Reader Project: Camera Gunstock
By Sean O'Hara
Reader Goblirschrolf wanted a gunstock mount for his Minolta Maxxum 9000 and 400mm tele lens, but he didn’t want to spend a lot of cash for it. Camera gunstocks used to be pretty big twenty or thirty years ago but can be a touch hard to find now. A little time in the shop and a foot or two of electrical tape later Goblirschrolf wound up with this rig.
Some might ask, “Can’t you just go buy one?” Yes, yes you can, but that’s missing the point. This stock is custom-fit for its purpose, and Goblirschrolf probably had a lot of fun fashioning it. Plus he can freak out old people if he flashes it real fast and looks suspicious — that makes it all worthwhile.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]
May 6th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Bringing a camera to a gun fight? Thats a new one…I’d love to see this guy take this around the Nation Mall in D.C..
May 6th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Yeah, I would say you would need to be exceedingly careful about using this in certain circumstances, given the propensity of some law-enforcement officials to over-react to normal camera use, the possibility of this being mistaken for a weapon might lead to….difficulties. Have fun, but be aware that not everyone is sensible or reasonable.
May 6th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Since most often the main use for something like this is photographing animals in the wild (think “African Safari”), I don’t think he’s too worried about irritating anyone in Law Enforcement.
May 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Yes, but how do you fit it into the camera bag?
May 6th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I love it! It has a Doc Brown Back to the Future vibe.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Use this in New York City and you will be shot by the police.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I know this is ‘custom fit’ and everything, but wouldn’t it make more sense to start with an existing rifle stock from some bolt rifle and put the screw mounts in the bed? because then, not only do you have a mostly-done, already ergonomic mounting method, you can also “aim” the camera like a rifle, if it’s done correctly, and on top of that, you’d have a much lower profile- it would be much easier to carry around.
not to mention you could put a bi-pod on the front and a monopod on the back for some real extreme long-range shots.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I’ve seen something similar a guy made out of some aluminum crutches he found on the side of the road. Gave him a nice lightweight mount that didn’t look so gun-y
May 6th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
If you want to steady your camera when shooting with a long lens try a monopod:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopod
It’s worked for professionals for years, and it doesn’t make you look like a sniper.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
A monopod is a good idea, more stable than a gunstock mount and less likely to cause problems in urban areas. I had one a few years ago called Cam Cane - It was a walking stick with a round plastic ball on top, that mated to a rubber cup you screwed into the camera 1/4″/20 thread. It was very handy, but mine rusted out (salt water photography, hard on the equipment) and I have not found a replacement. Too bad, great idea, you had most of the stability of a monopod and more speed and flexibility.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:12 am
If aliens ever visit us they will be wielding devices like this, which we will mistake for guns and blow them to smithereens. Perhaps it has already happened…
May 7th, 2009 at 1:17 am
On the topic of monopods, I don’t know why there aren’t any tripods with 1 detachable leg that served as a monopod. My center column detaches near the top for low level shooting and can even rotate horizontal. Take that, make 1 leg unscrewable. Monopod.
May 7th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Another way to steady a camera that has intrigued me for some time is one of those steady cam arrangements. You can spend a lot of cash to buy a pro model, or you can build one yourself much less expensively:
$14 Steadycam The Poor Mans Steadicam
http://steadycam.org/
StabilizerFLEX Official Site
http://www.stabilizerflex.com/
Improved Steadicam for under 40 dollars! Also boom mic attachment!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Improved-Steadicam-for-under-40-dollars!-Also-boom/
May 7th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
There were several “birdwtaching” lenses that came with accessory stocks. The Kilfitt 600mm lense sported one:
http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/Kilfitt%20page.htm
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
[...] credits: Goblirschrolf/Toolmonger, Count Zero, geocities user [...]