Although this is the lighting thread, I thought I'd be neat to share some DIY techniques we all use for photos.

I recently made a strap for my tripod with an old gym bag sling strap and a carabinier for my manfrotto. Once I removed the stopper in the center column and slid in the beaner, I just clipped the strap into the top section designed for it at the top of the column, and clipped into the beaner at the bottom. Its pretty handy, and I didn't have to fork out $50 for the manfrotto strap either.

More money for lights? I think so.

I have a light/tripod crossover - rubber stoppers for the ends of chair legs. Not only do they serve well as feet for tripods, but stick an appropritely-sized one on the end of your light, and it'll stand far more easily than otherwise.



Also, screw a cuphook or similar into the top, and you suddenly have an easy way to hang the thing up. Works especially well if the light is diffused, and you aren't too worried about which way it's facing.

Posted by metawaffle I have a light/tripod crossover - rubber stoppers for the ends of chair legs. Not only do they serve well as feet for tripods, but stick an appropritely-sized one on the end of your light, and it'll stand far more easily than otherwise. http://www.uer.ca/...ic/norm/104161.jpg Also, screw a cuphook or similar into the top, and you suddenly have an easy way to hang the thing up. Works especially well if the light is diffused, and you aren't too worried about which way it's facing.

I actually need to get stoppers for my two tripods, they both are missing a foot ;). I don't think it can fit on all my lights however. Off to the hardware store tmw!

Posted by Air 33 I recently made a strap for my tripod with an old gym bag sling strap and a carabinier for my manfrotto. Once I removed the stopper in the center column and slid in the beaner, I just clipped the strap into the top section designed for it at the top of the column, and clipped into the beaner at the bottom. Its pretty handy, and I didn't have to fork out $50 for the manfrotto strap either.

I'm not sure how you did the carabiner thing, did you remove the piece that clicks in which you can mount your head to if you remove the center column and then clip the biner into the hole that the mount snaps in to?

Posted by digital_me I'm not sure how you did the carabiner thing, did you remove the piece that clicks in which you can mount your head to if you remove the center column and then clip the biner into the hole that the mount snaps in to?

Yeah there is a clip (on one of my tripods) that clips into two holes on the center column. I removed that and had to find a skinny biner I grabbed off a key chain lanyard that I snapped in. This prevents the column (obviously) from coming out -- and also provides the obvious clip for the sling to clip on to. It doesn't make any noise either. I just thought it would be stupid to pay $45 for a 'manfrotto' sling when I had everything lying around to make it.

I can take a few images tmw.

Posted by Air 33 Yeah there is a clip (on one of my tripods) that clips into two holes on the center column. I removed that and had to find a skinny biner I grabbed off a key chain lanyard that I snapped in. This prevents the column (obviously) from coming out -- and also provides the obvious clip for the sling to clip on to. It doesn't make any noise either. I just thought it would be stupid to pay $45 for a 'manfrotto' sling when I had everything lying around to make it. I can take a few images tmw.

I found this http://lightingmod...ive-strap-mod.html

Is that similar to yours Air?

Posted by rob666 I found this http://lightingmod...ive-strap-mod.html Is that similar to yours Air?

I guess you could do that but the zap strap can easily break. Mine is attached to a slot at the top by the head (which is meant for their strap), but its kind of thin. It just so happens my strap fit through, so at the bottom of the column I just needed something else to hook it into.

I also have a small crappy led light tapped onto my tripod which is useful in drains to find one's way back.

Apologies for the quality of the images...I realize the irony inherent in the fact that I am posting images of a Manfrotto taken on a cellphone camera. I don't have a real digital camera though.

So I did much like Air did for the top:



I tried just putting the strap through with the small head mount removed:



But I decided that I like having the small head mount for those times when I want to go minimalistic, so I'm going to try this:



Which has a ring zip tied to the center column in between the end of the head mount and the little release button so it can't slide much. I am a little concerned about the zip tie, but I have used these things to fix everything imaginable, and these are "industrial strength" to boot. We'll see. If it falls a little, eh, it is a Manfrotto. It will keep fighting. What a stud.

Here's my rig , I use an old le grip ski strap thing with velcro that wraps around the legs and head.

Apart from the completely visible and attracting fluorescent green colour,
it works great.