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There are some projects out there that you look at them and you just think “How has nobody done this sooner?!?”. This is probably not one such project, but it sure looks like a whole lot of fun!
Created by Pedro Callisaya over at DSLR DIY CNC, this one is a vertical grip for your camera that adds WiFi capabilities but also has flashing RGB lights! And best of all, he’s made all of the files available for us to make our own.
Cast your minds back. Way back. Back to September 2021. We featured some 3D-printed lens caps from Pedro at DSLR DIY CNC. Well, Pedro’s back with a new update to those 3D-printed lens caps to add new functionality.
One of the biggest problems that pretty much all of us face with lens caps is that we lose them. That’s why we 3D print replacements in the first place. But Pedro’s just modified his to make losing them much more difficult.
Videographer and Tinkerrer Pedro Callisaya just created what’s probably the cheapest four-axis motion controller (and even the basic ones don’t run cheap). He did this using a scraped 3D printer, which, to be honest, I am surprised never happened before in the modders community. (if the name sounds familiar, it’s because this is a second iteration of an ongoing project)
While the build is relatively easy for what you get, it is not the first project I would go for if I were just starting with electronics. That said, if you played with electronics a bit, this would be a fantastic weekend project to try out. You can download the project files here on a pay-what-you-think-is-fair basis.
While primarily aimed towards live streaming, products like the StreamDeck and particularly the Loupedeck Live have proven to be invaluable for photographers and filmmakers. They allow you to simulate keyboard shortcuts and potentially even talk directly to software through their own API. But such products are relatively expensive. Sure, the time they save makes up for their cost but wouldn’t it be better if there was an even cheaper alternative?
Well, thanks to Pedro at DSLR DIY CNC, there is! He designed his own “macropad” called the InfiniteDeck, based off an ESP32 with a capacitive touchscreen display that offers a very familiar interface and a very customisable system. It just plugs into your computer, emulating a keyboard and doesn’t even require any drivers.
Some of you might remember DSLR DIY CNC from last year’s post about those neat 3D printed custom lens caps. This have been pretty quiet from the since, but now they’re back and sticking to the “CNC” part of their name with a new motorised 4-axis camera slider. Four axes because one runs along the slider, two are the pan and tilt with the fourth being focus control, so you can track subjects during your move.
While there isn’t yet a complete YouTube video to go along with the build, dslrdiy (as he’s known on Instructables) has posted a teaser. He’s also posted written instructions, along with downloads for all of the code, Marlin configuration files, STL files, and instructions on how to build and customise it to your liking on Instructables.
There are a lot of 3D printed accessories out there for photography and filmmaking. One of the more popular items that people print are lens caps. There are quite a lot of different lens cap designs out there, but most of them have one big problem. They’re entirely 3D printed, including any spring mechanism to lock them onto your lens.
Depending on the material you print with, such as ABS, PETG or perhaps Nylon, this might never be a problem. But if you print with the usual PLA, this can become very weak over time as it’s used. YouTube channel DSLR CNC DIY has a solution, though, with a rugged lens cap design that uses a binder clip arm as a spring for maximum longevity.
Udi 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 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
Dave 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 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 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.
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