Cut a pair of tennis balls in half, and they will not only prevent your tripod's legs from sinking, but they'll also keep them clean.
Two or three ordinary tennis ball can keep your tripod from sinking in snow, sand or loose soil, and one (cut in half) can support your lens on a car window or an uneven surface.
TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO CUT THE BALLS
Depending on your needs, there are two ways to cut the balls. A word of caution first. Use a sharp utility knife. Watch out that you don't accidentally cut your fingers when you do this; the balls tend to roll and the rubber is quite resistant, require a good deal of cutting pressure.
THE FIRST WAY - X-OPENINGS IN THREE BALLS
The first involves slicing X-openings in three tennis balls in order to attach them firmly to your tripod's legs when you are doing a lot of shooting on unstable surfaces. Insert the tripod legs into the openings. This is easily done by just forcing the ball over the foot of the tripod.
If you use gaffer's tape or duct tape to attach them to the legs, when you pick up and move your tripod, the balls will remain attached.
THE SECOND WAY - CUT TWO BALLS IN HALF
The second is to cut two balls in half. They keep your tripod from sinking in sand or snow just as well, but you have to pick them up and reposition them each time you move the tripod.
The half-balls, however, serve a dual purpose - they can also provide relatively-stable support for slow shutter speeds with your telephoto lens.
CAR WINDOW LENS SUPPORT
If you cut two one-inch slits on opposite sides of the half balls, and push them down on the top edge of a car window they will hold firmly in place and provide handy support for a long lens.
UNEVEN SURFACE LENS SUPPORT
Use the half balls on a stump, tree branch or rock to steady your lens when you don't have a tripod with you. Their rubber edges provide a good grip, and the soft outer coating won't damage your lens.
IN YOUR CAMERA BAG
You can place them flat-sides-out in your camera bag and squeeze a lens between them for added protection and to keep it from moving around.
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Use a sharp utility knife. The ball must be firmly held when cutting it, but watch your fingers. You can place the ball in a vise or a solid corner for added safety when you start the cut.
If you are going to attach the balls to your tripod's feet, you will need three, and each should have an X-opening cut into it.
Place the tripod's foot in the tennis ball, and use strong tape to keep it attached.
One-inch slits cut on opposite sides of the half balls will secure them to a car window, providing your lens with support.
Caught without a tripod when you need a slow shutter speed? Use your tennis ball hemispheres to steady your long lens on an uneven surface.
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