Tripods already come with a set of legs, so why not give them a set of arms, too? If you shoot video, and particularly interviews, you’ll know the hassle of having to setup a bunch of stands for a couple of lights and your microphone. The SquidRig plans to solve that by adding three arms right onto your tripod. It’s a bit like a grown-up version of the Gorillapod Octopus.
Make a DIY smartphone GorillaPod from stuff you have at home
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GorillaPod is a handy little tripod that can make your life easier on various occasions. And in this video, COOPH has an idea for making your own. You most likely already have all these items and tools at home. But even if you don’t, it will cost you a couple of bucks to get them and make your own DIY GorillaPod.
Make a DIY low-angle quadpod under $20
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I love low angle photography! It brings fresh and unusual angles that makes your pictures stand out. You can buy Platypod for this purpose but I didn’t want to spend $100 on a chunky piece of metal. This site have many suggestions for do-it-yourself low angle stands including a frying pan. Good luck taking it on your trip. Here is a super low angle solution under $20. In addition, in my opinion, it is more stable, probably lighter and more compact then Platypod.
The Lumapod is the fastest but oddest looking tripod you ever saw
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I see a lot of new products come through my inbox. There are a lot of people out there right now really pushing to try to create something new and interesting. Something that makes us rethink everything we thought we knew about a particular type of product or process. They don’t always work, but sometimes something comes along that challenges the norm.
I’m not suggesting that the new Lumapod tripod sits in one particular camp or the other, though. I’d have to try one before I could make any kind of judgement. But it definitely looks a little strange. It packs up into what looks like a giant minimalist light sabre handle. But when you open it up, it’s a monopod with feet… and string.
The Steadify claims to replace all your tripods and monopods
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This is an odd one, and I’m curious what you guys think. When I first saw this, I thought “that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen”, but a couple of friends said it looks quite useful to them. The more I thought about it, I could see potential uses. But some of the claims made in the Steadify’s Kickstarter campaign are a little off-base.
The first of those being that it is “the first wearable stabilizer”. You can see what they mean by “wearable stabilizer” from the photo above. But that not really true, as this idea’s been floating around for years (and you can find similar for about a third of that price on eBay).
The flattest tripod in the world – Platypod
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Here is one of the weirdest products we’ve seen. It’s called the Platypod, and it’s the world flattest tripod. The Platypod is a small flat metal plate that hs a few features that makes it a pretty cool device if you don’t require the height of a tripod. Actually for some low-profile uses, it even better than a tripod.
Create cinematic shots with just a tripod and a camera strap
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When I was in college in the early 2000s, I still vividly remember how much I had to improvise to make my shots look like a real movie. Back when sliders and gimbals still weren’t available to the masses, we had to create makeshift rigs with PVC pipes and ride skateboards for tracking shots.
Of course, a lot has changed since then. These days, even amateur filmmakers now have access to all sorts of accessories online to achieve cinematic shots. However, I think it’s still important to instill in people the value of DIY ethos in filmmaking. You can’t always bring a carload of gear to every location, so learning how to shoot quality footage with minimal equipment will benefit you in this line of work.
Chairpod is a tripod that doubles as a chair, and it’s brilliant. Or not
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We’ve seen some funny photography-related products before. The latest one we’ve stubmbled upon has been introduced by Japanese tripod manufacturer Velbon. Is it a tripod? Is it a chair? Well, it’s actually both. If you want to stabilize both your camera and your butt, Velbon is soon to launch Chairpod, a tripod that doubles as a folding chair.
Zion National Park bans tripods for photography workshops
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Zion National Pak has introduced updated rules for photographers and their faithful companions – tripods. From now on, if you are shooting as a part of a photography workshop, you won’t be allowed to use a tripod on any trail within the park.
First look at Manfrotto Nitrotech N12 video head
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Manfrotto recently released two new video heads, the Nitrotech N8, and the Nitrotech N12. Those are high-load video heads which support 0-8kg and 4-12kg respectively.
What is interesting about those heads is their counterbalance mechanism. Unlike lower-end heads, these heads have a nitrogen gas piston for counterbalance. We looked at the Nitrotech N8 and it supports quite a load (up to 8kg). The head provides continuous counterbalance power. This means that when you let go of the handle, the head keeps its position as if it was locked in place.
There are two models in the Nitrotech family:
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