Kipkay's Video Tips & Tricks

Here are 5 easy and cheap tricks for anyone who uses a camcorder. Total cost for all 5 is under $10!

Step 1: Tip #1

Pick up a cheap rubber doorstop at your local hardware store or grocery store (about $2) This little handy guy works great under your camera for low floor shots. You can adjust the height of the angle just by moving the camera forward or back on the doorstop!

Step 2: Tips #2

Buy a pair of 'nude' pantyhose ($.99), or slip some off of your wife or girlfriend. After cutting a small square, you can strecth it over your lens and hold it with a rubber band. This is a great way to create a soft focus effect!

Step 3: Tip #3

Never use duct tape to hold down cables or power cords when shooting video. It makes a big mess. Here's the alternative. Scotch Blue painters tape (appox $3) works great because it is designed to hold tight and also made to be removed easily!

Step 4: Tip #4

A crooked tripod means crooked video. Unless you have a fairly expensive tripod, there's no way to tell if you are shooting level or not...until now! I found a cheap ($1.65) bubble level at my hardware store and using double sided tape, I mounted it to my tripod. Now I know what's on the level!

Step 5: Tip #5

A tripod you can put in your pocket? Pick up an eyebolt ($.35) and a length of bungee cord (also cord shock cord, $2). Make sure you get an eyebolt that has the standard thread of a camera. Either bring your camera with you or find another bolt to match the threads at the store. Tie the bungee to the bolt, screw the bolt in to the tripod mount on your camera and stand on the bungee cord! Now you have a cheap 'steadyshot'. Hope you enjoyed these 'instructable' tips! Happy shooting!