7D in car?
 

Hello,

I have a shoot coming up and for one of the shots i'd like to shoot from inside an old VW Beetle. It doesnt need to drive very fast and the roads will be pretty good condition (in the city).

I was thinking of renting this: Fat Gecko Camera Mount - Extreme Suction Cup Mount - Delkin Devices

I'm hoping rolling shutter wont be a big issue. Are there any tips for in car shooting? Is the 7D the wrong camera/? I read that its better not to switch IS on. I'm a bit scared to put the camera on the side of the car but maybe I will try, and I'd also like to shoot through the front windshield.

Thanks.

This is what you need - GoPro HD camera. It shoots 1080p and the quality will amaze you. I got mine last week and also the suction cup mount for cars.
It is not worth the risk for your 7D rig. I paid $226 at Amazon for my GoPro.The suction mount is really strong. This will work on the outside of your car and inside. Lucas films (star wars) just used this inside a fighter plane cockpit.

Trust me you will really like this.


HD Motorsports HERO Camera by GoPro - Wireless 1080p HD On board & In Car Video Camera System

I second the GoPro idea IF you're shooting during the day under good lighting.

I looked at the GoPro some months ago, it's fine for certain applications, but it is limited - it has a fixed lens and auto everything. I still might buy one for when I need a crash cam though.

On the 7D I use a double suction mount system that works perfectly. Just follow the instruction and you're be fine.

go with gecko, solid reliable piece for the cameras like 7D, just keep the arm as close to the suction cup as possible, to eliminate shakiness, I also used straps, just for the piece of mind, but I never needed them.

Don't forget about lights inside car. If you are trying to show people inside the car as well as the outside.

There are some really good solutions, I often use a Gyoury fluorescent clipped to the visor. A LED light would work well also.

A big factor is the length of the shot.

I used the GoPro but just for 6-second bursts along an intercoastal highway - it looked great and is good enough to edit with a 7D in burst mode.

I bought my GoPro for placing outside a train in India for a shoot I am doing soon.

I think with the 7D I'd trust these mounts (the ones with 3 or 4 suction cups), not saying the fat gecko won't work but if it was my 7D with a decent lens hanging outside a car....

CAMERA MOUNTS

Just seems more robust and less prone to vibration.

I do have a lot of experience with cameras on motorcycles and the biggest things I've learned were no IS..and as solid a mount as possible...on the bikes, I bolt my mounts right to the frame or fuel tank.
What this does is make the camera part of the bike and therefore the suspension of the bike becomes the IS.

that's impossible:) but I got your point and agree;
it's just when you mount your camera on any moving subject as solid as you can, camera becomes a part of it, and that's the only way to make your footage look good, because relatively to the camera that object remains still, the whole world around it is moving, but that's exactly what we need :)

There is one other problem I would like to point out. Your proposed vehicle has a sort wheelbase. The longer the wheelbase the smoother the ride. Also consider letting some air out of your tires.

thanks for the answers and tips guys but...

did the shoot today, i bought the fat gecko double suction mount..

was shooting at around 24mm, there was quite a bit of bumpiness which i expected and dont mind too much, probably the 7d is heavier than you should use with the fat gecko.. however the rolling shutter makes the footage pretty much unusable, it really looks awful.. I would say absolutely that the 7d and DSLRS are the wrong choice for these kind of car mounts, certainly the fat gecko