3D Printing Camera Gear & Accessories
Camera gear and accessories have a tendency to break the bank. As a teacher or student, working within a small budget forces you to compromise on the type of gear you afford. When you’re working with a tight budget, you can 3D print camera gear and accessories instead!
3D printing has come a long way since the little novelty items of yesteryear. Now, you can create things like organizational tools, lens caps, mounts, focus units, and shoulder rigs. Purchase a 3D printer for $400 and save yourself a fortune on the gear.
Of course, 3D printed camera gear isn’t the end-all-be-all, and you’ll eventually want to graduate to professional gear. 3D printing is a great solution to give yourself or your students experience with the form factor of professional gear while you’re still bound by a shoestring budget.
Stream Semester has done the research and compiled some community-based and open-source designs that you can easily 3D print. We work hard to provide you with cost-effective solutions to complex problems. The list starts with simple prints and moves toward more complex. These are open-source files which means they are okay to use as long as you don’t try to sell the parts to make a profit without notifying the creator first.
Organizational Tools
Staying organized and keeping your equipment in good condition will save you money, time, and sanity. This Swiss Army Style SD Holder keeps your SD cards and flash memory safe when transporting or storing. Similarly, you can also try this SD Card Organizer that mimics a drawer design. There is also this cylindrical Screw design that is compact and very easy to make.
Lens Caps
Losing rear lens caps is a pain when you are trying to switch lenses in between shots, and makes it hard to protect your gear when it's in storage. Next time you lose a lens cap, don’t worry - you can 3D print some of the most popular lens cap models and sizes.
Nikon F-Mount rear lens cap
Small Table Tripod
A small tripod can be useful for when you are doing small shorts, talking heads, or need a compact way to keep your camera steady on the go. This compact camera tripod allows you to stabilize your camera at your desired angle with a few extra nuts and bolts you likely have lying around. This tripod is really useful for smaller cameras and is designed to be collapsable. This is ideal for time-lapse as well.
Glidecam and Gimbals
If you are feeling like a challenge, the Kontinuum Glide | The 3D-printable glidecam from KontinuumLAB fits the bill. This glidecam allows you to create stabilized shots that take you from shaky hands to smooth shots like the professionals. Print a few parts to substantially increase your rig’s stability. Although assembly requires a little bit of knowledge, there are extensive instructions and informational videos on how to assemble and balance your camera to the Kontinuum Glide.
If you are looking for something that is more straightforward, you can try this Simple and sturdy camera gimbal. If you follow the instructions and get just a few added parts, you can print yourself the steadicam of champions. It works well and is super fun to use.
Follow Focus Solutions
If you are ready to take the leap into manual focus, this follow focus system is a great way to keep things smooth. The Ultimate Follow Focus design is one of the simplest ways to focus your lens and minimize shake. You literally zip-tie the printed product to your lens. No matter where you are in your video or film career, learning how to properly focus makes an amateur shot look dynamic and interesting. This design can work with all types of lenses.
For a more advanced follow focus system, you can try the Geared Follow Focus System by Marcus Wolschon. This design is very accurate and on par with some low-grade professional systems. While the print takes more effort, it is worth it for the smooth focus and money you’ll save on beginning handheld follow focus rigs. It clamps onto a camera rail system and adapts to nearly any rig.
Ultimate Shoulder Rig and Follow Focus System
DSLR Camera system - 15/14mm - Shoulder rig config is an inexpensive alternative to a professional shoulder rig if you need something quick for an upcoming shoot. Although the creator says there is still room for improvement, as of now, it is functional.
You don’t have to print the whole design either. You can just print the mounts and add the rails which will allow you to add any focus system and other accessories to your rig or your tripod setup.
Be A Mad Scientist and Start Printing!
If you have access to a 3D printer either at your school, through a friend, or you own one yourself, don’t hesitate to start experimenting with making camera gear and accessories. You can print some great beginning products to help you hone your craft, and the best part is, it requires minimal capital.