It’s no secret that good photography doesn’t require top-of-the-line equipment (just a top-of-the-line photographer). That said, many camera accessories and add-ons can improve the quality of your photos and videos. However, photography accessories don’t always come cheap.
With more and more photography brands slapping a premium fee on their products, it can be challenging to budget accordingly. Fortunately, resourceful and creative problem solvers are designing their own camera gear and accessories for 3D printing and making it accessible for others. From backpack mounts to lens cap holders, you can 3D print almost any camera accessory or gear you can’t find anywhere else.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best 3D printed camera accessories that we think will help you get the perfect shot. If you don’t have the means to print your own camera gear, you can always try Craftcloud. You’ll have the pick of the litter when it comes to materials, colors, and finishes!
4th Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
The image stabilization on a 3-axis motorized gimbal is truly impressive, but it doesn’t compensate for vertical movement from the operator running or walking. This periodic motion is shown in the video quite clearly, and it’s not pleasant. Luckily, ScottyMakesStuff has designed the perfect DIY solution.
This 4th-axis stabilizer is primarily made up of 3D printed parts, and with the help of some hefty springs and bearings, it can hold rigs up to 4.5 kg. The full gimbal assembly is screwed on top of the stabilizer. The user then quickly calibrates the spring tension and dampening effect to adjust for the carried weight.
A set of accessories can be mounted on the two handles, and the whole kit can fold to fit into a backpack. You can print the whole set in PLA, with some key pieces made out of stronger PETG or PC. The author has posted a few videos detailing how to assemble and use the stabilizer if you’re looking for pointers.
- Who designed it? ScottyMakesStuff
- How printable/popular is it? This project has 3 posted makes and over 20,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Camera Backpack Mount
If there’s one combination that makes photographers stressed, it’s camera gear and hiking. The need to have your camera in arm’s reach to quickly snap a picture goes hand in hand with the fear of having your lens bounce around and hit something.
This backpack mount is here to calm the spirits. Thanks to its sturdy design and locking mechanisms, even the heaviest camera body will stay safe and supported. The printed parts are made out of PLA sliced with four perimeters. Some metal sheets and hardware are used to reinforce the most vulnerable points and create a spring-loaded locking pin.
- Who designed it? tonpa888
- How printable/popular is it? There are 8 posted makes and over 1,000 downloads so far.
- Where to find it? Printables
Motorized Camera Slider
A motorized camera slider is one of the best intermediate Arduino projects available. At its core, it’s essentially a stepper motor moving a carriage up and down a rail at a fixed speed. Given the relative ease of construction, there are plenty of pre-made designs to choose from, so don’t hesitate to look around.
We’ve chosen a design that incorporates advanced features at an affordable cost. This specific model has Wi-Fi capabilities and can be remotely controlled via a web browser. The project does require a custom PCB and some soldering, but the board files and code are included in the GitHub repository, and the author created a detailed build guide to walk you through all the steps.
The printed parts need to be sliced in an Arachne-compatible slicer (like Prusaslicer 2.5 or Cura 5) and printed in ASA, PETG, or ABS but not in PLA.
- Who designed it? Sebastian
- How printable/popular is it? The project has more than 120 likes and 20 comments, with 1 posted make.
- Where to find it? Printables
Lens Cap Holder
This handy print-in-place lens cap holder will save you (and your lenses) a lot of headaches. Instead of popping the cap off and putting it in a pocket or on a surface where you may forget it, simply attach it to the camera strap. There’s no need to use additional hardware or brainpower to avoid losing this crucial piece of equipment.
The part is compatible with caps 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Users suggest printing at 100% infill and standard 0.2-mm layer height, in PLA or ASA for increased UV resistance.
- Who designed it? HarryDalster
- How printable/popular is it? The holder has been downloaded over 2,100 times, with 1 documented make.
- Where to find it? Cults
Shoulder Rig
The most recognizable piece of gear for video makers is surely the shoulder rig. Practical, modular, and maneuverable, this accessory allows for incredibly smooth shots while providing freedom of movement. Unfortunately, they also tend to cost quite a lot for what’s essentially two rods, a shoulder pad, and a camera mount.
User flummer came to the rescue for filmmakers on a budget with his compact yet effective DSLR shoulder rig. Since it’s made of two standard 15 mm rods, it’s fully compatible with SmallRig accessories and similar add-ons. The nuts and bolts fixing the handle and mounts need to be purchased, but the rest of the assembly can be printed from PLA or PETG. The creator recommends purchasing a camera mount too, just for the increased safety factor.
- Who designed it? flummer
- How printable/popular is it? This shoulder rig has been built 17 times and remixed 13 times, with more than 10,300 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
LiftPod
This multipurpose tripod will make your camera bag lighter by combining three accessories in one. It can act as a tripod, a tilt head, and a camera arm simultaneously. The mounting system supports small DSLR cameras as well as smartphones and comes with plenty of gadgets and adapters for different uses.
Given its modular nature, you can print it as tall or as short as you want (as long as it holds the weight). A few nuts and bolts are needed to lock the position. These can either be printed or bought at a hardware store. Liftpod can be printed out of PLA with no supports, four perimeters, and at least 35% infill.
- Who designed it? HeyVye
- How printable/popular is it? The Liftpod has been downloaded more than 46,500 times, and Thingiverse alone hosts 38 makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Motorized Camera Gimbal
Compact tripod gimbals are expensive but rather simple at their core. Two motors move a camera in a tilt and pan motion at slow speeds, while possibly also sliding on a separate motorized rail (like the one above). This piece of equipment is usually meant for time-lapse photography, as it adds motion to an otherwise still perspective. It’s also extremely helpful for those shots that need repeatable camera moves, like overlapping several sequences and composing them on a single timeline.
The author suggests using a wall width of 1-2 mm and using supports when needed. The whole assembly is held together by a few screws and Epoxy resin. It’s recommended to print the pinion gear with high-strength polymers like ASA or nylon. Alternatively, you can buy it in metal form.
- Who designed it? fhuable
- How printable/popular is it? It boasts 1,400 downloads and more than 46,400 views on Cults alone, along with 10,000 downloads and 6 makes on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Cults, Thingiverse
Flash Diffuser
This handy universal flash diffuser is designed to work on several cameras with built-in flash. The dual material part is printed in a single run by doing a filament change between semi-clear and black filament. It’s not limited to a single manufacturer or camera lineup, as it can be mounted on most pop-up flashes that are so common on DSLRs.
The author hasn’t specified which transparent filament is needed, so you can experiment with different gradients of translucency to find the best results.
- Who designed it? JakubKoci
- How printable/popular is it? The model, designed by a Prusa employee, has been downloaded over 55 times.
- Where to find it? Printables
Cable Cam
The concept here is simple. It’s a four-wheeled cart that runs on a pair of paracord streams with no motors or electronics attached. The cart is pushed or pulled either by going downhill or with a small rope.
It’s intended mainly for outdoor use, where it can be deployed rapidly and easily. Simply run the paracord between two trees and secure the cart. The camera mount is on the bottom, and the system supports small compact cameras as well as action cameras. This setup is particularly useful for recording bike rides and downhill runs.
Very little mounting hardware is needed, and you’ll just need a handful of bolts and skate bearings. You can print all the parts at 50% infill and standard 0.2-mm layer height.
- Who designed it? guillermomaroto
- How printable/popular is it? The cable car has 9,100 downloads and a remix so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
49 mm Lens Cap
In case you discovered the cap holder too late and are already missing a few covers, this next item will save your lenses. Well, at least as long as they’re 49 mm in diameter or you’re able to scale the part to fit other dimensions.
The fully print-in-place design comes in a few variants with different tolerances for smoother capping and uncapping. Try out a couple before choosing, as the different spring forces can translate to a looser fit.
- Who designed it? Lxo_2246
- How printable/popular is it? This set has over 190 downloads with 6 posted makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
License: The text of "The Best 3D Printed Camera Accessories & Gear of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.