360° camera rig
We used Plastimake to create a camera rig for taking 360° panorama photos. This simple device lets us point the camera in any direction while keeping the lens in the same position. The two pivot points allow the camera to move up and down, as well as panning left to right.
Here's how we made it:
- Wrap your camera phone in cling wrap to ensure that warm Plastimake won't stick to it.
- Create a "cradle" by applying a strip of Plastimake around the left, bottom and right edges of the phone
- Insert two bolts into the cradle before it cools. Ensure that the position of the bolts lines up with the position of the camera. These let the camera swing up and down.
- Create a "sling" by forming a strip of Plastimake so that it connects to the bolts embedded in the cradle. Add a third bolt to the bottom of the sling so that it can pan left and right. Again, ensure that the bolt lines up with the position of the camera.
- Once it has cooled, attach your new camera rig to a tripod. We didn't have one handy so we used a piece of bamboo as a simple monopod.
In this case we're using the PhotoSphere camera feature on a Nexus 4 Android phone, however the PhotoSynth application for iOS will work just as well.
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