As you know from visiting camera stores, there are an endless variety of accessories. Some of the best, though, you can build yourself.

I recently bought a new monopod. I've got a couple that I've had for years, but they're pretty beat up, and the legs don't extend/retract very well any more. Plus, I've now got some heavy long lenses and wanted a strong monopod with a 3/8-inch thread. I settled on a Velbon Neo Pod 7. Tall, strong, carbon fiber with legs that don't rotate (making it easier to tighten and release them). And, the threads were reversible, both 1/4 and 3/8-inch.

Most cameras have 1/4-inch threaded mounts built into the base for mounting on tripods or monopods. Lenses with collars tend to have 1/4-inch mounts as well. However, when you're mounting a $5000 lens onto a monopod and carrying it over your shoulder, you start to worry about having that much weight (plus the camera) supported by a small 1/4-inch bolt. That's why larger monopods usually have reversible threads, so you can choose to use either the standard 1/4-inch option or switch to the thicker 3/8-inch. If you do that, you need to make sure the collar will take that thicker bolt also. In my case I've replaced the "feet" (tripod/monopod mounting plates) on my large lenses with ones made by Wimberley that have both 1/4 and 3/8-inch threaded holes.

The only problem I had with the monopod was that with the bolt reversed, there were only three threads exposed to hold those expensive lenses. I'm a worrier, and that bothered me. A lot. So I made a trip to the local hardware store and spent $.66 for two 3/8 X 1.5-inch bolts. A few minutes in the workshop with a hacksaw and I now had a 3/8-inch bolt that I then super-glued into the monopod for a good, solid mount.

While I was working with the 3/8-inch bolts, I realized there was another use I could put one to. I've got a couple of Manfrotto Grip Action Ballheads I haven't been using, and I've wanted to build a rig for holding a camera at ground level. There are several plates that people sell that you mount a small ballhead and do this. But I realized that with the one grip head I could bolt it to a small piece of plywood and get the same thing. Now, with the help of a 90-degree finder (Nikon and Canon make them, as well as Hoodman) I can place a camera down low easily and get exactly the framing I want.

Lastly I thought I'd mention one of my favorite old home-made rigs. Back in the mid-80s I found I was regularly having to work in the rain covering sports. And it was always a challenge to keep my gear dry and still be able to shoot. The solution was building a rig that would allow me to clamp a golf umbrella (strong and big, lots of coverage) to my monopod. The key was finding a pair of brackets from one of those old potato-masher style strobes. Attaching the rings to the monopod, I then mounted the other part of the quick-release clamp to a sandwich of plywood that would hold the umbrella. Not perfect, but when I was at a field where I could use an umbrella, it was a great way to shoot.

I love accessories that make photography easier. It's even more fun when you can make them yourself.