Need some lens hoods? Paul Mutton has provided free lens hoods at his website. The site offers PDF documents that can be printed and cut out to make lens hoods for a variety of 35mm and digital SLR camera lenses. These hoods are not just free but they even fold back up to make them easier to carry around.

What you need to do is just look up your Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, or Tokina lens, then download and open the PDF documents available, print it out at 100% size, cut and curled it up to form a circular hood shape and slap it on.

Here’s a nice and simple guide on how you can make your own shutter release for your Canon DSLR cameras. Materials and tools that you’ll need:

(1) One - 3/32” Stereo Audio Plug (MUST BE STEREO, NOT MONO)
(2) One – Small Toggle Switch
(3) Two – Momentary Switches (SET TO OPEN)
(4) Wire – Small Gauge Insulated wire w/ at least 3 insulated wires within the main outer insulation. (I used 20’ basic telephone wire and only used 3 of the 4 wires in it.) (length depends on how long you would like your shutter release to reach.)
(5) Wire – Small gauge scrap wire, for wiring switches
(6) One – Project housing or Something to mount your switches on

[source]

>> RELATED POST

- Pentax Hack: DSLR Shutter Release Cable

Eagleapex has written a neat post at Instructables explaining how he made a shutter release cable for his Pentax DSRL camera from hands-free cell phone kit. Here’s a list of materials and tools that you need:

To keep this on the cheap, I kept it minimal. The most expensive item was the hands-free phone kit; on sale for $10.
(1) Hands-free cell phone kit (IMPORTANT: The DSLRs take a 3/32″ stereo plug. See the picture for details.)
(2) Momentary buttons (two colors)
(1) Mini micro switch
(1) Enclosure, for me a wonderfully ironic 35mm film canister
extra wire tape

[source]

>> RELATED POST

- Canon Hack: DSLR Shutter Release Cable

This video tutorial will show you how to make an infrared filter for your digital camera out of bits and pieces such as cardboard rolls, electrical tape, and some black processed photographic film (old negatives). The video also shows you how to test your camera for IR capability, suggests some of the settings you should use, and shows some IR photographs.

Reedzilla has posted a nice step-by-step guide on how to make a quick, effective photography studio backdrop mount for around $10.

Supplies needed:
(1) 10′ length of 1.25″ PVC pipe. $4
(1) 1.25″ PVC coupling. $0.50
(2) 1.25″ PVC endcaps (optional). $0.67 ea
(4-6) links of smallish chain. I used #12 jackchain which I had lying around so this was free, or you can buy a package of it for around $5
(2) 1/8″ S-hooks. $1.99 for a pack of 6
(2) small eyescrews (the eyes of the ones I used are around 0.5″). $0.99 for a box of 6
(2) large eyescrews (the eyes of the ones I used are around 1″). $0.99 for a box of 2

Read More…>>

C4l3b has posted a step-by-step guide on how to make a 11 dollar collapsable monopod.

Here’s a list of stuff that you’d need to buy;

” 2 pipes, 1 joiner, 2 end caps, 1 1/4 inch bolt, long enough to go through an end cap and thread into the camera. 3 nuts to secure the bolt, 1 huge washer to help steady the camera when connected. My total was 10$ something.”

Read more…>>

Need a tripod/monopod but can’t afford one?.. or you simply don’t want the extra weight of a tripod? Kearney has posted some tips on how you can use lightweight cane or walking stick to replace your tripod/monopod;

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Pcapelo has written a step-by-step guide explaining how he turns a KDS Valiant 6480iPTD. A 14.1″ p3 800mhz, 512Mb 20Gb HD laptop into a dream digital picture frame;

“I was planning to install the motherboard “inside” the frame, but i also want be able to use the dvd-rom, pcmcia, speakers, microphone, network , etc., so i had to make some kind of support. For now I decide work with aluminum for the supports. next version i will use acrylic (lexan). “

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Aeshir has posted a great step-by-step guide on how you can set your camera to automatically transfer pictures to your computer running on Windows XP.
So here’s what you need to do first..

Step 1. Open Camera Properties
Go to the Camera Properties, either by going to “My Computer” and right-clicking on it and clicking “Properties”, or by going directly to the camera drive and opening the properties window from there.

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mr2monster has posted a step-by-step guide on how you can make yourself a cheap softbox. Materials he used: Ouside flood light kit, Replacement tent pole kit, Black Duct tape, White material i found at wal mart, Black wal mart material, 5/16 wooden dowl, 20 foot extension chord, Heavy duty male universal plug, Grommet Kit for making tarps and such.

>> Go to DIY Softbox @ Instructables