Has anyone had any experience with camera mounts for their cars?

I am going to be taking a nice drive in Europe this summer and would like to film it. Ill be using my compact dig cam's video mode, so I dont need anything fancy, but just something that will do the trick.

Ive looked into the interior suction cup models which would probably work for me since it will be a convertible so Ill still get a good view from the windshield cam, but has anyone used the exterior mounts also?

Any input on the general topic is appreciated!

 

I've seen some pretty impressive rigs posted on POTN. Sounds like you don't need anything as substantial, but searching there would be good for ideas.

Here's a good start:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...=car+mount+rig

 

I just picked up the Manfrotto 243 which is a mount that clamps on the glass of a window. It's probably not ideal to what you have in mind due to the location of the camera in a window opening. Not to mention wind noise. But it is fairly small and inexpensive if you want to consider it as an alternate mounting option.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...indow_Pod.html

 

I have a car mount. It is meant for video cameras, but I've used it for still cameras as well. It is probably one of the more useless camera accessories I have, but it has a high cool factor when I whip it out.

So I would think twice before getting one. I've used it maybe 4 times. Only one time was for pay.

Here are some pictures of it:

 

http://www.stickypod.com/

Buddy uses that and it works well

 

i've got a heavy duty suction mount (Woods?) with Manfrotto ball head...works great inside and out of the car...

i've also got a Gorillapod that i'll be using inside the car pretty soon...it can wrap around anything and has one hell of a grip...

 

Check out this website:
http://www.rigshots.com.au/howto1.htm

There's a small discussion on another forum I frequent. Check it out:

http://www.xceedspeed.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=131181

 

can you please post pics of your set up?

 

I was actually looking to make one but i need find suction cups that do the least damage.

 

make your own, clamp it to the headrest and put a ball head at the end.

 

most of these are shitty cell phone pics...




























suction-mount can be found here -> Gripper Mini 484

gorillapod slr-zoom can be found here -> gorillapod slr-zoom

 

How does the gorillapod slr zoom hold up?
the suction mount seems very limited in angles?

 

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...&highlight=rig

I found something like this. It looks fairly cheap, probably add a flexible arm at the end.

 

the gorillapod holds up extremely well...i haven't tested it in the car yet; only set it up to show you what it would like if i had up above...

when i first got the gorillapod i tested it by wrapping it around a tall metal pole in the kitchen on the counter...it was about 8 feet off the ground and wouldn't budge at all, so the grip on that thing is amazing (it's the little gray balls that make it happen).

the suction-mount can actually get quite a few angles...i know it doesn't look like much in pictures, but that ball head can move in any direction you want, from straight up to 90 degrees on its side...so you can get 180 degrees out of it...i haven't had a problem with angles, anyways...an extension rig would be cooler for more of a full-car shot, but i don't need that...

 

They have a cool one at FilmTools that mounts on the metal rods of the head rest, it looked pretty secure.


I'd be shitting brix if I put my camera on a suction cup like the ones posted above

 

yeah i actually have the headrest mount with rods on my wish list...

i hear ya about sticking your camera on a suction mount outside your car...i drive verrrrry slow when i do....tho i did test it with my (mid-size) video camera going 10-15 mph and it held up perfectly...

 

thanks rimz...i also found this... http://www.delkin.com/products/acces...fat-gecko.html
similar to yours but might be able to get more angle and has more than 1 suction cup...i'd like to do a full extended rig but i'm too lazy to make one...looks expensive too

 

Well I think it would take a 3 man operation I would let the car in neutral have someone in the car and another push and one to watch the camera.

 

I'm not sure about the ones posted above, but the suction cups I've seen people use on POTN are really heavy duty. The ones they use to lift thick/heavy glass. They are VERY secure. I'm not saying you wouldn't want a safety cable or something on it, but I know they drive more than 15 mph with them.

 

The car mount I have is meant for video cameras up to 8 lbs. So I have no problems with putting an SLR on there.

The suction cups have a level that will show you when they are about to give so you can re-vacuum with the plunger located on the cup.

 

the only reason i was doing 15mph is because i was in my condo's neighborhood...i'm not going to drive 30 or 40mph thru there and risk hitting someone...the mount could've definitely handled much higher speeds (i've held onto the thing while trying to pull it off the car and it doesn't move)...

also, the suction-mount i've shown you up above can hold 8.8lbs and also has an indicator showing when you need to re-secure the cup...



drigo, that's a pretty good find...two suction cups will make you feel more secure...

 

Im probably going look into one thats for a tripod since I don't think I will need that much of range, but a decent wide angle would be enough .

Cuz each suction cup is about 50 bucks.