DIY Camera Mount (youtube sample video included)

henjiro · 03-16-2008, 01:06 AM

So I search around looking for a camera mount that would be safe to use for track days and but also something not too expensive. NASA rules require at least screw be used to mount the also tethered, from what i hear its got to be solidly mounted. I've looked at:

Camera Mounts - Sticky Pod, Grippers, Suction Cups, Light & Mid Weight Camera Mounts
dont' know if it pass tech inspection at the track plus kinda pricey

Sticky Pod Online Store
same as the gripper mount, don't know if it pass tech inspection

Building a Car Camera Mount
hmmm, may fit my needs and its cheap (this one got me brainstorming).

Also checked out the ioport mount but its more than $100...ouch! There's also the AndrewSS mount, but wanted something I can remove easily. I also have a HDD/SDHC hybrid camera so I wanted something with some sort of dampening. I will be recording through my SD media instead of my built-in hard drive.

Here's what I came up with.

Parts List:

Bogen-Manfrotto 482 Micro Ball Head (picked at local camera store for less than $40)
Nylon spacer (less than $1 at Home depot)
3/8 16 2inch screw and nut (less than $1 at Home depot)
2 3/8 washers (less than $1 at Home depot)
rubber bushings from kragen ($5, found in the help me parts section)

First, unbolt the center baby seat bracket

notice that the bolt is welded on

break it off or shear it off with a 17mm socket and a long breaker bar. I was able to break it off clean.

another shot from the top

assemble the screw, washer and bushing like so. Note that all the following picture shows a 2.5in screw, I actually used a 2 inch screw.

then stick it in the hole like this:

Then assemble the top side like this.

So the rear-deck is sandwiched between the two bushings.

Now put the nylon spacer over the nut and screw and ball-head in and now you're done. The bushing should help somewhat to isolate vibrations, compared to complete bolting everything down metal to metal.

Here the finished mount. Note that I have 2 nuts in, thats because I was using a 2.5 inch long screw. I now use 2 inch long screws so there's no need for the 2nd nut. This adds some clearance from the top of the camcorder and the rear windshield.

I'll post some mounted pics and test drive video later.

***Here is a sample track video with this mount:
YouTube - HPDE1 at Infineon 4-19-08

04STiguy79 · 03-16-2008, 06:05 AM

Pretty sweet idea, post it in the DIY section. I have the Andrewss mount and it works excellent. You can get the 2part one that easily removes the top section so it is no longer noticeable.

amg destroyer · 03-16-2008, 07:35 AM

I'd personally rather get the AndewSS mount, but this is a nice option.

henjiro · 03-16-2008, 06:54 PM

re-did some stuff, no spacers used and also added the plastic cover back in.

This is how it would normally look when its not in use.

mounted pics

USNSTI · 03-16-2008, 06:58 PM

^^^^^^ very nice work.

henjiro · 03-16-2008, 07:54 PM

test run video:

YouTube - my DIY camera mount test

Dragicon · 03-16-2008, 08:23 PM

this is awesome!

Dragicon · 03-16-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henjiro

test run video:

YouTube - my DIY camera mount test

i could only take about 30 seconds of this

most boring in car video evar!

gosu · 03-16-2008, 08:58 PM

Possibly my next mod now! ! !

**tyler_sti** · 03-16-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragicon

i could only take about 30 seconds of this

most boring in car video evar!

Yeah definatly. Very effective little piece, nice work man!

henjiro · 03-16-2008, 09:39 PM

of course it'll be boring

. i wouldn't do anything stupid on the street

. anyways, just showing how it would be on rather rough roads...roads in the bay area really sucks.

henjiro · 03-16-2008, 11:14 PM

I also noticed that the tighter I screw the top nut, the stiffer the assembly gets (more vibration transmitted). so kinda acts as an adjuster. So for people who doesn't need dampening, you can make it really stiff. I'm refering to the nut in this pic:

Peleg · 03-26-2008, 07:42 PM

Is it really necessarry to prey the welded piece or is there a way around it?

I just got my sunpak mount in the mail.

henjiro · 03-26-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peleg

Is it really necessarry to prey the welded piece or is there a way around it?

I just got my sunpak mount in the mail.

It has a different thread size than the mount I am using. . Unless your mount uses the same size or you can find an adapter of some sort, you wouldn't have to.

henjiro · 04-13-2008, 11:42 PM

I was at Infineon this weekend and finally tested out my mount. Worked out pretty good IMO. Here is the video:
YouTube - HPDE1 at Infineon 4-19-08

03-16-2008, 01:06 AM	#1
henjiro Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: ME! Track Time Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	DIY Camera Mount (youtube sample video included) So I search around looking for a camera mount that would be safe to use for track days and but also something not too expensive. NASA rules require at least screw be used to mount the also tethered, from what i hear its got to be solidly mounted. I've looked at: Camera Mounts - Sticky Pod, Grippers, Suction Cups, Light & Mid Weight Camera Mounts dont' know if it pass tech inspection at the track plus kinda pricey Sticky Pod Online Store same as the gripper mount, don't know if it pass tech inspection Building a Car Camera Mount hmmm, may fit my needs and its cheap (this one got me brainstorming). Also checked out the ioport mount but its more than $100...ouch! There's also the AndrewSS mount, but wanted something I can remove easily. I also have a HDD/SDHC hybrid camera so I wanted something with some sort of dampening. I will be recording through my SD media instead of my built-in hard drive. Here's what I came up with. Parts List: Bogen-Manfrotto 482 Micro Ball Head (picked at local camera store for less than $40) Nylon spacer (less than $1 at Home depot) 3/8 16 2inch screw and nut (less than $1 at Home depot) 2 3/8 washers (less than $1 at Home depot) rubber bushings from kragen ($5, found in the help me parts section) First, unbolt the center baby seat bracket notice that the bolt is welded on break it off or shear it off with a 17mm socket and a long breaker bar. I was able to break it off clean. another shot from the top assemble the screw, washer and bushing like so. Note that all the following picture shows a 2.5in screw, I actually used a 2 inch screw. then stick it in the hole like this: Then assemble the top side like this. So the rear-deck is sandwiched between the two bushings. Now put the nylon spacer over the nut and screw and ball-head in and now you're done. The bushing should help somewhat to isolate vibrations, compared to complete bolting everything down metal to metal. Here the finished mount. Note that I have 2 nuts in, thats because I was using a 2.5 inch long screw. I now use 2 inch long screws so there's no need for the 2nd nut. This adds some clearance from the top of the camcorder and the rear windshield. I'll post some mounted pics and test drive video later. ***Here is a sample track video with this mount: YouTube - HPDE1 at Infineon 4-19-08 This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by henjiro : 04-13-2008 at 11:39 PM. Reason: update

03-16-2008, 06:05 AM	#2
04STiguy79 Professional STI Racer Car: 04 Platnm Silvr STi Fav Mod: GT35R 450WHP Pump No Meth Location: MD,BASC Club,Team Agile Posts: 615 Join Date: May 2007 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: DIY Camera Mount Pretty sweet idea, post it in the DIY section. I have the Andrewss mount and it works excellent. You can get the 2part one that easily removes the top section so it is no longer noticeable.

03-16-2008, 07:35 AM	#3
amg destroyer GUNNIN' IT Car: '05 STi Fav Mod: Sparco seat Location: OC Posts: 3,753 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: DIY Camera Mount I'd personally rather get the AndewSS mount, but this is a nice option.

03-16-2008, 06:54 PM	#4
henjiro Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: ME! Track Time Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: DIY Camera Mount re-did some stuff, no spacers used and also added the plastic cover back in. This is how it would normally look when its not in use. mounted pics

03-16-2008, 06:58 PM	#5
USNSTI Silver Member Car: OBP 07 STi Fav Mod: Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame Location: San Diego Posts: 1,036 Join Date: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (6)	Re: DIY Camera Mount ^^^^^^ very nice work.

03-16-2008, 07:54 PM	#6
henjiro Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: ME! Track Time Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: DIY Camera Mount test run video: YouTube - my DIY camera mount test

03-16-2008, 08:23 PM	#7
Dragicon Spec C Club Car: 07 SWP STi Fav Mod: Perrin Exhaust Location: Ogden UT :( Posts: 1,082 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: DIY Camera Mount this is awesome!

03-16-2008, 08:58 PM	#9
gosu STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: Tires and Brakes! Location: AZ Posts: 200 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: DIY Camera Mount Possibly my next mod now! ! !

03-16-2008, 09:39 PM	#11
henjiro Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: ME! Track Time Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: DIY Camera Mount of course it'll be boring. i wouldn't do anything stupid on the street. anyways, just showing how it would be on rather rough roads...roads in the bay area really sucks.

03-16-2008, 11:14 PM	#12
henjiro Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: ME! Track Time Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: DIY Camera Mount I also noticed that the tighter I screw the top nut, the stiffer the assembly gets (more vibration transmitted). so kinda acts as an adjuster. So for people who doesn't need dampening, you can make it really stiff. I'm refering to the nut in this pic:

03-26-2008, 07:42 PM	#13
Peleg STI Guru Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Whooshing sounds Location: NorCal Posts: 5,565 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (11)	Re: DIY Camera Mount Is it really necessarry to prey the welded piece or is there a way around it? I just got my sunpak mount in the mail.

04-13-2008, 11:42 PM	#15
henjiro Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: ME! Track Time Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: DIY Camera Mount (youtube sample video included) I was at Infineon this weekend and finally tested out my mount. Worked out pretty good IMO. Here is the video: YouTube - HPDE1 at Infineon 4-19-08 This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.