The DIY’ers at Makezine created this incredibly useful video on creating your own digitally-controlled time-lapse motion control rig.
A lot of cameras these days already come with a time-lapse function, so why not try to make the best of them with your own motion-control DIY rig?
The video below features some intermediate level DIY prowess, but can be worth it for the select few who enjoy this part of photography.
Of course, you can buy these motion-rigs off-the-shelf, but where’s the fun in that? You could use an analog kitchen timer, but this effectively restricts the direction and the frames per unit of time you could effectively use.
Pretty cool, eh? Of course, this is only $150 if you already got the important things like a drill and a drill press — which you will want for precision drilling. Believe me, it’s too easy to wreck stuff with a power drill.
But worry not! If you already own a hand drill, you can build your own drill press out of plywood. I’ve followed the demo here, by YouTube use Izzy Swan a few years backs and I was satisfied with what turned out.
The second important thing is to know how to solder. Check out this channel for more electronics tips and other soldering projects considerably more complicated than the DIY motion-control rig.
It’s not going to be easy, but this is an aspect of photography many hobbyists enjoy. If you don’t enjoy DIY or would rather spend for an off-the-shelf solution, that’s cool too!
We don’t take responsibility for any equipment on a DIY that takes a nosedive into the concrete, so proceed with caution.
A practical use of time-lapse photography
What are your thoughts on DIY photography rigs?