Digital cameras' self timers solve half the problem of quickly squeezing yourself into the frame before the shutter fires...
Bottle Cap Tripod
Digital cameras’ self timers solve half the problem of quickly squeezing yourself into the frame before the shutter fires, but this can come a cropper if there’s no raised flat surface or kind passer-by to help out. That’s where the Bottle Cap Tripod comes into its own, doing exactly what it says on the tin: a tripod – albeit minus the standard three legs – that has a universal screw-thread to fit all compact cameras, which then slips over the top of most bottle types to provide stabilisation.
It’s also on a stiff hinge-like fixture so you can rotate in any direction by up to 15 degrees. It’s clearly just for compacts, though – so don’t expect to mount your heavy DSLR or weighty bridge camera, as the hinge won’t take the weight, and secondly because your bottle may topple!
Available from www.firebox.co.uk
Verdict
With the right compact camera and in the right situation there's a hint of genius laced with a whisper of madness about the Bottle Cap Tripod. As such, it's ideal for portraits or shooting in the dark, whenever you may have a spare bottle to hand.