Camera Mount

[Scrrem]

Can anyone recommend a good camera mount for the C4? I do not have a roll / harness bar and reallly didn't want to have a suction cup thing stuck to the windshield but it may be my only option.
Rich

[Gunny]

harness bar/roll bar is one of the easier solutions since it is so flexible with camera mounts ... if it has a downside it is that your camera is so far in the car you get an "inside" cabin view as well as the outside view (this might be a plus, depending on your needs).

But ... if you don't have a harness/roll bar, then the suction cup is probably going to be your solution. Attaching to the inside windshield does present a couple of problems with most suction cups in that the camera often has to be mounted upside down. If your camera has the ability to "flip" the video it's not a problem; otherwise, there is software to flip the video in post production (this is not a problem with stills).

Other possibilities: suction cup on the top of the car (actually, anywhere on the car ... just be sure to have a reliable suction cup so you don't lose the camera).

You might stop at Best Buy and look at a Gorilla tripod (flexible legs) & see how creative you can be with attaching it.

I've used harness bar mounts, suction cuts, hand held, etc. and I'm still looking for the "best" solution. Just got a new GoPro so I'm starting the search again for a decent mount. Good luck on your search (Google might be your friend on this one).

[WARP TEN]

Agree with Gunny. I put an old style (Terry Farber) harness bar in the 95 like the one I had in HIL KING. Mounts with the seat belt anchor bolts and rests on the extra top receivers. My GoPro mount sticks on the little plate in the center which also has a 1/4" hole for a screw mount. Works fine and provides a place to carry a fire extinguisher. --Bob

[Scrrem]

Yeah, after a morning of searching, not really much out there unless you have something to mount to. Looks like I will search for a harness bar, seems like the most sturdy mounting point.
Thanks guys!!
Rich

[batchman]

I was just looking at this one, thinking of mounting to the rear window (upside down). Actually thinking 3 of them, one each side outdoors plus one inside. With that many cameras I'm thinking lipstick style but not thrilled with WMP for viewing etc. I really need to integrate video with data to see what the hell I'm actually doing...

http://www.monoprice.com/Product/?c_id=117&cp_id=11704&cs_id=1170403&p_id=10160&seq=1&format=2

They seem to have a pretty full line of GoPro clone stuff too.

Good luck and please report back with your findings!
- Jeff

[Scrrem]

I was browsing through camera mount pictures in Google and found this:

http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/9173

Not sure how still it would hold the camera and I have window tiint on my back window, don't think I would trust a suction cup on that. Interesting though....
Rich

[Gunny]

The harness bar is probably the sturdiest/safest mount but has a view that is looking out from the cabin. Assuming the camera is mounted in the middle of the harness bar and the camera has a wide angle lens you will have a picture of the dash, a little bit of the driver and passenger, the rear view mirror, etc. If you zoom in to get more what you see through the windshield then vibration, motion, etc. becomes a factor. There are times I prefer the harness bar mount so that I can aim the camera to show the road as well as the speedometer and stuff but there are other times I prefer to film just the road view, and the windshield position seems better for that.

You might try a couple of things before buying a mount ... position your car on a flat level surface, then shoot some pictures from the center of the cabin, just behind the seat backs (i.e. where a harness bar would be located) and then shoot some pictures from the windshield area. If you like the windshield area, you should be able to find a good suction cup for $10 or so (a lot less than a harness bar). If you're doing video you might have to "fix" the final video file unless the camera allows an auto inversion since I haven't found a windshield mount that allows the camera to be mounted correctly. Anyway, if you go the windshield mount and your videos are upside down and the camera won't auto "fix" it for you let me know and I'll find the link to download software to fix your videos (I think it's free). Hope this helps.

[QB93Z]

I mounted a GoPro using one of the small, flat adhesive mounts to the inside of the windshield, next to the rearview mirror mount.

The camera is upside down as George mentioned, but it was easy to operate the controls from the driving position. When I used a camera mounted to a harness bar, I had trouble reaching the buttons from the driver's seat.

The upper edge of the windshield position gave a good forward view, with just enough hood showing.

Jim

[Gunny]

The GoPro that I just received as a gift a couple of weeks ago has a remote ... haven't actually used everything yet but played with it enough to believe that I can mount my camera where I want it and turn it on/off or change modes from stills to video using the remote. Hope it works that way.

[tf95ZR1]

Funny story and FYI: I wanted to record some runs (Mojave Mile)
so I mounted my camera to the center of my harness bar.
Zoom it in and the picture looks like its shot from the windshield.
But...
1) strapped in a 5 pt harness I found I can't turn to reach
the camera to turn it on or start it.
2) Got a remote for the camera but had to hide it
since they don't want anything loose in the cabin
that can go flying around.
3) With Nomex gloves on no way I can push the little
buttons on the remote! Nothing's easy!
So my "system": At the starting line I slip off my gloves,
turn the camera on, then quickly put the gloves back on.
So far, no complaints.

To your question, I know they make a rear view mirror
mount for radar detectors. You should be able to find a
rear view mirror mount for a camera, or adapt a radar
detector mount.

[Scrrem]

Yes, I think I found what I was looking for. Jim and Gunny brought up a good point about reaching the camera issue, so I have decided to go with a review view mirror mount. I have an existing video camera that will auto flip the image, so I am golden on that front. I should have the mount next week, I will do a test fit and report back.
Rich

[WARP TEN]

I mounted a GoPro using one of the small, flat adhesive mounts to the inside of the windshield, next to the rearview mirror mount.

The camera is upside down as George mentioned, but it was easy to operate the controls from the driving position. When I used a camera mounted to a harness bar, I had trouble reaching the buttons from the driver's seat.

The upper edge of the windshield position gave a good forward view, with just enough hood showing.

Jim
That is true, Jim, that reaching the camera buttons with it mounted on the harness bar is very difficult. Especially with a helmet on. Go Pro sells a remote fob but I hate spending the money on those accessories. Maybe a windshield mount makes sense. --Bob

[Scrrem]

Well I mocked up my camera mount today (since its F'n snowing again) and I think this will work fine. I haven't been able to drive with it yet to check how bad the camera vibrates of if a bumpy road will pull the camera down. If it doesn't work, I can use the mount for the Harley :p.
Rich

[Gunny]

That looks good. When weather lets up check to see if you're getting the view you want ... you might want to get the camera angle slightly higher (if possible).