DIY Equipment

[Dawn.Calinski]

Just wondering what other people have made in terms of DIY equipment and accessories ie backdrops, stands, etc. It's great having professional equipment but sometimes even the simplest of things can be put together to make a great backdrop, light source, stand, etc.

 

[WelshNoob]

Hardest is a Merlin type steadycam. Easiest a diffuser idea I came across on the net. http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Gary-Fong-Lightsphere/

 

[kendo1]

Like this?
DSC00697 by kendo1111, on Flickr

For this:
Contax 139 by kendo1111, on Flickr

Just mucking about one day.

 

[Dawn.Calinski]

@kendo1 That's a great setup and a great photo. Used to have the same gorilla pod until it went walkabout.

 

[TheBigYin]

ah, the old DIY lightboxes...


Lightbox Rig by The Big Yin, on Flickr

and the output...


Small Fixie by The Big Yin, on Flickr


I also made a DIY Panoramic head for my old tripod - not strictly "on topic" in the lighting section though...

Panoramic Head by The Big Yin, on Flickr

 

[Steve Smith]

No accessories but I have made a couple of cameras.


Steve.

 

[beyond the blue]

My DIY ringlight.

 

[MatthewP]

So I just registered and saw this thread, which is pretty cool as I'm really into DIY stuff, so I'll make it my first post (hi!)

DIY Ring light... more complicated than beyond the blue's I guess, but worth sharing I thought.

While it's more useful for video, I've actually been using it for photography more (I've still yet to mod it into a flash yet, but it'll be BRIGHT when I do!).

I actually made it as a how-to guide on my youtube channel, if any of you are interested in building one:

 

[Carlh]

I have just ordered these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006H20VOK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009X91ZXA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

basically, 3 strip lights (500mm) so nearly a metre in length, plus 5 link leads which allow me to do what Aaron does in Phlearn from a tutorial. Its not the same lights, but an equivalent for us in the UK by spending 20 minutes searching through fluorescent lighting on amazon. Cost of it all, under £50.

The reason I bought 5 link lights, is that two will link the lights together over a metre or so space and I have 3 additionals to space the third light much further away. I may end up buying another link lead or two (£3.62 each to space out the lights a little farther). Free delivery too.

I have been wanting to do something similar for a while and although I do already have some cheap continuous lighting, they do produce a fair bit of heat, whereas these should be a lot better.

There are a number of other uses I could put these lights to as well. Hopefully these will work out well.

 

[Steve Smith]

http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/pano612.html

Steve.