Anyone actually use a "string tripod"?

<p>I am thinking about trying the "string tripod" idea that you can find on the web in several places.</p>

<p>Does anyone here regularly carry one and find it to be useful?</p>

<p>Anyone tried it and decided it was useless?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p> I have one at the bottom of one of my camera bags. They buy you 1-2 stops of steadiness used correctly, and if you use dark thread (woven 60# fishing line works well, or parachute cord), you can use it in many places where a monopod is forbidden.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thanks for the reply and the hint about using dark cord.<br>

Did you use a single line with a washer or similar to step on or did you make a loop that you put both feet through such that there are two lines going from the ground to the camera?</p>

<p>I too have one in the bottom of my camera bag. It not something that I use very often , but for low light in museums and churches it works great. It also costs nothing and weighs nothing. The washer helps keep the line on the ground while you step on it. Mine is a single line with a washer. I also use a loop on the bottom post of my tripod that I can step on to make it even more stable. The same cord secures it when its folded up.</p>

<p>I've thought of trying one too. I seems to me that more stability could be achieved if the string were attached to a rigid extension, perhaps 4 to 6 inches long, screwed into the tripod mount on the camera base.</p>

<p>Are you thinking that extension would be horizontal or vertical?</p>

<p>I don't see much gain from a vertical extension, but if it were horizontal and you had two strings separated by several inches going down to a single foot, you'd have good protection against rotation around the lens axis.</p>

I have used one for 20some years, works good on '35 ,but not to good on the 4x5...

have nice day

<p>Regarding the horizontal extension, what if you skipped the tripod mount and just attached to the strap lugs? They're already 5 inches or so apart.</p>

<p>I tried and it actually made it worse.</p>

<p>I used a somewhat thick rubber washer. Understand that it does not need to be taut like a piano wire, but just snugged up.</p>

<p>I found a site on Googles called instructables, that tells you how to make a string tripod.<br>

All I did was type in string tripod, and this site came up..</p>

<p>What kind of place would ban the use of a monopod ? <br>

I know certain art gallaries forbidden of photographing in general where you can't even use a camera.</p>

<p>Tripods are banned at some museums and historical sites even though hand-held photography is allowed.</p>

<p>I tried the string, but had no joy. I agree with the physics of using a 6 inch rigid vertical extension that the string would attach to. That could help. If you think this through, the string attached directly to the bottom of the camera offers almost no steadying from normal camera wobble. It actually seemd to make my camera/hands wobbble more. It would be interesting to do one of those stabilization tests that DPreview does for IS systems.</p>

<p>Tried it once - it worked okay, but I won't do it again because if I stumble I'll pull the camera to the ground.</p>

<p>The stringpod works the same way as a rifle sling. A significant help to some folks if they know how to use it, a nuisance and distraction to others. It's only as good as your overall ergonomics, which relies on skeletal alignment, balance and breath control to minimize muscle fatigue and overcompensation error.</p>

<p>Study some exercises used by offhand (standing) target shooters to help with steadiness in handheld photography. At 51, after severe injuries from a nasty car wreck several years ago, I'm nowhere near as strong and steady as I was at 20. But the lessons I learned in target shooting in the military translated well to help me continue to enjoy handheld photography. On a good day I can still shoot at 1/30 sec. standing and get reasonably sharp photos, and can manage 1/15 while kneeling, crouching or sitting. I'll use the camera strap wrapped in an odd looking way around my back, shoulder and elbow, rather like a rifle sling, to aid in that extra 5% of stability.</p>

<p>Thanks all for the replies. If I do some experiments I'll post my results.</p>