DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

How To Build Your Own 3D Stereo Camera

Jan 25, 2015 by Paul Richters 7 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

stereo-camera-10

If you ever thought about taking 3D photos or video you are going to love this tutorial. It is based around the oldish Ricoh GX8, but you can adapt it to any camera you desire, as long as you can trigger them remotely. The general idea is quite simple, and here is the outline for it:

Take a two digital cameras which can be triggered remotely. Make a frame for the cameras with two compartments, so they are parallel to each other. Make/buy a Y splitter so you can trigger both left and right camera simultaneously. Put the left and right image together using StereoPhoto Maker. Make your own stereo viewer and enjoy your own 3d images.

The Dimensions of the frame

  • For the outer dimensions I used my own hands and two Ricoh GX8 and a CA-1 remote control.
  • The frame is 260 mm wide and almost 175 mm height.
  • The spacing between the camera lenses is around 85 mm, and this is the distance you would have to use no matter which camera couple you are using.

Building Instructions for the frame

stereo-camera-08

  1. The dimensions of the upper and lower parts A are 12 x 27 x 260 mm.
  2. The dimensions of the four standing parts B are 18 x 27 x 150 mm.
  3. The inner dimensions are: aa = 28 mm, bb= 68 mm and cc = 92 mm.
  4. In the two inner standing parts B need a hole for the two ¼ inch camera screws.
  5. The height for the two camera screws (“tripod plates”) ab = 80 mm

Now here are some more tidbits to explain the photo to diagram relations

  • The outer-left frame (part B) also have some room for the camera release CA-1.
  • To hold everything together I used eight furniture bolts barrel nuts M6 x 45mm.
  • To actually enjoy holding the wooden frame you’ll have to round the edges. For this I used a router.
  • The mini USB port is on the side of the camera and it’s close to the lower part A. Room has to be made for the two mini USB connectors of the Y-splitter.

stereo-camera-17

Further improvements to the frame can be made (though they are not in my build)

  • A level can be added for getting horizontal horizons.
  • Four rubber feet can be added to protect the cameras when the frame is lying on a table.
  • Two angle hooks can be added for easy alignment of the cameras after changing the batteries or the left and right SD-cards.
  • Adding a third ¼ inch camera screw at the bottom of the frame the camera can be fitted on a tripod.
  • Adding a camera strap for carrying on the shoulder

stereo-camera-18

The Building Instructions for the Y-splitter

The building of the Y-splitter is trivial:

  1. Cut the two cables in two.
  2. The cable length on the two mini-USB connectors should be around 10 cm.
  3. The cable length on the female USB-connector can be around 5 cm.
  4. Remove the inner parts of the female Din loudspeaker connector.
  5. Drill a hole in the female loudspeaker connector part where the two mini-USB cables fit through.
  6. The female USB-cable fits through the other side of the connector.
  7. Assemble the Y-splitter by connecting the wires with the same colour together and isolating them with tape. The two parts of the female loudspeaker connector can now be put together again.

stereo-camera-19

Assembling

By adding the cameras, the frame, the remote release, the Y-splitter and the female mini-UB Male USB – connector together you should get your stereo camera.

stereo-camera-20

It should look something like this.

stereo-camera-09

stereo-camera-10

Creating the stereo images

With this camera you get left and right images. In order not to get confused you better mark the SD-cards with L (left) and R (right). You can use StereoPhoto Maker to create the type of 3D-image you want. I’m rather lazy so I just put them together as a 10 x 15 cm print.

stereo-camera-11

Viewing stereo print

For viewing I use a plastic “Lorgnette” Stereo-Viewer. They are really cheap, about  € 2,50.

stereo-camera-12

To make viewing easier I put the Loregnette on a frame, which can hold 10 to 20 pictures.

stereo-camera-13 stereo-camera-14 stereo-camera-15 stereo-camera-16

Here are some of the photos I made:

stereo-camera-06 stereo-camera-05 stereo-camera-04 stereo-camera-03 stereo-camera-02 stereo-camera-01

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

The Minuta Stereo is a 3D stereoscopic pinhole camera that shoots 35mm or 120 format film Build your own instant camera with a Raspberry Pi and a thermal printer How to build your own overhead camera rig How to build your own DIY orbiting camera rig with a twist

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: 3d, 3d photography, Paul Richters, ricoh

Guest Author: from diyphotography.net

About Guest Author

We love it when our readers get in touch with us to share their stories. This article was contributed to DIYP by a member of our community. If you would like to contribute an article, please contact us here.

« The Ultimate DIY Photography Editing Table
What Photographers Need To Know About Nike Being Sued For Stealing The Air Jordan Logo »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Learn photography

Recent Posts

  • Sony unveils three wireless microphones for content creators
  • This is why you should stop shooting music videos
  • First look at the Laowa Proteus Flex interchangeable flare optics
  • The Fotodiox RhinoCam Vertex shoots medium format images on L mount cameras
  • San Francisco filmmaker tracks stolen camera gear, police do nothing

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy