How I mounted my in-car camera
07-15-2004, 12:06 AM
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How I mounted my in-car camera
A few people have asked me how I did it, thought I would post this up. Refer the the following videos in this thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...eferrerid=2257
Best way to do it, without purchasing the purpose built tripods with suction pads (it should cost you about - AUD$20, USD$15, GBP£8 - this way)...
Install is based on a MiniDV camera, but will also work with other cameras as long as they aren't too heavy. Don't forget to check and see if you can use the camera in the car at the race track/event you are going to. Some will only allow solid mounting from rollcage points etc. using fabricated brackets etc.
Also - a wide angle lens is the only way to go - so go get yourself one if you haven't already!
Things to get from your local handy shop:
1. Get yourself a piece of 25x25mm wood, around 1.5 meters long (long enough to go across the back of the front seats).
2. A stack of cable ties, some heavy duty, some medium, various lengths.
3. I use a mini tripod with a quick release head.
4. Velcro with a sticky back.
5. 2 pieces of flat metal around 100mm x 20mm x 2mm thick - wrap this in cloth tape to stop it scratching anything.
How to install:
Have both seats in the position you need them for racing - not driving (i.e. you'll probably need to move them forward a little).
The piece of wood actually goes across the back of the two seats, in the line of the rotor shaped holes in the seats. Have a couple of your heavy duty cable ties to hand. You then need to get the flat pieces of metal, put them (one at a time) on the front of the seat across the rotor shaped hole - on the metal part. Then loop the cable tie around the piece of metal and around the piece of wood at the back - don't pull them too tight at this stage. Do the same for the other side - the wood should now roughly be in place horizontally across the back of the front seats. Now get the sticky velcro and put one of the sides on the back of the seat (only a small piece about 3 cms long) at the point where the wood is actually sitting on the back of the seat - stick the wood to the seats in position, then pull the cable ties in the rotor shaped holes tight.
Once the wood is in position, you need to now work out the position that the camera is going to sit. To do this, just put the camera on standby open the LCD screen and ensure the picture captures what you want it to (Left pillar, to roof, to right pillar and gearstick - the wide angle lens should get all this). Once the correct position for the tripod has been established - it needs to be attached. Take the camera off the quick release (to allow you to fix the tripod). Best way again I find is to use cable ties (medium sized ones - sometimes looped in each other for extra length), start attaching the cable ties at the top of the tripod first. Once the top is in position, you now need to secure the bottom of the tripod - to do this I wrapped one long cable tie through the centre console compartment (the one that opens 'up' second - not the one that slides back). Then fix the bottom - don't pull too tight as the compartment isn't that strong. You then need to secure the back of the tripod, I again used long cable ties to link/loop right back to the rear seatbelt base (also do up the seatbelt). This should now complete the attachment of the tripod.
Now put the camera back on the tripod, I also attach the camera to the tripod (and/or wood stick) with cable ties to not only secure it - but to help stop it wobbling around (makes the picture look rock solid when the camera doesn't move).
To remove the camera to change tapes/batteries you will need to cut the cable ties you used to secure the camera to the tripod - and reinstall when required.
I think that is about it, next time out - I'll take a pic of my set-up.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...eferrerid=2257
Best way to do it, without purchasing the purpose built tripods with suction pads (it should cost you about - AUD$20, USD$15, GBP£8 - this way)...
Install is based on a MiniDV camera, but will also work with other cameras as long as they aren't too heavy. Don't forget to check and see if you can use the camera in the car at the race track/event you are going to. Some will only allow solid mounting from rollcage points etc. using fabricated brackets etc.
Also - a wide angle lens is the only way to go - so go get yourself one if you haven't already!
Things to get from your local handy shop:
1. Get yourself a piece of 25x25mm wood, around 1.5 meters long (long enough to go across the back of the front seats).
2. A stack of cable ties, some heavy duty, some medium, various lengths.
3. I use a mini tripod with a quick release head.
4. Velcro with a sticky back.
5. 2 pieces of flat metal around 100mm x 20mm x 2mm thick - wrap this in cloth tape to stop it scratching anything.
How to install:
Have both seats in the position you need them for racing - not driving (i.e. you'll probably need to move them forward a little).
The piece of wood actually goes across the back of the two seats, in the line of the rotor shaped holes in the seats. Have a couple of your heavy duty cable ties to hand. You then need to get the flat pieces of metal, put them (one at a time) on the front of the seat across the rotor shaped hole - on the metal part. Then loop the cable tie around the piece of metal and around the piece of wood at the back - don't pull them too tight at this stage. Do the same for the other side - the wood should now roughly be in place horizontally across the back of the front seats. Now get the sticky velcro and put one of the sides on the back of the seat (only a small piece about 3 cms long) at the point where the wood is actually sitting on the back of the seat - stick the wood to the seats in position, then pull the cable ties in the rotor shaped holes tight.
Once the wood is in position, you need to now work out the position that the camera is going to sit. To do this, just put the camera on standby open the LCD screen and ensure the picture captures what you want it to (Left pillar, to roof, to right pillar and gearstick - the wide angle lens should get all this). Once the correct position for the tripod has been established - it needs to be attached. Take the camera off the quick release (to allow you to fix the tripod). Best way again I find is to use cable ties (medium sized ones - sometimes looped in each other for extra length), start attaching the cable ties at the top of the tripod first. Once the top is in position, you now need to secure the bottom of the tripod - to do this I wrapped one long cable tie through the centre console compartment (the one that opens 'up' second - not the one that slides back). Then fix the bottom - don't pull too tight as the compartment isn't that strong. You then need to secure the back of the tripod, I again used long cable ties to link/loop right back to the rear seatbelt base (also do up the seatbelt). This should now complete the attachment of the tripod.
Now put the camera back on the tripod, I also attach the camera to the tripod (and/or wood stick) with cable ties to not only secure it - but to help stop it wobbling around (makes the picture look rock solid when the camera doesn't move).
To remove the camera to change tapes/batteries you will need to cut the cable ties you used to secure the camera to the tripod - and reinstall when required.
I think that is about it, next time out - I'll take a pic of my set-up.
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