Photography & Video

By Mike Senese

Mike Senese

Mike Senese is the Executive Editor of Make: magazine. He is also a TV host, starring in various engineering and science shows for Discovery Channel, including Punkin Chunkin, How Stuff Works, and Catch It Keep It.

An avid maker, Mike spends his spare time tinkering with electronics, doing amateur woodworking, and attempting to cook the perfect pizza.

View more articles by Mike Senese
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Stabilize your videos with this industry-standard sized shoulder rig.
Stabilize your videos with this industry-standard sized shoulder rig.

Anyone that has done a bit of photography knows that there is almost no limit to the variety of photo gear that you can add to your kit — and also almost no limit to the costs associated with these accessories.

With an incredible variety of 3D-printable camera pieces freely available online, you can now quickly produce your own camera accessories at home, at just the cost of filament. Print your own goodies and test the gadgets reserved for seasoned pros with ample gear bags! From shoulder mounts to GoPro-hotshoe clips, we’ve dug through Thingiverse to find our favorites and list them here.

Nikon_125x125_jb1 And don’t forget to share your most creative camera creations with us in the Make: The Shot camera challenge. We want to see your coolest photo, and hear how you made it. We love everything from camera hacks to creative shooting techniques. There are only a few days left to enter to win over $3600 in prizes from Nikon, so get on it!
Enter Contest Now!

NikonMakeTheShotCameraChallenge

Mount your GoPro on top of your DSLR. Why? Why not! Get the file here.
Mount your GoPro on top of your DSLR. Why? Why not!
Get the file here.
This is for mounting a DSLR camera over a Kinect to use with the RGBDToolkit (www.rgbdtoolkit.com). Get the file here.
This is for mounting a DSLR camera over a Kinect to use with the RGBDToolkit (www.rgbdtoolkit.com).

Get the file here.

This is a cheap (~$25) table dolly for shooting DSLR video. It is made from a canabalized $20 K-Mart skateboard, a few nuts and bolts, and printed parts. Get the file here.
This is a cheap (~$25) table dolly for shooting DSLR video. It is made from a canabalized $20 K-Mart skateboard, a few nuts and bolts, and printed parts.

Get the file here.

An easy-ish conversion for the Manfrotto 3-way head to streamline taking of spherical panoramas. About 170 degrees vertical fov with samyang 8mm (corner to corner) See it in action: http://youtu.be/m-kqBCw5f4w http://youtu.be/QM9lXYVwHF0 http://youtu.be/dYxgKii06uE
An easy-ish conversion for the Manfrotto 3-way head to streamline taking of spherical panoramas.
Table stand for most DSLR microphones. Great for when you need to do off-camera audio. Get the file here.
Table stand for most DSLR microphones. Great for when you need to do off-camera audio.

Get the file here.

Most people have lost theirs. Here's an easy replacement to keep your contacts clean when not using the hot shoe. Get the file here.
Most people have lost theirs. Here’s an easy replacement to keep your contacts clean when not using the hot shoe.

Get the file here.

A hood to keep out unwanted outdoor light from your LCD that could be easily attached to a Canon 7D DSLR camera. Get the file here.
A hood to keep out unwanted outdoor light from your LCD that could be easily attached to a Canon 7D DSLR camera.

Get the file here.

You know how you never know where you put your lens cap? This solves that. Get the file here.
You know how you never know where you put your lens cap? This solves that.

Get the file here.

The mic holder fits and screws onto microphone stand and camera hot shoe mounts well, adjust with light sanding as required. Get the file here.
The mic holder fits and screws onto microphone stand and camera hot shoe mounts well, adjust with light sanding as required.

Get the file here.

If you have one tripod and a few cameras, you'll want a few of these. Get the file here.
If you have one tripod and a few cameras, you’ll want a few of these.

Get the file here.

Quick and easy way to shoot photo or video(or hold a shotgun mic) in a dimly lit situation. Flashlight/mic diameter : 1" (25mm) See it in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dizPyB-86CA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14C8Mj_G99M Get the file here.
Quick and easy way to shoot photo or video(or hold a shotgun mic) in a dimly lit situation.
Flashlight/mic diameter : 1″ (25mm)

Get the file here.

Keep your camera fixed to your waist's belt with an easy access to grab it any time. Get the file here.
Keep your camera fixed to your waist’s belt with an easy access to grab it any time.

Get the file here.

Get the file here. "I wanted to use my old Nikon D40 kit camera's lens with my new Sony NEX-5R so I could have totally mechanical focus, zoom, and aperture control. After a few iterations, this is what I've come up with as an adapter. No clean up or supports required! Print it in PLA and plug the bits together. To attach the Nikon lens, line up the little white dot on the lense with the L shaped indent on this adaptor ring, then screw it in anticlockwise."
Get the file here.

“I wanted to use my old Nikon D40 kit camera’s lens with my new Sony NEX-5R so I could have totally mechanical focus, zoom, and aperture control. After a few iterations, this is what I’ve come up with as an adapter. No clean up or supports required! Print it in PLA and plug the bits together. To attach the Nikon lens, line up the little white dot on the lense with the L shaped indent on this adaptor ring, then screw it in anticlockwise.”

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By Mike Senese

Mike Senese

Mike Senese is the Executive Editor of Make: magazine. He is also a TV host, starring in various engineering and science shows for Discovery Channel, including Punkin Chunkin, How Stuff Works, and Catch It Keep It.

An avid maker, Mike spends his spare time tinkering with electronics, doing amateur woodworking, and attempting to cook the perfect pizza.

View more articles by Mike Senese