Cheap And Easy Alternative To Routinely Bringing A Tripod

Down and dirty device you can use to sometimes substitute for a tripod. (click to enlarge)
The difference from what I have used in the past is the addition of the ratceting device in order to make
a loop of various lengths to provide stability in other than standing positions.

I am not one who loves using a tripod for most of my routine photography.  I always keep a couple of them in my car so if one is needed it is accessible, but I don't necessarily take one with me when I routinely get out of the car to walkabout and photograph.  It would be foolish not to take an appropriate sized tripod when photographing with a very long lens or when the light conditions require slow shutter speeds.  That is understood.  But old habits are hard to break so I looked for an inexpensive and easy way to provide stability to my camera and lens without having a tripod with me all of the time.

This eye bolt is a bit bigger than necessary, but the hardware store was
sold out of the slightly smaller ones. 

Many have written about using a cord/rope/string or twine of some sort to provide a means to exert tension on a camera to provide stability.  I have used that little trick for years. For those of you who may not be familiar with the stretched cord method of stabilizing your camera here, in a few sentences is how it works:

Cut a piece of cord about 6.5 ft. (~2m) long (longer if you are very tall; about 6" longer than your height at least)  Buy a 1/4" x 20 eye bolt (I don't know if there is a metric equivalent to that specification), to fit into your camera's tripod socket.  Tie the cord securely to the eye bolt, allowing the rest of the cord to hang free.  When you need stability, screw the eye bolt into the tripod socket, drop the loose end of the cord to the ground, then bring the camera up to your face slightly below eye level while you step on the loose end of the cord. Pull up on your camera to create tension right at eye level.  You may have to try a couple of times to get it at your exact height but it is relatively easy to get the correct position.  The tension in the cord will give you quite a bit of stability.  A slightly stretchy cord words better than one that won't stretch, in my opinion.

(A couple of things to keep in mind when using this method.  Don't screw in the eye bolt too far to potentially damage the end of your tripod socket.  To prevent that, I use the two-nut method.  I screw in the eye bolt gently all the way, then back it out a half turn. I mark that spot on the bolt then screw on a nut past that position.  I then screw a second nut on to the measured position then tighten the first nut against the second, thereby preventing either from moving accidentally.  That will prevent you from screwing the eye bolt all the way into your tripod socket and unintentionally causing damage.

The second thing to keep in mind is to not pull too, too hard on the cord.  I've never heard of damage doing so, but you never know).  Gentle tension is all you need.

Now, onto the crux of this post.

I have a little twist to the above method.  I wanted to provide additional flexibility to the system described above in case I need to kneel, sit, lie down, etc. or get into a position where I  can't easily just step on the end of the cord.  The simple method described is good for standing, but you may need to assume other positions to photograph at times.

In any variation, the device still is small enough to fit into your pocket and be out of the way when not needed.

My method employs an additional item to give me more flexibility, but just as much pocketability and stability.

First, I purchased a 1/4" X 20 eye bolt with a nut at my local hardware store.  The cost was less than $2 US.  Then I purchased the Nite Ize CamJam Cord Tightener from Amazon for a cost of $5.87 US.  You can find the cord tightener here.  I have included images of both so you can easily see what of what I am speaking.

The cord tightener comes with a cord that may be sufficient in length, depending upon your height.  You may need to buy longer cord.  The idea of using the cord tightener is to be able to change the effective length of the cord and/or turning it into a loop of cord.

Tie a double knot from the end of the cord onto the eye bolt.  Thread the other end of the cord through the cord tightener.  You can leave it like this and use it for standing as described above.  However, if you need to vary your cord length, here is what I do.

I get into position, say kneeling, and estimate how much of a loop of cord I need to reach from the bottom of my camera to the ground, with my knee through the loop.  I then clip the cord tightener to the eye bolt completing the loop.  I then can adjust the length of the loop by loosening the cord being held tightly by the ratcheting mechanism or pulling it tighter.  When the cord is just the right length, I can use my knee instead of my foot, pull the camera up to my eye, add tension and make the image. 

You can use the full length of the cord when standing straight up, putting your foot through the loop as well.  If you need to drop to your knee to make an image, you can shorten the loop to the appropriate length using the cord tightener.  If you need to sit while making your photograph, you can actually sit within the loop, the cord then coming up on both sides of you under your arms, then adjust the length of the cord with the cord tightener to have the effective cord length just long enough to bring the viewfinder to your eye.  Whatever position you need to achieve, the cord can be adjusted to alter its length to provide you with the right size to pull taught and give tension for stability.

I might be as clear as mud with this description.  I wanted to include some images of me using it in various positions, but it has been raining.  In any case, if this is of value to you, experiment before going out and trying to use it so there you have familiarity, speed and there are no surprises.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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