Com-Central.net

Very nice, Joe! If you ever going into manufacturing it then let us know - I don't have the skill to make something like that myself. I can imagine it could have other uses in a smaller form, e.g. paparazzi shooting over the top of a crowd, or anyone at a sporting event.

Shades would buy it for that last reason
Piney

Thanks for the compliments,

Not sure about the patent thing or if there would be much of a market for something like this. Started off as a simple solution to the problem of not being allowed to climb on display tanks at Fort McCoy when I was there. Just evolved to this so far.

Maybe a few folks trying to peep over fences into nudist bathing pools

Joe D

That's very ingenious! I agree, you should patent it. Now, how to add a fibre optic 'scope to see through the viewfinder.........

Cheers

John the infrequent poster

You should patent this!

For those interested,

Here are descriptions and images of my new camera pole I used this weekend.

Side View

Side view without camera

I made this set up with the ability to use different cameras, although it is not completely universal. I used a machined bolt with two nuts for the lever fulcrum , that way I could adjust the height for what ever camera I was using. The various holes drilled into the plate are for positioning the lever along with the cable guide. The lever is folded sheet metal and has a rubber nipple that is slotted so I can adjust it's position. Friction keeps it in position. The lever has holes drilled into it to run the mono filament line. The line stays in place by friction and makes for a very simple and quick adjusting system. The cable piping is from a bicycle brake kit that I cut to size and removed the steel braid insert, the mono filament line has much less drag and doesn't fray.

Articulated

I articulated the head in order to get better angles when photographing downward. The joint came from an old desk lamp. I replaced the pivot stud with a standard bolt and wing-nut to simplify the adjusting angle.

This picture is of inside the cupola of an M551 using this feature.

Cupola

I was standing on the ground besides the tank when I took it.

Handle

The handle was made from an old "Wet Mop" I found laying around the house. It provided the perfect angle and a trigger too. Very convenient. I cut down the trigger and installed a cable stop made from aluminum stock with a hex key screw to secure the line. The stop pivots within the handle to keep the cable aligned when pulled. It also allows me to replace the line easily if it gets wore out.

Complete kit

The whole thing breaks down into three pieces (more if I get extension poles), doesn't take up much more space than a tripod and is very light. Takes about 5-10 minutes to set up and take pictures.

If any one wants more details I can PM them all the info they need to make one.

Joe D