What are some good pods for in car video? I will be heading down to the dragon this year and I will want to get some shots, but I dont really know how I will mount the camera...

Any ideas?
-Thanks

 

Here's how I mount mine for my track days....this was my first try. 1" aluminum square tubing held tp the headrest supports by some u bolts. The camera mount itself I bought at a camera store.

 

I like that idea and I would use it but I dont have movable headrests.

 

Another disadvantage of this idea is that you can't move the seats., although one guy who uses this method solved that problem by only using one set of u-bolts on each headrest instead of two as I did, that way the bar can pivot around as you move the seat. I thought it needed two sets so it would be stable, but in hindsight I think one on each side is fine.

In my next iteration I shortened the cross bar and only attached it to the passenger seat headrest. The only issue with that idea is that sometimes the seat can vibrate on bumps if no one's in it. I never had any problem with the video bouncing, but sometimes you could hear a rattle in the mount; the solution was to tighten the mount to the headrest a little more then shove the headrest down tight to the seat - that stopped it.

One of the guys in our KC MINI club did a similar idea, but mounted it to the headrests on his rear seats, that gave an interesting POV and I think I'm going to try it in one of my sessions at the track next summer. One of the few problems with this idea is that you can't reach the camera without getting out of the car like you can when it on the front seats.

For those who don't have moveable headrests, I've seen where some have suction cupped a mount to their sunroof........you need one of those pumpable suction cups like they use to move glass I'd think.

If you don't have a sunroof or moveable headrests, you may need to buy what's called a "Track bar", made to go behind the front seatbacks and have racing style seatbelts mounted to it.

 

Is there anyone who makes those sunroof suction mounted cams???

 

Here's a thread with ideas for sunroof mounted cams. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=26535 You could try PMing OctaneGuy as he used to make & sell Vacucams. He no longer makes them but could give you some ideas.

 

Very interesting idea... Hmm, I will check into that, Thanks

 

Check out filmtools.com it's pro-grade equipment, but you'll never need to worry about your camera falling.

I use this one with my DSLR and HDMiniDV Cam. Worked great at the Dragon a few months ago. Just note if you're going to the trackyou need to have it fastened with a bolt. Many have made a similar mount as the photo posted above, but for the rear seats.

The grippers direct competitor is a sticky pod, there are several reviews if you google that compare the two.

 

Are there any non commercial plans for such thing, aside from the one above

 

Non commercial you mean DIY?

 

Yea thats the word I was looking for..

 

Just making sure I pointing you int he right direction.

Depends where you want to mount it. I've nod a few of the onto the rear seat braces and headrests. Aluminum tubing and a basic tripod head can get you very far. Can fashion it with a hacksaw and drill to fit most any existing screw on the car. I've been mentally engineering a mount for a dashboard quick release setup, and about a half dozen of us put a little time toward rig engineering now and again, but those are much more engine off push the car on closed road/parking lot.

Harbor Freight, Meijer and a few other store also carry suction cups if oyu want to do something externally, I know one guy zip tied a tripod to them and did near rig-style shots of his mustang.

 

I use the CruiseCam and the StickyPod and have had excellent results with both. I got the large CruiseCam that attaches to both headrests for greater stability and the capability to mount two cameras at once on the same mount.

Links to the devices:

http://www.stickypod.com/

http://www.cruisecam.com/mounts.html

Links to some of my videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhoW_9Jsrro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK64-JS45FU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXae1WedcSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4N28af0Qzs

 

HOLY CHRISTMAS thats a big list... I suppose when I am at work in the morn ill check em out.
Thanks for the list

 

This pic was the inspiration for my second stab at a mount, I modified mine to look pretty much like this one..........

 

Mine is a modified 9.99 camera tripod from K-Mart ...

Here is a photo ... I can flip the screen around to see record mode and the frame shot



links to video on
www.myspace.com/WyvernMini
&
www.myspace.com/Norcalminisbrian

 

Mine taken the other day....2007 Mellow Yellow MCS you can hear the turbo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE9QZWCGabc

 

I know you're looking for in-car solutions, but I'll share this anyway....

 

Was that bought or did you make that?

 

It's all pretty standard grip gear...filmtools.com has most (if not all) of the parts.

 

As you have all the gripper parts there Would you say it's much more stable than the out of the box grippers?*halo*

 

That's excellent. I've already got one Gripper, but I've been looking for a way to have a safety tether. I was thinking a series of smaller suction cups and lines, but I may feel better just having two big Grippers like that. Would you happen to be able to provide a break-down of parts that comprise that setup?

 

1 - 4.5" Wood's vacuum cup w/ 5/8" spud
1 - 6" Wood's vacuum cup w/ 5/8" spud
3 - Matthews mini grip heads
2 - 3/8" x 20" stainless rods
1 - 5/8 spud
1 - Bogen Manfrotto Camera Bracket 143BKT
1 - Bogen Manfrotto 3025 3-D head

 

approx, what did it run you to make that setup?

 

$300, or so...essentially they're parts from the Gripper & the Gripper tie-down kit from filmtools.com

Good grip gear is worth the price if you're a shooter....it's all really versatile stuff that can be used in many different combinations.