How to Build a Bipod Camera Mount (for Taking How-to Videos)

In this Instructable I will show you how to build an incredibly easy wooden bipod camera mount that can be used for taking photos and especially videos with your point and shoot camera. My camera is a Canon Powershot SX160 with IS. It works good if your camera is big enough to have Image stabilization like mine, because that collar will then fit snugly into the hole we are going to make in the frame. Why did I build a camera mount with only two legs? Well, I like to create origami and if I come up with a design, I want to be able to make a video on how to fold it. And this two legged mount clamped down onto a table allows my hands more room to fold than say, a traditional design of three legs. This design is great for other crafty how to videos, so get building! Don't be afraid to ask questions too, I'll try and answer all of them.

Here is your list of tools you will need:

Hand saw (for cutting wood)

Electric drill

Round file

Hole saw attachment (for electric drill)

Angle protractor

Tape measure

Philips head screwdriver

2 small c-clamps

Digital point and shoot camera (for taking videos!)

Plenty of sandpaper for all of those sharp edges!

Here is a list of materials you will need:

5/8 inch thick plywood piece 7.25 x 3.5 inches

2 boards 1 x 1.5 x 15 inches

2 thin pieces of wood 3 x 2 inches

Four wood screws

Craft felt(Optional)

Take the plywood and cut it to the dimensions of 7.25 x3.5 inches. Make sure to sand or grind the edges so there not sharp. Then, if you have a hole saw attachment for an electric drill that closely fits the diameter of your camera collar, drill out the plywood in the pencil circle. If you do not have this attachment, do not worry. Just use a medium sized drill bit and drill inside the pencil circle until the center piece pops out. Then use your round file to round out the hole smooth.

Take your to two boards shown in the photo. Using the angle protractor, draw a 55° degree angle on both ends of the boards like in the photos. Cut them with the hand saw. The last photo should be your end product.

If you have a table vice it will be very helpful for this next step. If not, just use a large c-clamp to secure one of the legs to your work table. Then, take the top piece and drill a hole through it and the leg. You should probably drill a countersink hole in the top piece so the wood screw fits in flush. Then put in the wood screw in the hole. Repeat on the other leg.

This step is very similar to the previous one in that all your doing is attaching a small foot to each leg for stability and that when the camera mount is finished, you can clamp the feet down into your table. If you don’t have any clamps, just put some big weights down onto the feet. This will make it very stable.

(Optional) I cut some black craft felt to the size of the top piece and glued it down with Elmer’s glue. This makes sure your camera is well protected from any rough edges. And it makes it look good too. Remember, use small c-clamps to secure the mount onto your table, as seen in the photos. Now you’re ready to make your own how to videos on origami, beading, drawing, or any other thing you can come up with. I really like it because when the camera mount is clamped down it is very secure and your camera won’t shake or wobble when taking videos. Well, there you have it! If you liked this instructable, please favorite it and leave me a comment!