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trying to find cameras with car mounts


Richard Flood

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Just firstly I'd like to say the customary newbie hello to all :lol:

 

I'm an avid photographer and writer and have been wanting to get some of my ideas and experiences onto film for a while (I have so many), and one of those things is making a website with a series of films on driving holidays/driving roads/road trips in the uk (and if it's a success possibly abroad too).

Motorcycling & driving is my number one hobby above anything else and plus I used to be a taxi & coach driver so I have plenty of insight to shed on this, however I am at a loss trying to find the suitable gear.

I'm really looking to car-mounted cameras and have two left/right outer facing cameras for passing landscape shots with a forward facing one in the back just over my shoulder, one mounted in/on the bumper and one for the shot of me driving and talking (top-gearesque).

Would be nice also for something that could be mounted to a motorcycle or helmet.

 

As for the actual requirements, size will be an issue so would ease of use under the circumstances but without allowing too much compromise for functionality and quality. Image quality isn't something I'm overly obsessed about although saying that I want something that could potentially be put to DVD if the whole scheme does get to a stage online where I can start selling copies.

 

So, can anyone out there help or possibly offer some sort of experience on the matter?

Also, some feedback on my idea and any possible ideas on it would be VERY welcome!

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Hello Richy,

 

Welcome to C.com. First, we're pretty insistent on posters using their first and last names. There are a lot of very good reasons for this. We hope that you will cooperate on that point. Second, your question might find more answers on a video or web creation forum. The folks here tend to use bigger and more professional gear than what you'll need for a web-only presentation. Not to say that no one here will help. Just that other forums may be closer to your topic.

 

Your idea does sound quite interesting, though.

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Welcome... and I don't want to start on the wrong foot but... :rolleyes:

 

So you want 6 cameras and a way to mount them all?

I'm sorry but have you actually watched Top Gear?

Do you see all the names under the Camera credit? They are not there to eat donuts.

Yes they use fixed cameras but not for much and even then there is a specialist taking care of them because there is no one way to mount a camera. Even once its on there are also lighting and reflections off windows considerations just getting started.

 

You can use Limpet mounts, a cini-saddle with straps and bungee cords or even just gaffer tape... all manner of stuff Here is a camera test I did with a EX1 on a shelf mounted to my car with angle brackets and sand bags to deaden the movement. Its speed up because that's how the final shot was supposed to look like and I used a shelf because I got 3 hours notice and the rental company had closed.

 

I don't want to diss your dream and hey try fixing a camera for fun as long as you keep safety for you and the public in mind but if you are really serious about having a product worth selling you need more than a bunch of low quality fixed cameras and a lot of yak lecturing about driving/riding.

 

Have fun be safe but don't kid yourself you will sell anything. :)

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Yeah I see your point although maybe just two or three would do that could be changed round for certain parts.

The 'top-gearesque' reference was to the shot of the driver and the way of commenting on the particular journey whilst driving.

 

And who said anything about crappy and low quality? :rolleyes: I've got a fair bit of money set aside for this project and it's not something i'm going into lightly.

I'm prepared for the learning curve and expense and am 100% committed all the way.

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If you have the money then then your best idea is to hire someone with the skills and equipment, shoot a pilot with them and that way you can see what works without paying for a bunch of kit that might not do what you want.

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  • 2 weeks later...
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I'm prepared for the learning curve and expense and am 100% committed all the way.

 

I suggest buying a Canon HV-40 and someone's sandbag or suction cup mount style mount at first and playing around with it. The camera will run around $1K US and a really good mount about half that. Shoot a bunch of tape and get some practice and ideas. One caveat always with car mounts is to safety it with straps, etc. so if the mount gets loose the camera won't become a lethal weapon.

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There are many good points made here. I would add that if you could be satisfied with a relatively light camera(s) you might look into using a Sticky Pod product. I bought this Sticky Pod pro a while ago after seeing an advertisement on here and have used it a lot with good results. I've driven on the highway

at good speeds and it is relatively unobtrusive so that it doesn't draw a ton of attention. I was using it once mounted on an old Caddy and a policeman in a cruiser asked me about it out of curiosity. We had a friendly talk and he didn't say anything else about it.

 

 

Here is my Sticky Pod Pro which I modified by drilling a hole in it to accommodate the head and thus mount a heavier camera. I snapped this picture for

illustration purposes (when a car is moving I would have the mount heavily saftied!)

 

Also, I have taken lighter cameras on the highway but have gone slower with this set-up. It would probably be okay but this mount definitely works well

for lighter cameras.

post-12764-1248761517.jpg

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