{"id":42833,"date":"2026-10-19T06:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T10:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/?p=42833"},"modified":"2026-10-19T00:44:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T04:44:17","slug":"tip-jar-40-do-it-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/2026\/10\/tip-jar-40-do-it-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Tip Jar 40: Do it yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"selection
Clockwise from top blue thing, which is a silicone ice-cube tray for screws and parts, then the intervalometer with double-ended adapters (reversed so they can be easily switched in the dark,) precision screwdriver set, forceps, and lens spanner wrench with lens retaining ring<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Just about any photographer discovers, sooner or later, we simply don’t have some tool or device or accessory that would make our pursuits much easier. In far too many cases, this is equipment-related, as in, “I need a better camera\/lens\/flash unit\/tripod\/etc,” which may or may not be the case – in my experience, new purchases only solve the problem less than half of the time, or less than half of the problem, and I advise strongly towards a realistic examination of what any given purchase can and cannot<\/em> do your you before dropping a bunch of money. But there’s also the idea that we need something esoteric, specialized, or dedicated to a single specific circumstance. On occasion, someone actually makes what we need, and if we’re lucky, it can be obtained before we need it and at a price we’re willing to pay – and truth be told, far too much of photographic equipment is priced according to, ‘what the market will bear, and then some.’ Hey, we’re all professionals pulling down big contracts, it’s worth it to us, right? Yeah, I don’t know about you…<\/p>\n

It comes down to, the more we can create for ourselves, the less we spend and the more we accomplish, especially since we’re creating something dedicated to our specific needs. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes not so much, but what I’m saying here is, don’t hesitate to try. The amount of things I’ve adapted, modified, and outright created to assist in my pursuits is, well, presently uncountable, since I keep running across things I did years ago and have now taken for granted.<\/p>\n

The first recommendation is, have some simple things handy, like string, tape, small clamps, wire, and some kind of knife or cutters. These allow quick application to minor issues and occasionally major ones. Gaffer’s tape is often recommended specifically because it’s strong and doesn’t leave adhesive residue on surfaces, but it’s also much more expensive than painter’s tape, which isn’t as resistant to tearing but usually works just as well in most circumstances. A small coil of monofilament is light, easy to carry, and strong as hell, not to mention often disappearing in photos, but make sure the way you store it doesn’t allow it to unroll and tangle, because it’s also the worst for disentangling.<\/p>\n

Then there are more specific things. I mentioned last week about macro studio<\/a> items, but there are also brackets and tripod accessories, many of which can be created by combining existing adapters and such items. A lot about cameras revolves around two standards: the tripod mount and the hot shoe, and having brackets and adapters that incorporate these provides flexibility when adding accessories or extensions. While the hot shoe is a specific set of dimensions that isn’t easy to describe here, “shoe mount” is the key descriptor, and plenty of adapters can be found in this way. But tripod mounts come in two distinct sizes:<\/strong> 1\/4-20<\/strong>, the standard threading of most SLR and smaller cameras (and even binoculars,) and 3\/8-16<\/strong>, the larger size used in the base of interchangeable tripod heads and on some medium-format and large-format cameras.<\/p>\n

[What these refer to is, 1\/4 inch in shaft width, 20 pitch (threads per inch), or alternately 3\/8 inch with 16 pitch – this makes it easy to find matching bolts, nuts, or threaded rods at the hardware store for your own projects.]<\/p>\n

For such adapters and many other smaller items, shopping online on discount sites such as AliExpress.com can save a ton of money, as long as you can stand the wait for shipping from China. While many decry the quality of such sources, bear in mind that most of these items from ‘major’ manufacturers are sourced from China anyway and simply rebadged, and there’s little point in paying premium prices for a few bits of aircraft aluminum with tapped holes or specifically-sized plates. It’s still possible to get poorly-made items, and the chances are likely higher from such sources – but it can also still happen when buying ‘name-brand’ too. At the same time, brands such as Neewer, Godox, and Yongnuo offer some sophisticated and much less expensive options than the name-brands, introducing the competitive price points that have been sadly lacking for decades, as well as items that have never existed before. Do what you’re comfortable with.<\/p>\n

Being even slightly handy can expand your options as well. If you can handle drilling, shaping, and soldering, you can easily make or modify countless things to your own needs. The remote shutter release that I use came with a specific fitting for only certain Canon cameras, while others used a different fitting. Since these were all simple three-contact plugs that had the same functions, I added a stereo headphone jack and plug into the middle of the cord, and have adapters for either fitting available, able to be switched at will. Canon’s wiring is exceedingly simple:<\/strong> close two specific contacts to activate the ‘half-press’ focus and meter function, and all three to trip the shutter. I used my own homemade version<\/a> (that’s an old page) for years until it was falling apart, and I subsequently got an intervalometer used and cheap, in which case I spliced in the jack and plug needed.<\/p>\n

\"center-releaseFor nearly all lens caps now, I switched to the variety with ‘center’ releases instead of edge, and added the hook portion of hook-and-loop (Velcro) fabric to the release tabs to improve grip, allowing me to reach in and affix and remove the lens cap with the hood still attached. When shooting film, I had a two-pocket pouch – one for fresh film, one for exposed, so they were never mixed up. Tripods have all been modified as needed to not only employ quick release plates, but all the same type, and the macro flash unit<\/a> has the same attachment, so I rarely ever have to detach these plates from anything. It is at the point now where I literally do not take any photos without using something<\/em> that I’ve done myself to improve handling or work flow.<\/p>\n

Repairs.<\/strong> This is definitely a matter of what you’re comfortable with, but several of the items I presently use have been repaired when they failed, rather than obtaining a replacement. It may be complicated, or it may be a lot easier than you imagined, and typically when I tackle it, it’s a matter of “What have I got to lose?” Far too many failures stem from a loose part or a broken pin or similar and are amazingly easy to fix<\/a>, and within an hour or two you may be back in business. Definitely, a precision small screwdriver set is paramount, and some fine tools like forceps\/hemostats, tweezers, and modeling knives, but also the tools to open smutphone cases or anything that is ‘press-snapped’ together help. Also, lenses are a hell of a lot easier with a lens spanner. Pay strict attention to disassembly, including orientation, labeling all parts as you go (those daily pill holders or a case with bins for beads or screws can help hugely,) and take photos as needed before removing each part. Also, a small variety of safe lubricants breathes new life into many moving parts, but do a little research first. I discovered, years ago when working on model kits, that petroleum jelly degrades most plastics and causes them to crumble over time, so using silicone-, lithium-, or even lanolin-based lubricants is much better. Do not clean painted surfaces such as lens markings with alcohol – it can degrade the inks\/paints used.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot
3D printing.<\/strong> Okay, listen, I would never recommend buying a printer and learning how to design parts – and I would never recommend against<\/em> it, either. The learning curve is steep, especially in making your own designs, but even just the quirks and tweaks of a basic filament printer can require a lot of time to get through. All that said, the number of things<\/a> I’ve done with one is astounding<\/em>, and not just for photographic items either. If you are into model kits, crafts, wood or metal working, disassembly, repairs, or anything of a similar nature, you may well find that possessing a 3D printer is a huge boon and not that hard to figure out (plus the online resources for learning and problems is vast.) Not to mention, how high the chances are that someone has faced the exact same challenges that you are and have already<\/em> created and uploaded a design, so all you have to do is print it. This is definitely an option that, once you have it, you realize how much can be done with it. This page<\/a> features some of the strictly-photographic designs I’ve worked on and uploaded – or this one<\/a> has the complete collection (with non-photographic schtuff included.)<\/p>\n

Just so you know, I have been trained, educated, or have working experience in none<\/em> of this – my dad taught me nothing, I had only a partial semester of metal shop in high school (so long ago that I don’t think alloys had been invented yet,) none of my jobs required anything of the sort. It is 100% self-taught, and the best I can say is I got started on model kits at an early age. Some things you learn by doing, so don’t hesitate to try something on your own. Chances are it won’t be perfect at first, but stay with it and it will.<\/p>\n

Good luck!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"DSLR
Neewer video cage with extended height and addition of macro video light on articulated arm, external HDMI monitor on articulated arm, and video mic, all on a cut-down tripod for low-level\/macro work<\/figcaption><\/figure>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just about any photographer discovers, sooner or later, we simply don’t have some tool or device or accessory that would make our pursuits much easier. In far too many cases, this is equipment-related, as in, “I need a better camera\/lens\/flash unit\/tripod\/etc,” which may or may not be the case – in my experience, new purchases […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,11],"tags":[6924,100,1640,4574,8928,7586,8929,6929,8191],"class_list":["post-42833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-photo","category-reference","tag-3d-printing","tag-creativity","tag-design","tag-diy","tag-do-it-youself","tag-equipment-modifications","tag-handiness","tag-photo-accessories","tag-repairs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42833"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42846,"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42833\/revisions\/42846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wading-in.net\/walkabout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}