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click to see sample footage (8mb quicktime) |
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This rig securely positions a camera without interfering with
operation of the car window. This example has the camera
positioned fairly close to the car. Additional hardware can allow
the camera to "float" further away.
The sample footage shows this rig running at 15, 30, 40, and 50mph
as well as while cornering.
This rig provides a solid camera platform away from the car but isn't
absolutely still. Small vibrations will still get to an
unsupported camera lens and appear in the frame. Some
cinematographers like a little bit of frame movement to give the scene a
sense of motion (as opposed to a process shot on a blue screen stage.)
To reduce vibration further:
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Support the lens with a camera
rods system.
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Travel at slower speeds.
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Add a wind cowling ahead of camera
to direct the air stream away.
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Choose your roads carefully
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Rent a car trailer.
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| parts list: |
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1x |
Mini Ball Camera
Plate w/ 1/4" & 3/8-16" tie-down slots |
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6x |
6" suction cup w/
3/8"-16 male thread |
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10x |
Baby pin with female 3/8"-16 female thread |
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1x |
Baby
pin to male 1/4"-20 female thread (camera starter) |
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8x |
2-1/2" gobo head |
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2x |
24" stainless steel
rod |
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2x |
40" grip arm |
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1x |
12' ratchet strap |
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Secure the camera to the vehicle:
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Prepare car by cleaning surfaces
where suction cups will be affixed.
- Prepare camera plate by bolting four baby starter
pins to the base corners.
- Use two grip heads to attach two suction cups to
the "inside" corners of the camera plate.
- Orient the vacuum plungers so their red warning
rings may be easily seen.
- Add two grip heads to the "outside" corners of
the camera plate.
- Attach the plate to the vehicle with the two
suction cups.
- Attach two suction cups with grip heads below and
flanking the camera plate.
- Secure the two 24" steel rods between the outside
corners of the camera plate and lower suction cups. Create a little
tension between points by applying a bit of outward stress to the
steel rods between grip heads before tightening them down. This
creates counter-tension in the system to reduce the common wobble
that would otherwise occur.
- Mount and position/focus the camera.
Secure the camera from wobbling:
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Add a camera starter pin and grip
head to the top of the camera.
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Build two outriggers each with a
suction cup, grip head, and 24" steel rod.
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Slide a grip head onto one of the
steel rods, attach open end of rod to start pin's grip head and
secure the suction cup to the top of the vehicle in front of the
camera.
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Attach open end of second rod
through the grip head left sliding on the first rod and secure
the suction cup to the vehicle at the side of the camera. The
two outrigger rods should now create a roughly 90-degree angle.
(The outrigger suction cups don't have to be positioned at front
and side. They may be rotated to any position about the camera
as long as you maintain a 90-degree angle between them.)
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Adjust counter-tension between all
elements to further reduce wobble.
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Double-check all connections for
tightness and suction cups for adhesion.
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Grab the camera plate and rock it.
The entire vehicle should rock without the camera moving at all
relative to the vehicle.
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Go shoot!
I can pre-assemble this rig for you to simplify your
setup.
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