Cheap DYI Car Mount??
 

Hah, hey guys... maybe 'cheap' and 'car mount' don't go together, but I had to ask. I have a scene I need to pull off, and don't know how to rig the camera. Two guys talking in a car. I want a couple shots from the hood looking into the windshield, and some from just outside the passenger/driver windows. I saw a place online (lost the URL) that had a suction mount kit and everything, but it was over $1,000. The car won't be travelling very fast (30 mph MAX), and the camera (DVX100) is only about 4-5lbs, so is there a way I can build a rig, or buy a cheaper setup? Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.

Also, I read through the post "Filming with your camera attached to the roof of your car?" (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3454&highlight=car), but didn't find any info relative to my problem. They had tons of ways of mounting it inside, or through a sunroof, but I need it mounted outside, on the hood and/or side-doors.


Moore

I think you might want to read this thread http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...5120#post25120 and check my reference to the Bogen suction cups. Ron has a link to a photo of his support system. I would try something similar on the hood of your car. Secure it witha coupe of safety lines in case it comes loose.

Jeff

Hey Jeff,

Yeah, as I mentioned I'd read through that thread. I had actually checked that out, but wasn't sure on the weight limit for it. It'd be almost perfect if it would support my camera on one, cause I could get the Bogen #3294 mount, and the #2934 for attaching the camera to it for about $100 total. That'd be a pretty nice setup. The thing I wanted to avoid, was having to buy 3-5 of them, with a huge mounting rig.

Another interesting Bogen product, is the 3292...
http://www.bogenphoto.com/product/templates/templates.php3?sectionid=92&itemid=339
I don't know if that would support it either, they don't list any weight limits for any of these.

Or, the 3289, listed max capacity as 6.7lbs, includes a brace that goes down to the floor for support... that might work for in car shots.

I can't find any specs on the #3294 suction cup though, as far as weight load. You said you believe they were at 8-10 lbs? Because that should plenty. I wasn't sure, because you said 8-10lbs, but then said he should use several of them to support an XL1. Anyway, let me know if you have any exact specs on this, or info on a mounting bracket to attach two of them.

Thanks for the info, you're always good for helpful posts Jeff.

--Moore

Here's a couple of ideas. The Bogen #3289 http://www.bogenphoto.com/product/te...=92&itemid=333 is said to support 6.7 lbs. It also comes with a stabilization brace.

I recommended 2 of the #3294 because i believe they support slightly more weight and the built in swivel socket will make it easier to adjust the camera. Also, a fully loaded XL1 can weigh close to 10 lbs. with lens, batteries, matte box etc. Better safe than sorry. Two gives you a safety margin.

Jeff

Hah, yeah I mentioned the #3289 in my post... didn't you see that? I found that when looking up the 3294... looked like a cool option for in-car shots.

Now, do you have any information on how to join two #3294s together? I couldn't find any hardware on bogen's site... maybe I'm just missing something. Thanks.

Moore

I would get the two larger clamps and head to Home Depot. The clamps have a provision to lock a stud into place (see picture). The stud locks into place by the thumb screw on the side. I would get a couple of threaded studs (bolts) and washers and nuts at HD. I would also pick-up a 2x6 and some bungee cords and nylon rope.

I would drill the 2x6 for the studs and fasten the clamps to the 2x6 using the studs, washers and nuts. Use the bungee cords to fasten around the supports and attach to the wheel wells. Use the nylon rope to secure the whole rig to the car.

I would use the Bogen 3063 head and attach it to the 2x6. Drill the 2x6 and attach using 3/8 inch bolt and washers and nut. If you have a different head, just substitute your head. You might want to consider the 3295 quick release. it comes with metal wire you can use to secure the camera to the 2x6 for security.

Jeff

mounting a camera on a car roof
 

How do i mount a camera onto a car roof, have it secure so i can drive fast and do crazy things in the car.

My camera is a pd-150 and i have to shoot a police chase scene from a roof, so well here i pose my question.

Zac

This is usually done with suction mounts. For an example you can
look here. Keep in mind that things fly through the air
(like insects and such) which you do not want to splat on your
lens. So best to add an UV filter to your lens first.

Also don't do anything stupid in the car. Stunt driving is not
for the faint of heart and takes a lot of practice/instructions.

Keep it safe!! Please.

Soft racks!!!! Go to a surf shop and get a set of Ocean and Earth soft racks. These strap to the roof of your can and you can strap your camera to them securely. You might have to play with them to get the camera totally stable but they are a good place to start, and cost only about $30

Just get a wideangle lipstick lens, a long svhs cable and some gaffers tape. I shot a 4 min chase scene in december and mounted this bad boy on the bottom of the front fork of a stunt bike. Awesome looking footage. I hooked the lens into a cheap sony digital 8 stuffed into a waist pouch of the driver and it would've been impossible to get that footage any other way.

Sticking a big camera like a pd150 or XL1 on a moving vehicle is asking for trouble if you don't have a super secure mount.

Now before anyone chimes in about quality differences, most chases are just cut cut cuts. You can get away with murder in the editing bay (but not in the shooting. ;) Camera angles are more important than the quality differences, which in this case were minimized due to careful post processing and colour correction.

In test screenings, I've had more than one person gawk at that footage, and it was like 5 mins to setup.

If you were really bent on it, you can get angles that no other camera can get. My advice to really sell speed is to get that camera as low to the ground as possible. I've shot stuff out of a sun roof, and it doesn't sell speed, even when going past the posted sign limits. Stick that lipstick lens under the front bumper for real cool photography.

Adrian

shooting from car
 

i got a shoot from inside a car coming up

the camera will be held via a suction pod on the door glass and wound down to poke out at fresh air.
car will be travelling at around 30mph

my questions are

what the best shutter speed for this?

should steadyshot be used?

I'd stick with 1/60th. A fast shutter might give you that strobe look, probably not what you want.
Experiment with the steadyshot. I'd assume it would be useful.

I would definitely say keep steadyshot on. The only time you should have it off is when the camera is stationary like on a tripod.. a suction pod is kind of stationary, but the car is moving so it's probably going to move around a bit.

Yes, use the steadyshot; it will help absorb some of the vibration you'll get. Use the standard shutter speed for your camera, unless you want a special effect. A slower one at that speed will give you strobing and some blur. There is one cool effect you can do if you want...use a really slow shutter, like 1/8, and if you're going the same speed as the object you're shooting, it will be sharp and all the background stuff will be blurred. I've never tried that from a car but have done it hand held.

Exterior Video Car Camera Mounts
 

I've seen a few exterior video car mounts and I'm puzzled. Has anybody ever used one of these contraptions? I thought that the video camera electronics components can't take the buffeting of a car mount, i.e. every time the car hits a dip the pictre gets momentarily snowy or "squiggly" (for lack of a better term). Not to mention the damage to your camera from the contant banging. Any thoughts? I'm scared to death to put my XL1S on that thing.