in-car cameras and mounts

lucifuge · Postby **lucifuge** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:51 pm

I currently have a basic Canon camera < $100 and it actually takes decent video footage.

Problem is I've tried a few (cheap) mounts within car (suction mount) and I get rattles like someones teeth are shattering. I've practically given up with the tried combo. I can try a more expensive mount or, a GoPro. What I'm paranoid about is whether I'll get rattle with either of these two after shelling out serious dough for the privilege. Does anyone have experience either way?

All I want to do is take at least 640 x320 footage in-car video with rattle free audio!? that too hard to ask for!??

cheers
Brett

Arty · Postby **Arty** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 10:39 pm

I've got exactly the same problem with a Canon Ixus 80is, I've sent the camera back to Canon as it's still under warranty
should get a response back in a few days. I have it mounted on a Panavise suction cup mount,
http://racerecall.com/mounts__cases.html
Top product fits right next to the rear view mirror on the windscreen, in my case it's not the mount. I took the battery out and sd card then shook the camera near my ear, sounds like there is a small screw loose, no, not in my head :mrgreen:

in the camera, which of course is right where the mic is. Hope this is of some help.

honki3rider · Postby **honki3rider** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:10 pm

Something like this if you have a rollbar?

broady · Postby **broady** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:47 am

I use the camzilla suction mount with my iPhone and find the audio pretty good. There are some rattles that come through the mount but overall I'm happy enough not to bother with an external mic these days.

Previously I used a camzilla rollbar mount with a point & shoot camera but I found that the audio was worse and that the vibrations from the car got transferred directly to the camera because the mount was so much more stiff & stable. The suction mount seems to absorb a lot of the vibrations you don't really want coming through on video

Have you considered using an external mic?

Here's a sample video:

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:21 am

The tiny spy cameras I use weigh next to nothing and are very easy to tape in place anywhere without rattles. But before that I used a Canon DV camera which rattled like mad. I solved that with lots of gaffer tape. Might help you too.

MX5-SP · Postby **MX5-SP** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:09 pm

I have a GoPro "Hero" cam and I'm really happy with the lack of vibration, but I haven't yet worked out the best sound recording combination. I've been told it works better outside of the water-proof housing (...like Duh?)... but it still doesn't quite pick-up the engine sounds I want. I need to experiment more, and might try an external pick-up mic. I don't want to record a separate sound track on a different device if I can avoid it.

lucifuge · Postby **lucifuge** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:28 pm

Thanks for replies!

Arty - yes mine is an Ixus 85 or something too. I guess it's ultimately not designed for what I'm intending to do with it.
Honki /broady - no rollbar

Guran - link to the 'spy' cameras please?
Mx5-SP - what sort of mount does the GoPro use ....and where do you attach it in your car?

broady · Postby **broady** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:30 pm

lucifuge wrote:broady - no rollbar

read again - I don't use the rollbar mount anymore. check it out ... www.camzilla.com.au

lucifuge · Postby **lucifuge** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:48 pm

broady wrote:
lucifuge wrote:broady - no rollbar

read again - I don't use the rollbar mount anymore. check it out ... http://www.camzilla.com.au

ahh sorry chief, will check it now

MX5-SP · Postby **MX5-SP** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 6:15 pm

lucifuge wrote:Thanks for replies!
Mx5-SP - what sort of mount does the GoPro use ....and where do you attach it in your car?

The package came with several mounts both flat and curved for various body panels and even crash helmets. But the most versatile mount is a suction cup set-up that I reckon you could scale the side of a skyscraper with - it really grips and can be released very quickly with no damage to the paint. The other mounts have double sided tape, so I would not use these on parts of the car that matter. I do have one mounted on a flat part of the roll-bar frame, and I can vouch for the lack of vibration when the camera is mounted on it.

BTW, I reckon the main reason for the lack of vibration is the really low weight of the camera.

Here's some footage taken on Springbrook Rd, Mudgeeraba, Queensland - Dec 2009. In this video the camera was mounted on the suction cup on the rear panel between the cockpit and the boot lid.

http://gallery.me.com/werdnaybrad/100033

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