How to mount a camcorder to make a driving video

[AUSMHLY]

Hello everyone,

There are a lot of MacGyers here and I'm looking for some ideas please.

I'm gearing up to make a driving video.
My first hurdle, where and how to mount the camera.

I think (others do too, and that's what gets us in trouble) the best position would be to place the camera in the middle of the car, behind the driver. Allowing the viewer to see the shifting, the dash and to look though the windscreen. The rear view mirror may cause a problem, so some placement of the camera may be needed.

Supporting and anchoring the camera is today's question.
Has anyone made a video like this? If so, how have you mounted the camera?

For the placement I'm attempting, I'm playing with mounting the camera on the tonneau support rail. I've been to the hardware store (where they all know me by name now)and got some clamps that may work. I'm also playing with some Lock-Line connectors to mount to both the camera and the support rail.

What have you guys used to mount the camera and where have you mounted yours?

Cheers,
Roger

 

[Shane]

Re: How to make a driving video

Vibration is going to be your enemy. Also, if you mount to the tonneau rail, each bump is going to be amplified that much more. I'm going to shoot tomorrow morning with my cameraman in the back seat. It's amazing how much a cameraman with good arms can absorb bumps and vibrations. Good luck.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Re: How to make a driving video

Thank you for pointing that out.

I'm trying to work out all the bugs before March.
I've been invited to take my car on the 2.238-mile world-renowned race track, the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The camera must be hard mounted.
Where or how would you suggest I hard mount the camera, to minimize the vibration?

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: How to make a driving video

There are suction-cup type mounts, that could be put directly on the tonneau (good time to have a two-seater) or on the windshield. These work pretty well, with not much threat of coming loose. Note that most, if not all, sanctioning bodies will require a safety strap on the camera, in the event that the mount did come loose (so a strap to the mount will not satisfy that).

This is what I did on my M Roadsters (with a rollhoop from a salvaged car). I expect to fit it to the Healey's rollbar, should the need ever arrise.

I made the mount from a solid piece of aluminum, and then put an I/O Port gimbal on it.

 

[tahoe healey]

Re: How to make a driving video

Camera stores and places like REI sell something called a grilla pod. Three leg tripod but the legs bend to wrap around things. Several sizes for different weight cameras. Your tonneau bar may not be high enough though. Amazon.com sold us ours cheaper.

 

[Cottontop]

After seeing THIS VIDEO 6-8 years ago, I made a video camera mount that held my video camera about 4 feet over/above my trunk mounted luggage rack.

I made the mount using two 8' lengths of electrical conduit, pounded flat in the middle and folded double.

1" of the end of each end of the conduit was pounded flat and held to the front and rear of the luggage rack by padded Adel clamps.

To the flat center portion of the conduit, I bolted an aluminum plate to which I mounted a ball & socket tripod head. This held the video camera using the camera's tripod socket.

My video camera had a wide enough field of view that it could see the driver AND the road ahead.

The whole rig was remarkably stable and cost less than $25.

Doing it again, I would mount a piece of plexiglass in front of the camera to reduce the road crud hitting the camera and the wind buffeting into the camera's front facing microphone.

Sorry I don't have any pictures of the mount, but if interested, I could make up a detailed sketch for you or even mock one up to show you what it looked like.

If no luggage rack, I suppose it could be mounted to the Healey by suction cups and tethered for security.

If interested, contact me at timm(at)healey.org.

Tim

 

[GregW]

Hi Roger,
Something to consider is a mount that can get you a number of different angles. While a drive through the mountains might be a blast for the driver, a single camera angle gets tedious to watch. Motorcycle mounts could have what you're looking for too. Here is a video that may get the creative juices flowing (not that <span style="font-style: italic">you</span> need any help). Dr Sardonicus

 

[hama61]

Hello.

As I haven't got the slightest idea how to post a picture tried with copy paste but didn't succeed

Maybe you can google and search: hama 4043 and you select pictures the rest is self explanatory.

If you tape wide angle I suppose it would work fine at least it does when I tape by hand. I would secure the camera anyhow during testing to see how things will go.

Harry

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hello Harry,

Maybe I can help you, with how to post a picture.

If you want to respond to someones post, click reply.
Under the box you are typing in, you should see:
File Manager, click that.
Then Browse.
Then Look in, find your photos.
Click on the photo you want.
Then to the right, click on OPEN
Then Add File
Then, Done adding files.

Your photo will now be part of the post.

Thank you for you for offering hama 4043.
Cheers,
Roger

 

[AUSMHLY]

Re: How to make a driving video

There are suction-cup type mounts, that could be put directly on the tonneau (good time to have a two-seater) or on the windshield. These work pretty well, with not much threat of coming loose. Note that most, if not all, sanctioning bodies will require a safety strap on the camera, in the event that the mount did come loose (so a strap to the mount will not satisfy that).

This is what I did on my M Roadsters (with a rollhoop from a salvaged car). I expect to fit it to the Healey's rollbar, should the need ever arrise.

I made the mount from a solid piece of aluminum, and then put an I/O Port gimbal on it.

Thank you MacGyver Randy for replying.
Very nice mounding on your cars!

 

[Lin]

Re: How to make a driving video

Hi Roger,
This doesn't help you since this is a BN7 or BT7, but I came across it while looking at some photos someone had take at Conclave 2007 ( I think Al Malin). Interesting idea! It might help others.

Lin