A B
CD
Fig. A: Drill a U" pilot hole on the cellphone holster’s
spring clip. Fig. B: Use a ¼- 20 tap for the tripod camera
mount screw.
Fig. C: Attach the mini-tripod to the cellphone holster
with the mount screw. Fig. D: Mount the monoscope using
a 1" pipe clamp.
MAKING A SPY SCOPE
I set up my system using 2 ball-head mini tripods.
One tripod holds the cellphone (camera) in position
and the other holds the monoscope. Depending on
what kind of cellphone and monoscope you use,
you may have to modify the setup described here.
I found a cellphone belt clip that fit my phone
without covering the camera lens. I drilled a U"
pilot hole on the spring clip (Figure A) and then used
a ¼- 20 tap so that the tripod camera mount screw
would thread into the tapped hole in the belt clip
(Figures B and C).
MATERIALS
Photography by Ed Troxell
Cellphone with a camera
Ball-head mini tripods ( 2) I used Vanguard VS- 55
mini table tripods but there are many other
options.
Cellphone belt clip that fits your phone without
covering the camera lens
U" drill bit and ¼- 20 tap
Monocular telescope aka monoscope
1" pipe clamp to mount the monoscope
¼- 20 nut
I mounted the monoscope using a 1" pipe clamp
(Figure D) and attached the clamp to the ¼- 20
tripod screw with a ¼- 20 nut (Figure E, next page).
Once you’ve successfully mounted your cellphone
and the monoscope on the mini tripods, find a
stable, vibration-free platform large enough to hold
both tripods.
Set the monoscope with its tripod on the platform.
Aim and focus the monoscope on a distant object.
Then position the cellphone with its tripod so that
the lens of the cellphone camera is directly behind
and in line with the eyepiece lens of the monoscope.
Turn the cellphone camera on and carefully position it so that you get the best image that fills the
screen. Take the time to find the correct position;
this is critical to obtaining quality images.
If you can’t position the camera lens close enough
to the monoscope eyepiece to fill the frame, then
remove the rubber eye guard on the monoscope (it
should just pull off) and try again.
You’re now ready to take the photo. It’s important
to reduce vibration to a minimum when capturing
the image. If your cellphone has a self-timer, set the
timer to capture the image. If there’s no self-timer
Make: 65
