Use An IKEA Lamp To Build An Affordable Desktop Camera Jig

If you spend any time on video at your desk, either video-chatting with friends or recording work you may be doing so you can show other people, you know it can be difficult to get a camera in position while you work with your hands. This quick hack gives you a jig perfect for a web cam or a phone to keep it still and in one place while you’re recording.

Granted, most webcams some with stands that let them rest on top of your monitor, which is great in most cases, but if your monitor is at an angle, or you want to record something you’re working on on your desk surface, those mounts are generally no good. Chris, over at The New Hobbyist, picked up a $20 TERTIAL work lamp from IKEA, and managed to turn it into a camera jig with the help of a 3D printed mount.

The mount is the tricky part; Chris had his printed, but once you have one you can use it to attach multiple different cameras, remove them, and attach others. He’s even included the Google Sketchup file at Thingverse for his mount so others can use it. I imagine something more common, like a clamp or some Velcro may serve the same purpose if 3D printing isn’t up your alley. What do you think? Share your thoughts on the setup in the comments below.

$9 Webcam Jig [The New Hobbyist via MAKE]