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Anyone who has taken more than a couple of pictures from a camera knows just how important it is to keep it still. A bit of movement, and your 12 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens will give you a blurred image.
With the advent of ‘good enough’ mobile cameras, it is imperative we get the right accessories to use them to the fullest. For keeping your camera still, a tripod is a must have.
Way back in the day, when Nokia launched the N93, it had a standard camera tripod jack, in which any normal tripod screw would fit. Sadly, the trend did not pick up, and that particular gem disappeared.
There are a few mobile tripods available online, but they charge a premium, and cost above $15. When a normal tripod is available from $1 upwards, this price difference doesn’t seem fair.
Here is a guide to build your own mobile tripod, in under 15 minutes, at a fraction of the cost of buying one.
Note that this tripod works for devices with a thickness of 0.55 inches/1.40 cm and below.
Requirements:
1) A standard camera tripod.
The tripod we used cost us Rs. 50/$1, and was widely available at all camera stores across the city of Bombay. Find a tripod you are comfortable with.
2) Audio Cassette Case.
In the age of multi layered Blu-Ray discs, we don’t expect you to be using a cassette player, but surely you have your Walkman and tapes stashed somewhere.
3) Basic Knowledge of Soldering.
We will be using a soldering iron to melt some plastic. Even if you haven’t used one before, you can attempt this. Just remember, keep your skin away from the metal.
With the advent of ‘good enough’ mobile cameras, it is imperative we get the right accessories to use them to the fullest. For keeping your camera still, a tripod is a must have.
Way back in the day, when Nokia launched the N93, it had a standard camera tripod jack, in which any normal tripod screw would fit. Sadly, the trend did not pick up, and that particular gem disappeared.
There are a few mobile tripods available online, but they charge a premium, and cost above $15. When a normal tripod is available from $1 upwards, this price difference doesn’t seem fair.
Here is a guide to build your own mobile tripod, in under 15 minutes, at a fraction of the cost of buying one.
Note that this tripod works for devices with a thickness of 0.55 inches/1.40 cm and below.
Requirements:
1) A standard camera tripod.
The tripod we used cost us Rs. 50/$1, and was widely available at all camera stores across the city of Bombay. Find a tripod you are comfortable with.
2) Audio Cassette Case.
In the age of multi layered Blu-Ray discs, we don’t expect you to be using a cassette player, but surely you have your Walkman and tapes stashed somewhere.
3) Basic Knowledge of Soldering.
We will be using a soldering iron to melt some plastic. Even if you haven’t used one before, you can attempt this. Just remember, keep your skin away from the metal.
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Detach the parts of the Cassette Case.
Too much pressure isn’t necessary. Just snap it out of the socket and you’re good to go.
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The only addition I would make, would be to epoxy glue a 1/4" x 20 nut underneath the hole in the bottom of the cassette case. (Which is the standard size for most camera tripods.) The nut will allow you to easily disassemble the tripod and cassette for easier storage.
Also, for the camera lens hole, if you take a very large drill bit, (one that is much larger than the hole), in your hand and twist it against the hole, it will de-burr the excess slag that is remaining after burning your hole with the soldering iron, to make a cleaner hole.