Custom Camera Mount

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I have wanted a camera mount for a few years now, but the cost of most kept me from buying any, so I finally just made one. I was able to get ahold of an old police camera mount from a retired sheriff. When I first look at the mount I didn't know if I could use it, but after looking at it a while I figure out a plan.

I took part of the mount off. It was a brace on the bent part of the mount. After sawing 2 small pieces off, it allowed me to make a base to connect the camera/scope mount to. The camera/scope mount can be found on ebay for about $15 and makes it where I can adjust where the camera is aimed. This mount only cost me about $20 dollars. I had to buy a hack saw, 2 new suction cups, and the camera/scope mount, but the old police mount was free. Here are some pictures of the mount. I forgot to take some picture before I sawed on it, but you can see where I did work on the mount. I am not sure where you can find any old police mounts like this one, but if you do this is an easy mount to make.

 

[John Erwin]

Nice work Wesley! Even if you can't find an original police mount you can fabricate from scratch if you're handy enough. Your pics and details should help.

 

[David Drummond]

Suggestion: Cover the front part of that mount with some of the automotive carpet you can get at Walmart or Autozone to prevent any reflections in the windshield that will show up on video.

 

[Bill Doms]

Video Innovators used to sell a mount very similar to this set up years ago. I know they are still around but I believe the mount is out of production. Is anyone still using or have one?

 

[Robert Rohloff]

I did almost the same thing, I had a head from a broken tripod and mounted it to one of the old radar/camera mount. I changed vehicles and it it too high now so I will have to rework it. A friend runs a police video company and has dozens of old brackets like this laying around in all different lengths. They now mount the cameras off the mirror or visor area.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I was orginally going to use a extra tripod I had to make this mount, but decided to go this route because of how much easier it was going to be. The stickypad I have there under it may work for now, but with some of the roads I have been down I may have to find a way to brace it with something or use velcro. If I put a 3M velcro pad down, do you think it would damage the dash if I wanted to take the velcro off?

 

[David Drummond]

No, just wait until a very warm day when it's hot inside the vehicle, it should come right off. Might have to get some alcohol or something to get all the sticky off.

 

[Bill Hark]

This is the Video Innovators mount. I had a feeling they would stop production and bought a second which I am now using after the first one died. I either mount it as in the images below (my home chasemobile). On cars with a flatter and longer area under the windshield, I don't use the vertical rod. The bungee cord is used in both cases to prevent side-side motion. I also bought one of those cellphone sticky pads to act as a barrier between the metal rod and the dash. The metal rods infront of the camera are usually covered with a black t-shirt to prevent reflection.

When I don't have the verticle rod, the horizontal part is shortened and the camera part rests over the dash. I do have some difficulty with space between the top of the camera and the windshield in this case. The TRV-900 is as big a camera as I can usually fit in the area.


Bill Hark

 

[Robert Rohloff]

I have used the super strength locking strips sold at Radio Shack. They do not melt and slide like the regular velcro and when I had to take them off the dash when I changed vehicles they did not leave a mess. They come in black and clear. I also have used flat bungee cords that pull tight to help reduce vibrations with the bracket. Picked those up at Walmart. Prior to putting the tripod head on the mount I used a Ram Mount set up that worked alright but had more movement than the tripod head.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

I have been using a former police camera mount similar to Wesley's for a couple of years now. Not much of an issue with it at all. I used the head assembly from a tripod so the camera shoe fits my other tripod, window mount and dash mount. It works out well for me.

 

[Bill Doms]

I'm curious with the police cam mounts how much it "springs" while the vehicle is moving. (washboard roads not included) It's got that diving board look to it and even with velcro or a bungee cord, does a light-weight camera really bounce?

 

[Bill Hamilton]

I'm curious with the police cam mounts how much it "springs" while the vehicle is moving. (washboard roads not included) It's got that diving board look to it and even with velcro or a bungee cord, does a light-weight camera really bounce?

I have a smaller Sony that I use with the dash mount (I wouldn't put the TRV900 up there) and I actually get very little bounce out of it. Mine has an additional bracket under the rear of it that fits the curve in the dash so that helps quite a bit.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I have been driving around with the mount in place for about a week now without the camera on there. I even went down some dirt roads for the heck of it and it didnt look to move at all. That is without the weight of the camera too. I still may put a piece of velcro down just to be safe, but as long as I dont drive into a ditch it shouldn't move. I still need to set the camera up though and see how much the video moves while driving because that will be the real test.

My original plan was to use a tripod head like Bill H's so I could interchange it with my tripod, but I couldn't figure an easy way to mount it without drilling and where it could still turn it side to side.

 

[Daniel Barker]

http://vegas.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=28807

gripper vs sticky pod comparison- these are suction cup mounts, both work well I have heard.

 

[Gerard Jebaily]

Wesleys setup sure looks nice but im concerned about the stability it will offer. Whats stopping it from toppling over sideways in a hard turn? Is the velcro enough to stop that from happening?