Ground level macro rig I built [View all]

[MichaelSoE]

I saw a video on making one of these using an old frying pan with a handle that screwed off. Since I did not have one and I didn't want to go to the second hand store in my area in an attempt to find one, I used an old cake pan I had in the closet.

I purchased a low profile ball head on amazon. Neewer Professional 35MM Low-Profile Ball Head. $29.69 US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FB2Q5RC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details



I drilled a 1/4 hole for the bolt and added stick-on bumper pads so I could also do ground level video of the cats parading around the house. The hole for the bolt is offset from center by about an inch so if I use a longer lens I won't have to worry about the center of gravity lifting the cake pan off the ground.



This is what it looks like with the camera mounted. The center of the lens is only 4 1/2 inches off the ground.



And of course I had to rush outside and try it out. A frying pan, being heavier, would be a lot more stable but I used a time release shutter setting to avoid vibration. It also afforded me the option of using low iso, small aperture for maximum depth of field and slow shutter speed. My favorite way to shoot but almost impossible being that low to the ground and hand holding.