This 3D-printed low-profile tripod gets your camera inches from the ground

Sometimes, you really need to get a camera low down to the ground. Maybe you want something to ride over your camera, or you just want a low-down shot looking upwards to add drama to your scene. This can be difficult – or impossible – with regular tripods.

This is an interesting 3D-printed solution from YouTuber Chris Borge to let him mount his camera close to the ground and other surfaces. It’s still technically a “tripod”, but perhaps not quite the kind of tripod you’re used to.

Why do you want a camera this low?

Getting a camera low down to the ground can be a great way to add some context and drama to a scene that a camera on a normal tripod can’t achieve. It allows you to get some unique shots, and if you’re filming smaller critters and bugs, it can be invaluable.

There are tripods that will let you get very low down to the ground. I have one myself that I bought specifically for this purpose. It’s the Leofoto Ranger LS223CEX ($159). I got this one because it has a built-in mini levelling base that I can put my SliderMini 2 on (buy here).

Mini tripods like these, though, are ridiculously expensive for their size, however. I got this because it was the only small tripod I could find that opened up almost completely flat and had a levelling base on top. This lets me get the camera as low as possible to the ground.

Except, Chris’ 3D printed one gets it even lower!

3D printing to the rescue

Chris’ solution looks even more versatile than that $159 Leofoto tripod. It allows you to get even lower to the ground, with adjustable legs and a foot on the other end to help keep things level to the horizon. But you’re able to tilt things up and down without the need for a separate ball head – getting your camera even lower.

As well as letting you get lower, it also doesn’t have as big of a footprint as a mini tripod. This means you can more easily place your camera in small gaps and holes that a tripod wouldn’t be able to fit into. Of course, commercial options are available, like the Platypod lineup ($65-149), but these, too, are more expensive than a 3D print – if you already own or know somebody with a 3D printer.

And if you have access to a 3D printer, this one’s pretty inexpensive to make. It just requires some filament and a few pieces of hardware.

• 2x 8mm ID rubber o ring
• 6x M4 nuts
• 6x 50mm M4 bolts
• 2x M8 nuts
• 1x 70mm length M8 threaded rod, or 1x 70mm M8 bolt
• 2x 100mm M10 bolts OR M10 rod (rod is the better option, but bolts are easier to find)

Total cost should be around $10-20, depending on the availability of metric hardware where you live. This includes the cost of the filament.

If you don’t already have a 3D printer, this might be just the excuse you need to get one. I’ve been subscribed to Chris’ channel on YouTube for about three years now, and he has many other great 3D printing videos on there to help you learn and give you some ideas for things to make.

Along with the build video above, Chris has made the files available to download for free on Printables. So, if you’ve always wanted a super low-profile tripod to mount your camera to, now’s your chance to make one yourself.