use than a tripod

This shot was taken with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tr33lo/2579688821

AnCatDubh · 22-08-2008 6:57pm

tr33lo wrote: »

I made one of these $1 image stabalizers and use it for panoramas i find it much better and easier to use than a tripod
This shot was taken with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tr33lo/2579688821

$1 - could you not have haggled ????

Lovely crisp image by the way.

Camera hacks : The budget (DIY) way of doing things

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