Getting ready for Willow Springs and I purchased this Samsonite tri-pod for filming in cabin. I took this out to the local hills and it works pretty well. I used the the seat belts to hold the two front legs, and a bungee cord attached to the center post and hooked into the body in the trunk. Very firm.
The stand cost $30.

I don't like this position so much because it is straight at the rear view mirror. You can still see the road, and you can easily read the speedo, but I want to see what's in front more.

I plan on moving the legs to the floor and the back leg into the finger hole for the rear compartment. I'll then use tie-downs to the seat brackets and the child seat restraing bars located in the seat cracks.
I tested this location earlier, but I didn't like the legs touching the back of the seat. No real problem since in race position the seats are further up by a few inches.

Video quality was excellent and very little shakes. The speedo is amazingly easy to read even when the sun hits it. The other position allows for the viewing of the speed as well, but not without full pan out.

 

I'm not trying to be a dick but I laughed when i saw the pictures.

Wow. Hahaha. Ghetto Rigged. But if it works then that's alright with me.

 

Good Job I tried the same thing, but it didn't work ut real well. Then I just went and bought was of those suction camera mounts and works real good

 

I understand the reason if price is your goal. but if its not then have a look at the manfrotto magic arm kit http://www.manfrotto.com.au/Lighting...cord_Number=37

 

I thought it was a bit ghetto to, but then I thought about how many times I would be using it and price trumped form. My last track event I saw to porsches with tri-pods bungeed to the front seat, so I can't take all the credit.

Cheers.

 

Cool, just make sure its secure. I have to say if I was in scruitineering I wouldnt pass that.

Cheers

Andrew

 

Did you run this by the people that run the event? My club wouldn't let that pass tech.

 

^ +1

 

Point taken ^

I have searched the net high and low, but I have not found what other 8 users are using.

This is the only one that looks like it might even have a chance, but then I am not ready to put down $120. http://www.soloperformance.com/Shopp...t/Default.aspx

 

My next event I will try this Helmet cam
But the quality will not match the digital tape one I used last time. I swap out my OEM seats with Kirkey aluminum seats when I track my 8. I just attach a bracket to the back of the passenger seat and screw it to the tripod mount of the cam. I think you can see it in the photo.

 

i have a metal bar that goes thru the pass thru into the trunk, i have a dowel that goes down, and it bolts up in the metal piece in the trunk. once i get home ill post pics. somewhat easy to make yourself, and pretty cheap.

 

I want to set something up so that I can tape during RA. How much do you think it would cost. Minus the camera?

 

if you do what i did, maybe 15-20 bucks

 

Yes, post some pics.

 

The upper point is where the camcorder bolts too, the rear end bolts to the metal right after the pass thru into the trunk

 

I have thought of this design in my quest, but I was worried about getting impelled should there be an accident.
I suppose, like the tri-pod it gets the job done. I will not give up yet. There has got to be the perfect "8 Friendly" camera mount system.
I think your mount is on the right track, but I would like to be able to adjust the height and pivot point.

 

it bolts in the sheet metal in the trunk, so i guess if i get impaled during an accident, i have worse things going on

 

Definately, if it bolts onto the rear strut bar then you're good to go.

 

I did something very similar, but I have the ability to really adjust my height and angle of the camera. Because the RX-8 does not have headrest posts, I rigged up my tripod using bungee cords. It's very stable. Please note this is my first ever rig setup and in car video. My Konica Minolta DiMage A200 camera has a very nice video mode. I can take up too 800X600 res video, but for my test and web distribution I choose the minimum 320x200 and compressed it post processing.



Test video: http://www.altspace.com/rx8/8test2.mov

 

I used two bolts...and an "L" shaped piece of metal...I'll post some pics of it...but it mounted right up to a hole inside the trunk and the video came out great...VERY stable and clear video with the exception of 120+ wind buffetting...

Much easier than erecting a tripod...

Check out the video quality...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...67829043&hl=en

I have yet to finish copying all the video to the computer but as soon as I finish I'll post the sessions in the multimedia gallery...

 

That was a nice vid. PLease do post the pictures of the setup.

I have some old Protec helmet's from back in my skating days. I'm tring to mount a camera onto the side of one of them, I just dont know how the video will look.

 

When its head mounted you get ALOT of shake and sway...I found that when its hardmounted to the car using a fairly stiff mount it reduces the shakes and makes the video much more stable.

I also used a bracket which was shaped like an L...it was a right angle brace used for computer racks. The L shape prevents up/down/left/right shaking.

Like I said the only problem I found was that at a certain speed the wind buffetting the camera due to turbulence in the back introduced the shake you see on that straight...I was going like 120+ at the time so its hard to combat that...I am thinking I can reinforce the camera to mount contact to keep that down...I'll keep ppl posted on what I find works.

I'll post up pics of the mount shortly. I have one extra setup left but I was going to give that to another forum member if they wanted it...he's already got dibbs...

 

OK the pic 28-2 is the bracket and the two bolts used. The black "pads" are rubber computer feet that I stuck before and after the hole in order to reduce vibration and prevent side to side motion.

You can see the black pads on pic 30-2 in front and behind the hole the bolt went thru. The hole is dead center on the car. The pic is from inside the car looking into the trunk.

Pic 32-2 shows the hole from inside the trunk that I used to put the bolt+washer into and down thru the hole on the bottom shown on pic 30-2. You can go in thru that big hole and simply drop the bolt downwards. Then you hold it with a wrench while tightening up the nut from the bottom.

Once that is completed you take the second bolt with is thread compatible with your camera and place the remaining washers on it. Place your cam on top of the bracket and tighten down.

DONE.

Worked like a charm...used spare parts laying around...

I'll mount it up and take pics of the completed setup later for those that need that visual.

 

hmmm...wrong thread I guess.

 

You ran into the same problem as I did, the mirror just gets in the way. I moved my tri-pod to the floor and it only got worse.