Washer simple key to attaching quick-release plates to cameras

     While some of the newer quick-release plates on tripods have a little handle for turning the bolt, some still rely on a slotted screwhead.

    In these cases, a multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife can help you get the plate securely attached to your camera.

    But what if you are somewhere that bars your pocket tool, or you may have forgotten to pack it. (I go to courtrooms so often it's too easy for me to leave my pocket knife and Leatherman at home.)

    But Scott Eggleston, The Frugal Filmmaker, has a suggestion for keeping a tool on you, even in place where you might be restricted in what you carry.

    In the video below, Eggleston suggests putting a small metal washer on your keychain to use as a makeshift screwdriver. Not only can it help with tripod bolts, it can also tighten other similar sized screws.

Mount your clamp light on a PVC lightstand without the clamp

    In the last post, I talked about how to double the output of a clamp light by using a two-bulb adapter.

    This time, we're going to talk about a better way to mount the lights than with the clamp.

    While the clamp offers a certain level of versatility, there are some drawbacks, especially if you're using the PVC lightstands I highlighted a couple years ago. The clamps sometimes don't grip the pipe just right and may come off at an inopportune moment, or they might throw off the balance of your stand.

    Also, if you're shooting in someone else's home, they may not want you attaching your clamp to their furniture and possibly scuffing it up. (Sometimes the rubber on the clamps wears out.)

    But there's a solution if you use the PVC light stand, as demonstrated by Ryan Connolly over at Film Riot. What Ryan did was replace the clamp with a pipe connector, allowing you to directly connect the light to the stand.

    What you need is a 3/4-inch pipe connector, a bolt, wingnut and a couple nuts if needed. Here's the basic assembly for the mount (before the light is attached).

    First, remove the clamp and get a bolt that will fit the hole that was used by the tiny bolt that held the clamp on. I wouldn't throw away the clamp, as you might want to use it if you're in a situation where you can't use a lightstand.

    Then, drill a hole through both sides of the connector to thread the bolt through. In my case, I needed to put a couple extra nuts on to ensure the clamp mount didn't come apart. On the other side, put the wingnut, as this will let you control the vertical angle of the light.

    This is the finished product, attached to a stand.

    Scott Eggleston, of the The Frugal Filmmaker, offered a similar solution for mounting shop lights on a PVC stand, except using end caps.

    In our next post, I'll show you how to use that technique for flash units.