advices needed on car gear for light set-up

[fredjeang2]

Hi,
I plan to make a car trip this summer and would like
To experience with car filming for the fun, not pro. Got minus 10 experience on that aspect.
The cameras that I'll use will likely be the pocket
panasonic LX 100 so very small weight.
I'd use 2 cams, one filming inside and one for externals.

I'm not very convinced by the gazillion  cheap plastic suction cups
For go-pros I see everywhere. (maybe it's just me but
They look crapy-unreliable stuff).

The car I'll use is a turbocharded sport car and bloody accelerates like a kart so I'd like something dead stable. (if the cops leave
Me in peace cause now driving in europeans highways
Plaged by radars is a real nightmare).

My plan so far is to adapt the traditional glass suction cups
Used in construction.
I don't want either something overkill because it's
Just small light cams.

If you have better ideas, advices are very welcome.

[Manoli]

The car I'll use is a turbocharded sport car and bloody accelerates like a kart so I'd like something dead stable (if the cops leave me in peace..)
If you have better ideas, advices are very welcome.

Fred,
Good to see you back !

Did you ever see a film by Claude Lelouch, c'était un 'RENDEZVOUS' ?
'le film que vous allez voir a été réalisé sans aucun trucage ni accéléré' ...

Perhaps not quite what you had in mind, but shows what they did back in the '70's

Manoli

--
Edit:

Originally banned, this legendary film is steeped in myths...
Was it a Formula 1 driver at the wheel ?
Was Lelouch arrested ?
Was he driving a Ferrari 275GTB ?
If it's real, how did he do it ?

http://www.spiritlevelfilm.com/films/motoring/cetait-un-rendezvous

[fredjeang2]

Yes Manoli! That's exactly the spirit!!

But in Spain, there is now a big legal ambiguity on the use of cameras in cars or motorcycles since the Go-Pro wave, as always, noisy associations of "we are against" and "citizens data protections" bla bla makes the situation a russian roulette in the sense that officially it is illegal it very much depends on the cop's flexibility.
Regarding driving sports cars in 2015 in Europe, except Germany, it is really not anymore posible. In Madrid city absolutly imposible! On a long trip, even being very very carefull, you have lots of changes to be caught.
Bureacratic societies...

[Manoli]

Fred,

Yup, you'll get decimated for using a cam or a mobile phone whilst driving today.
Is there a 'mini' Movi you could mount and control via a tablet ?
Yeah, I know, not helpful, but that's where we've come to 40 years on ...

M

[Morgan_Moore]

Mangrotto make the next step up for suction cups - they will be better than converting something from the glass shop.. and pretty cheap.

Trouble with small compact cams is that they are so hard to mount - screw in a 1/4 thread hard and you rip the body open.

Black Magic has the micro camera coming soon - this is perfect.. solid and global shutter.

Until then you have gopro or a small plastic camera.. or if you have money check out IOIndustries, 2k and 4k - proper cameras used on top geat et al.

Enjoy a picture of my nex5 in my custom milled housing..

[Morgan_Moore]

..really you will need a cage if you go with a plastic compact camera - attaches top and bottom,

Id pick a camera you can buy a cage for, GH4, A7s, BMC pocket I guess.

Cameras with no hotshoe mount can be a problem.

Making a cage can be more expensive than the camera!

S

[fredjeang2]

Making a cage can be more expensive than the camera!

S

Very true !!
 
The micro BM would really the perfect camera indeed. The Price is just right. But not yet available here. It depends if I can put my hands on it in july, depending on the date, I may go this route.

[bcooter]

http://cvp.com/index.php?t=category//tripods+||26+support/vehicle+mounts

Obviously three point mounts are more stable, though single points for small gh4 style cameras work.   Gaff tape the lens focus, run an hdmi cord to the inside of the car to run a check as you work.

Up to 40 mph on bumpy London and LA streets your fine, above 50mph three point is safer.    If you plan on going faster, then there are ways to make a safety strap, using straps that are gaff taped down round, not flat so not to catch airflow and vibrate.

As you know clean the surface of the vehicle and suction mount and then with a damp sponge slightly wet the surface for better suction, though every 40 minutes you need to check the mounts for dryness and vibration.

I've run one up to 75mph, 50 mph inside LA, 40 mph inside London without issue.

Bottom line, more you spend, safer it gets, though it will be obvious.

I haven't use the chinese camtree system

http://www.proaimshop.com/pas/Camtree-Gripper-G-91-with-Suction-Cup-Mount-Dust-Cover-and-Elastic-Wire.html

but do use their shoulder mounts for our reds and love them. 

IMO

BC

[fredjeang2]

Thanks guys.

Ps for Coot and Morgan:
Forget about the coming mini BM ! Naaaaa
Too Leeds working class camera.
This is for the gardener's kid.

Be chic:  Alexa mini! (Yes, mini! check Arri's site)

30.000 ish? Puaaaa...bargain price. I have to ask for one with
Diammonds as a cage. Now we can do La-Ferrari's footage
Inside the Monaco'tunnel.

[Gandalf]

We use the old version of this with a ball head or a magic arm and a ball head:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/206012-REG/Manfrotto_241FB_241FB_Pump_Cup_with.html/prm/alsVwDtl

It looks a bit like this one set up:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554348-REG/Manfrotto_241V_241V_Suction_Grip_with.html/prm/alsVwDtl

It works fine and we've put some pretty good sized cameras on it for short periods, but that's not ideal. It is best if you can mount it somewhere where you can keep an eye on the suction indicator (red line) as it doesn't stay sucked down forever. It it is on for long periods, I will pump it a couple times every stop. If there is a roll cage or rack to bolt on to (off road vehicles), I much prefer that.