Homemade monopod. What is a monopod, and how to make a selfie stick with your own hands. Video: what to do if the selfie stick does not work

Selfie is a newfangled trend that has taken over the whole world. Photographing yourself with a mirror has gradually sunk into oblivion: on the wave of excitement - self-portraits created using special tripods or monopods.

Selfie lovers use different photo techniques. Monopods equipped with a Bluetooth button are very famous, there are models that are optimal for athletes, avid travelers, resourceful video bloggers and creative individuals.

Convenient "stick": buy or make?

The use of an ergonomic tripod for photography is certainly better than a traditional selfie: hands do not shake, more little things in the background are fixed, and unique shots are created. For this reason, convenient "sticks" for selfie are instantly swept away from the store counter.

You can also save time on their manufacture and order in your favorite color on our website. However, is it possible to make a monopod with your own hands using publicly available materials and tools? We offer you to get acquainted with the simplest technique for creating and assembling your own monopod.

Assembling the monopod by hand

The manufacturing process of the universal includes several stages.

Necessary materials:

building hair dryer;
drill / screwdriver;
4.5 mm drill;
PP pipe (d=20 mm);
clamp;
6 mm bolt;
Stationery knife;
glue gun;
foam rubber (30*30 cm)
rope.

Assembly:

1. We heat the upper part of the polypropylene pipe with a hair dryer, then press the molten material with a clamp.

2. When the pipe has completely cooled down, the clamp is removed.

3. Again we heat up the tube, at the same time bending it with a clamp. This is necessary to obtain the desired angle of inclination, which depends on individual preferences.

4. Remove the clamp and round off the end of the tube with a utility knife.

5. We make a through hole with a drill or a screwdriver.

6. Create a handle: wrap the free area of the tube with foam rubber, which is then glued with hot glue.

7. The edges of the foam rubber are cut off with a knife.

8. We will equip the handle with a rope for convenient operation of the “selfie stick” by making a hole on one side of the pipe under the foam rubber.

9. Fasten the camera to the new monopod with a bolt.

Your monopod is ready to use.

There are several more options on how to quickly and inexpensively assemble a monopod for different purposes, whether it's a Go Pro camera or a tripod for a camera.

See one of them in the video example.

Greetings, dear readers. I'm in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. If you have ever thought about buying a monopod, then such products should be considered more carefully. If you choose the wrong device, then during its use you can not only not get high-quality pictures, but also not create them at all.

What is a monopod?

What do you imagine at the mention of a monopod? A tripod with one support for the camera or a selfie stick? If you answer yes to each of these options, you will be right. But what is a monopod and how to use it?

A monopod is a shooting accessory that can be used with a professional camera or phone. In the first case, the device has an impressive size and weight and is adapted for use by photographers. Such monopods differ from standard tripods in that they have only one support. They are used in the case when it is necessary to take pictures constantly moving. An example is the work of a journalist who wants to capture an important event, but has to change the position of the camera frequently, so he does not use a tripod.

The main advantage of a single support device is its mobility and lightness. Thanks to this, it can be used both in the city and in open areas. The use of such mechanisms is justified in the following cases:

when using long lenses;
during shooting in places where the installation of a tripod is impossible;
in the absence of time to set up a standard tripod.

Just imagine that you need to take a photo among a large number of people. Is it possible to install a tripod with three legs in such a situation? Such devices serve to minimize camera shake and relieve tension in the muscles of the hands of the photographer.

You can download Here.

How to use a monopod correctly?

In order to get better pictures, you should consider 2 ways to set up the device:

Classic pose. To get into it, you need to spread your legs shoulder-width apart, and install the monopod in front so that it bears part of the load during photography.
Archer pose. With this option, one leg is put forward, and the tripod rests on the toe of the second leg and leans forward slightly, clinging to the body.

If you stand in these positions, you can feel that the camera or camera is in a stable position, which prevents shaking. If you often shoot around other people, then a single-leg tripod can be used as an extension to get shots from above.

Selfie monopod

If you are buying a monopod for your phone, then at the time of purchase you need to pay attention to the features of the device so as not to confuse it with a device for a camera. But how can you confuse such things? If a purchase is made in an online store, then a person unfamiliar with the features of monopods will not always be able to distinguish them from a photograph.

You can download Here.

The main difference between such devices for smartphones is the size. They should be easy to hold in your hand. When browsing the pages of online stores, pay attention to the length. If it is equal to two meters, then this is clearly not a selfie monopod.

Would you like to buy such a device? Then pay attention to several characteristics on which their price depends:

the presence of a handle with a button;
the ability to install a small camera in the mount;
the presence of a remote control.

If you want to take pictures with friends while traveling, then a monopod is a very convenient device that allows you to make the shooting process more convenient and get high-quality pictures.

How to use a monopod with a remote control?

If you have already chosen such a device with a remote control, but you have no idea how to use it in order to get beautiful photos, you should follow a few steps:

After unpacking, attach the holder, in which, for example, an iPhone should be located, using a thread. Some monopods are also threaded on the handle, so you should first make sure that this element is correctly positioned.
Next, you need to insert a battery into the remote control, and connect the selfie stick itself to a power source.
To take a photo, you need to place your smartphone in the mount and make sure you turn on the Bluetooth function. If the monopod is original, then the list of found devices will display, for example, KJSTAR, to which you should connect.
If the remote control does not work after connecting via Bluetooth, you need to install a program, for example, "Camera360" and configure it so that the creation of a photo occurs when the volume control key is pressed.

After that, it remains only to point the camera at the desired object and take a picture. If the stick is sold with a wire, then to turn it on, just connect it to the connector on the phone, for example, Samsung.

You can download Here.

Features of use

If you want to take only high-quality pictures, then before using the monopod, you need to consider that:

The phone holder is often made of light metal, so it can be slightly distorted when you insert a heavy device or when you make a sudden movement. To take good pictures, adjust the holder so that the smartphone is securely fixed. You should not sharply turn the phone or change its position.
These devices may not work with some phone models. If the mobile device does not respond to the button in any way, then try installing additional software.
During use, the connection to the remote control may be lost. If this happens, you just need to reconnect it.

How to take a selfie?

If you have ever taken photos of a company at a public event, then you are familiar with the problem when the camera cannot cover all the friends, so you either have to take a photo from the side or arrange people one after another, which spoils the picture.

It is also convenient to use a monopod at concerts, when it is impossible to take a picture from the height of your height. At the same time, during the use of such a device, camera shaking is reduced, which affects the quality of the resulting photos.

To make selfies more interesting, you need to follow a few rules:

when you are on a hill for a more complete overview of the environment, you can take a picture from above;
before taking a selfie, you should practice to find more favorable poses for creating a photo;
it is better to take photos in natural light so that they are more attractive;
if the selfie stick is long, you can take pictures where this device is not visible.

The last rule listed is observed in rare cases. You have probably noticed that in many pictures taken with a stick, this device enters the frame.

Most owners of such a device take photographs without caring about the position of the hand in the frame. Such pictures belong to a separate genre of mobile photography, which implies emphasizing the fact of owning a monopod.

But if you are not going to follow such trends, then learn how to photograph correctly so that the devices in your hand do not show in the frame. To make a photo natural, you need to train and constantly select a more favorable angle.

As I wrote in previous articles, I gave my friend a birthday present. I bought it on Aliexpress. The product is very high quality and functional. My friend really liked the selfie stick. Below is a video review of this stick.

Bought this stick. Here, and the adapter purchased Here.

On this I will end the article. Now you know what a monopod is for a camera and for a phone. Share the article with your friends, it is only welcome.

All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.

Nowadays, the phenomenon of "selfie" is becoming very popular, especially among young people. Selfie is a type of photographic self-portrait. When creating a selfie, the device is pulled out by the person being photographed to the length of the entire arm and a picture is taken. By photographing himself, a person can capture the most interesting moments of his life, however, it is not always possible to fully accommodate the entire surroundings of the area, since his viewing angle is limited by the length of his arms.

It is for this purpose that the selfie stick was created, which allows you to increase the viewing angle in the photo. It allows you to take pictures at a distance of up to 1.5 meters. This device is also called a selfie stick or monopod.

Selfie stick device

Usually, plastic or metal is used to make a monopod. Its body has a telescopic structure. On one side of the selfie stick, there is a special slot for the phone, thanks to which a photo is taken. There is a rubber grip on the other side of the monopod.

Many models of monopods have a Bluetooth or wi-fi system for remote control of your smartphone.

To take a picture using a selfie stick, you need to fix the smartphone in a special holder, then pull the stick a certain distance in front of you and press the monopod button.

Instructions for making a selfie stick with your own hands

It is not necessary to buy a selfie stick in stores, because it is quite possible to make it yourself. And it will turn out no worse than bought. To make a monopod with your own hands, you need to prepare the following materials:

plastic pipe (diameter 2 cm)
screwdriver or drill
building hair dryer
a small amount of foam
clamp
bolt (6 mm)
stationery knife
thermoplastic adhesive

Making a monopod with your own hands is carried out in stages:

At the first stage, it is necessary to heat the upper end of the polypropylene pipe until softened, using a building hair dryer. And then squeeze this area with a clamp
After cooling, one of the sides of the pipe will have a flat shape. After that, you need to remove the clamp
Again, it is necessary to heat up one of the sides of the polypropylene pipe using a building hair dryer in order for it to acquire the angle of inclination required for shooting. The angle of inclination can be customized
After cooling the polypropylene pipe, it is necessary to round off its edges with a knife, and make through holes with a drill or screwdriver in the flat part of the pipe
At the opposite end of the pipe you need to make a handle. To do this, several layers of foam rubber are glued with hot glue to the back of the pipe.
At the bottom of the handle, you can make a hole under the foam rubber for the lace. This lanyard can then be worn around the wrist to secure the phone if it falls.
The phone is attached to the monopod with a bolt.

Self-admiration is a sweet human vice, relatively harmless. In recent times, it has flourished with modern technical capabilities: filming video, taking photographs, and especially self-photography. In fact, if you want to do well - do it yourself! Since every smartphone owner has been able to take a beautiful selfie, this success formula has been confirmed and rooted in photoblogs and social networks. If not for her, no one would have thought to use a monopod, and the selfie stick would not even have been invented.

So let's say a mental collective "Thank you!" to the creators of the selfie stick and consolidate our success by taking a selfie with a monopod. Unless, of course, you know how to use a selfie monopod and know a few additional subtleties of using a selfie stick. And if not, it's time to learn how to choose a monopod and how to use it correctly to create really cool crossbows, group selfies and panorama shots from a tripod.

What is a Selfie Monopod? How a selfie stick works
A monopod is, in fact, not an innovation, but a classic kind of tripod for a photo or video camera. It does not differ in stability, but it is convenient for its lightness and mobility. In the past, monopods were used by photographers and cameramen to quickly follow the subject. Then the idea was appreciated by fans of active sports, who popularized the GoPro action camera on a long monopod tripod. But it’s impossible to buy a GoPro cheaply, but you want to take advantage of the advantages of a mobile camera, so the appearance of telescopic monopods for taking pictures from outstretched hands has become completely logical.

A selfie monopod, a selfie stick, a Narcissus stick, a GoPro for the poor – as soon as wits all over the world didn’t call this tripod, they themselves continued to use this convenient device with pleasure. The use and price of a selfie monopod depends on the complexity of the design, materials and design:
The design of the selfie monopod is so simple and obvious that it will not be difficult to assemble and / or disassemble it, which is very convenient for travel and storage. It got to the point that the owners of the original GoPro cameras who do not want to spend money on a branded tripod buy a selfie stick. Finally, you can even choose the color of the monopod, from black to bright orange or green, as they say, a trifle, but nice.

How to use the Selfie Monopod with Remote?
So, you managed to choose and buy a monopod and are the proud owner of a selfie stick. What to do next, how exactly to use a monopod for selfies and other shootings? To quickly get used to the acquisition, follow the step-by-step instructions:

Assemble the monopod according to the manufacturer's scheme by connecting the smartphone holder with a thread. Do not confuse which side the holder is connected to, because the monopod handle is also threaded on the back side - but for a stable tripod.
Insert a round coin cell battery into the remote control of the monopod, and connect the monopod itself via a USB cable to a power source for at least an hour. You can turn off the charger when the red charge level indicator turns off.
Turn on the charged monopod and smartphone. Make sure your smartphone's Bluetooth function is active and turn on the search for nearby devices. The name of the desired device is KJSTAR if you purchased the original monopod, and not a replica or fake. Connect your smartphone to this unit via Bluetooth.
Now pay attention to the remote control. It has only two buttons: one controls the application for shooting (Camera 360 or other smartphone camera), and the second performs the shutter release. In your phone's camera settings, allow photography with the volume button.
Turn on the camera, point the viewfinder at yourself or another subject, and take your first shot with the monopod.

By the way, through a selfie monopod, you can shoot not only selfies, but also many other interesting angles that are inaccessible or inconvenient for handheld shooting. Using a monopod without a remote control differs only in that the control buttons are located directly on the handle of the device and send a signal to the smartphone via Bluetooth in the same way.

Ideas for using a selfie stick and features of a monopod
You will quickly get used to using a selfie monopod, just as quickly you get used to everything good and convenient. But there is a fly in the ointment in every barrel of honey, and you yourself will notice the disadvantages of a selfie stick during operation. It is quite possible to put up with them, especially if you take into account in advance:

The smartphone holder on the monopod handle is made of light thin metal, which spontaneously changes position under the weight of a large phone or camera. There is only one way to deal with this: carefully adjust the size of the frame to the dimensions of the smartphone, and then hold the selfie stick as evenly as possible, without sudden movements and turns.
Selfie stick only works with two operating systems of mobile devices: iOS and Android. But in practice, not all Android devices connect to a monopod. In particular, Huawei, Fly and HTC smartphones often do not work under the control of a monopod. This problem is solved by installing special software that comes with the original monopod or is downloaded from the Internet for an additional fee.
The monopod remote control may lose connection with the device from time to time. If you notice that the remote has turned off, just turn it on again and reconnect - it won't take long. This is not a manufacturing defect, but rather an operational defect. Think of it as a way to conserve battery life.

And now, finally, about the pleasant. Despite the popular name “selfie stick”, the monopod performs much more useful functions. For example, it is literally indispensable when you need to increase the camera's viewing angle: at concerts and public events (raise the camera on a monopod above your heads), while traveling (raised above human height, the monopod photographs picturesque landscapes, at the same time reducing handshake) or when shooting collective portraits (mass selfies are the main trend of social networks).

Such obvious advantages with a minimum of disadvantages are a sufficient argument to buy a selfie stick and learn how to use a monopod in different situations. But keep in mind that the popularity of monopods and the selfie shots themselves have already earned them mixed fame. Many museums, stadiums and other public places around the world are banning the use of selfie sticks for safety reasons. Pay attention to the instructions of the administration and do not use the selfie monopod where it is impossible. We hope for your prudence and wish you great pictures!

A selfie stick (monopod) is a modern accessory that can be universal or created for a specific gadget manufacturer. However, owners of smartphones with the Android operating system very often have problems - in the standard mode, the Bluetooth button does not function, the volume is added instead of taking pictures, there is a photo sound, but there is no photo. For every problem that arises, there is a solution.

Selfie stick and its types

A selfie stick is a modified camera monopod, a device for a smartphone that allows you to take a selfie at a distance farther than an outstretched arm. What types of this invention exist at the moment?

Classic folding selfie stick

The classic look of the monopod was the very first to enter the consumer market. This is due to the simplicity and affordability of the device, which unfolds in length from 20 centimeters to a meter. At the top of the monopod is a smartphone mount.

The classic monopod is easy to use and minimal in its functionality.

To take a selfie using this device, you need to install the phone in a special mount, turn on the timer shooting mode, choose a good angle and wait for the automatic shutter release. That's it, the selfie is ready! If you purchase a remote control for your phone, then a photo can be taken using a special button on it.

Monopod connected via headphone jack

The developers of modern phones have provided the function of lowering the camera using a cord connected via the audio jack - this is the nuance that was used to create the next type of monopod.

Wired monopod connects to smartphone via headphone jack

The monopod is connected to the phone via a 3.5 mm jack, and no additional steps are needed to start using the device. When folded, its length is 20 cm, and when unfolded - 90 cm. The main advantage of the monopod is the ball mount on the top, which allows you to install your smartphone at any angle or tilt it to the side.

Wireless monopod with button

The wireless device is the most common, it looks like the very first type of monopod, but it has several features:

the presence of a Bluetooth transmitter, thanks to which a wireless connection is made;

fast battery charging;

advanced smartphone mount that holds it on both sides.

To start a photo session, you need to turn on the monopod, establish a connection via Bluetooth, secure the phone, activate the Camera application, select a frame and press the special button on the selfie stick.

The presence of a Bluetooth sensor on a wireless monopod allows you to take selfies effortlessly

The monopod was invented by the Japanese in 1995, who also considered it the most useless invention. However, in 2014, the selfie stick was recognized as one of the best gadgets.

Multifunctional monopod

It would seem that nothing new can be found, but a multifunctional monopod has appeared that can be installed permanently, as well as controlled remotely. This device consists of four parts:

smartphone holder,

handle with control buttons,

folding stick,

tripod (tripod) for setting the stick on the surface.

The gadget has a Bluetooth transmitter and a built-in battery, on the handle, in addition to the usual "Take Photo" button, there is the ability to control the proximity (+/-). The handle with buttons can be used as a remote control for your phone. The smartphone is installed as standard, as well as on other monopods.

Using the tripod supplied in the kit, you can install the selfie stick permanently. And you need to control the phone, which is installed on a tripod, with a remote control (handle) at a distance of up to ten meters.

Using the tripod supplied in the kit, you can install the selfie stick permanently

To start taking pictures of yourself with a monopod, you need to turn on Bluetooth on your phone, connect the devices wirelessly, install the phone on a special mount, and launch the Camera app. And you can start creating a selfie.

Connecting a selfie stick to an Android phone

Connecting a selfie stick to a phone varies depending on the type of stick. Wired and wireless monopods have their own connection nuances.

How to connect a wired monopod

To connect a wired selfi-stick on Android, you need to change the functionality of the volume buttons:

Launch the Camera app on your phone.

To open the settings, you need to click "Next", then select "General settings" and then the section "Setting volume keys".

Now you need to adjust the settings in accordance with how the monopod functions with the active “Camera” on the device.

If the standard program for photography does not allow you to change the functionality of the keys for shooting, then you need to replace it with others. For example, Camera FV-5 - the application has a large number of settings. But to install a monopod, you need to do the following:

Download and install the Camera FV-5 software.

Go to "Settings" and change the functionality of the keys.

As an option, you can also offer SelfiShop Camera - a regular application that will take up a small amount of internal memory. A big plus is ease of use, you just need to install the application, by default all the keys are set to take a selfie.

Video: how to connect a wired monopod

How to connect a wireless selfie stick

Setting up a wireless monopod is much easier:

Turn on the monopod.

Activate Bluetooth on your phone.

Using the search, find the monopod and connect to it.

It is better to rename the monopod on the phone so that it can be more easily identified later.

Video: how to connect a wireless monopod

Problems during the operation of the monopod and ways to solve them

In the process of connecting and setting up a monopod, as well as during its operation, problems or errors may occur. They are fairly easy to eliminate.

Table: possible problems when working with a selfie stick and their solutions

It is worth considering that if, when pairing devices, the message “Incorrectly entered pincode (PIN code) or password” is displayed, then the monopod is not suitable for use on your smartphone. The problem rarely occurs, but it is recommended to check the monopod for compatibility with the phone, as the problem can cause OS malfunctions.

Video: what to do if the selfie stick does not work

Using a selfie stick is fashionable and practical, it solves many problems related to photography. This is a new trend of our time - social networks are full of all kinds of selfies. Monopod can be chosen for every taste, color and wallet. And connection problems are completely solvable even on the Android operating system.