Remote Camera Rig for Cheap, pt. 2 | Blog | Mikko Niemelä - Freelance photographer

On the first part we looked at one of the cheapest ways to construct a sturdy remote camera rig. By adding a couple more items to the pool, we have much more flexibility in setting up the camera. One downside to adding gear (on top of spending more money) is that the rig loses some of its rigidity.

If you need to get the camera higher on the MA003 base, or need it to look around a corner, Manfrotto's Magic Arm line comes to the rescue. Magic Arms amaze me every time I use them. They are simple, but ah so effective. I prefer the ones with the huge knob, instead of the fastening arm, since I've heard that the arm might give out on highly stressful set-ups. And the knob is removable, so the Arm packs down to smaller space. When you get your first Magic Arm, make sure that it comes with a camera base. Make sure you line up one of the legs below the Arm+camera. If you really stretch the arm sideways, you have to add some weight to the base, or wedge it under something suitable.

The other useful accessory for remote cameras is, of course, Manfrotto's Super Clamp. And this one you don't have to buy, since you already have a few lying around, right? (... Right?) It's especially effective with a Magic Arm, although you can use only a spigot between the clamp and the camera... or ballhead, or monopod head, or...