RETURN TO HOME PAGE
WELCOME TO THE SMALL PROJECTS PAGE

SOMETIMES I DO PROJECTS THAT AREN'T LARGE OR INTERESTING ENOUGH TO DESERVE THEIR OWN DETAILED PROJECT PAGE, SO I'LL BE CATALOGUING THEM HERE INSTEAD.

LAST UPDATED: 05/NOVEMBER/2024


CONTENTS:

GROUND POD







GROUND POD PROJECT

If you want to take low-angle photos with a camera, typically you have to either rest your camera and lens on the ground, use some kind of make-shift cushion, or invert the main shaft on your tripod- none of these options are ideal and if your are using a large telephoto lens you need something sturdy to prevent unwanted movement; behold, the Ground pod, a very low-profile 'foot' that you can mount or lens or camera gimbal and lens to. You can purchase these from a few brands but they are almost comical overpriced for what is essentially a shallow plastic bowl with a mounting point in the middle. Various people have made their own versions over the years using different approaches- frying pans, pvc pipes, even 3D printed versions; I will be using an old frying pan for my version.

The construction process was quite simple, I cut the handle off of the pan and sanded the stump smooth, cut a round lump of plywood and drilled some holes in it for mounting to the pan along with a central larger hole into which I forced a 3/8" hex bolt. I used my disc sander to give this wooden disc a more pleasant shape with angled sides and screwed it to the centre of the pan leaving the 3/8" screw sticking up, onto which I screwed the camera gimbal. It's not a light assembly I must admit, but it won't tip over easily or blow away either...

TOP