This Affordable 3D-Printed Tripod Gets You Low to the Ground
A new wedge-shaped 3D-printed tripod lets photographers and videographers place their cameras just centimeters above the ground, ensuring they can get dynamic low-angle shots without breaking the bank.
Designer Chris Borge has grown tired of using rocks to prop up his camera when creating low-to-the-ground shots, a frustrating experience many outdoor and nature photographers are undoubtedly familiar with. His solution is fascinating: a 3D-printed tripod design that can be assembled at home.
Borge’s novel triangular “tripod” acts as a wedge to secure a person’s camera, which can be adjusted using hinges built using parts easily found at a typical hardware store, like nuts and bolts. Borge hopes the days of having to sacrifice stability or a level horizon for the sake of achieving this perspective are gone.
“Shots this low down have a lot of depth and detail that makes for more interesting storytelling,” Borge explains in his YouTube video.
Tripods with legs that fold flat and stabilizer saddles can be found at most camera stores but typically cost a lot of money for their size and what they do — something Borge notes for his viewers.
“Not only are they expensive, they don’t really get that low down,” he adds.
His tripod design is not only lower to the ground than most commercially available solutions, but its compact design allows photographers to find more engaging camera placements that tripods with a larger footprint prevent.
PetaPixel has previously covered unique solutions for photographers or videographers wanting their camera low to the ground, like the Platypod Pro or newer Platypod eXtreme released in 2022. Borge’s design, however, adds an extra element that shooters on a budget would be interested in — it can be 3D-printed at home for a fraction of the price.
Borge has made his 3D design files for the main platform component available online to purchase and download on Printables.
Per DIY Photography, the total cost of Borge’s clever “tripod” should be under $20, including the price of the files and filament.
People often say things can never be cheap, fast, and easy. However, with this tripod, when finding the right tool for that specific low shot, maybe things can check all three boxes.
Image credits: Header image by Chris Borge
