Help Me Put Together a Car Mount System...
 

...like this one (SM4 Model with dual cups)

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/camera_suct...uum_mounts.htm

I know they use manfrotto stuff mixed with some of their items. i also know that using all manfrotto equipment i should be able to build something at a fraction of the cost.

eg, using this head with a pair of pumps that have clamps which rotate to accomodate for angling the rod...

i might not be making sense but i can see it in my head and i know what i need it's just hard for me to invisage the items i need fitting together without seeing them in person. i live in Australia so i do not want to make a mistake with my purchase as the shipping costs are ridiculous. i have this fear of ending up with a frankenstein set of manfrotto items.

any help much appreciated.

George,

see the next Manfrotto dealer and ask for a catalogue of their studio equipment. They have lots of clamps, brackets, rods and what have you. The pics will give you a good idea of what you could use to build a car mount.

However, I doubt that it would be much cheaper to build it yourself as the Manfrotto studio equipment is aimed at professional users and hence is not cheap.

I'm not a fan of car mounts that use only one suction cup. If it goes, so does your camera! I'd think about something that uses at least 3. Since you live in OZ, Check out the last 3 or 4 issues of Video Camera Australia. They are doing a series from my book, "Killer Camera Rigs That You Can Build" on how to build your own car mount. Then you won't even have to buy my book! Unfortunately, it doesn't include all the photos that are in the book, but the instructions are still pretty easy to follow. If you want to see it in action, go here: http://dvcamerarigs.com/killercontents.html and click on the QuickTime movie that says "car mount".

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Car Mounts
 

I do a lot of in-car stuff and use a sony DSR-V10 DVCAM recorder with a screen, connected to a minicam. This comfortably mounts on a single pump cup (sucker) and works really well. If the sucker mount fails, the lead to the VCR will hold the camera until the car can be stopped! Must say, it's never happened yet! I would try and get a used pump cup on eBay or something. I picked up one recently for GBP 50 complete with swivel mount.

I am going to try and build a DvCarRig my self. It looks like the safest and easiest to use car rig I have ever seen. If I fail I will order the original one
from www.dvtec.tv

How about just using a miniature surveilance-style camera and the AV inputs on your camera, using this to hold the mini-camera:

http://jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...oductId=222746

Basically a simple version of what the poster above me said. I've used the other product in this line, a Panavise CCTV mount set, and it worked flawlessly. Panavise is really a good manufacturer in this realm.

after a few days searching i think i will have to settle on the SM4. nothing i have seen so far and nothing i can put together seems as versatile and secure as that one for the price range.

double post

I'm all for personal expression but is it just me or is the guy's outfit (including earring and necklace) on the splash page of dvtec.tv, WAY too distracting?? LOL

My thought process was "Ok, a Sony HDV on- Holy crap is that a watermark over the jpeg or his actual shirt?!"

http://www.stickypod.com/

You can see my film that was shot using these mounts here:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=46807

Thanks,
Eric James
http://www.expertmagic.com/