DIY HVX Camera Car Hood mount Question / Suggestions (I Need Help)

ruester

ruester

Well-known member
I've got two of these: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/FAST-CAP-HANDLE-ON-DEMAND-SIZE-DOUBLE-3KNF2?Pid=search

to build something very similar to this: http://www.indymogul.com/episode/bfx_20110627/build-a-camera-car-mount-for-cheap-bfx-diy (skip to 2:46 to see the rig)

I want it to be a little more heavy duty, though for the HVX, AND I also want it to be able to tilt up/down a little bit - any suggestions? I am trying to keep the price as low as possible for this.

I was thinking about putting a cheap Tripod Head on a piece of wood spanning the two Handles, should I go this route, and if so, what's the cheapest head I can get by with? Or is there a better plan out there? Please Help!

Thanks all!!

Aza
 
If I wanted to build a sorta (but not really cheap) cheap car mount I would do this:

Buy two 10" vacuum suction cups from film tools. Grab some wood, cut a couple of different length. Drill holes to mount to a cheeseplate to both suction cups and then drill a hole for a tripod head in the middle of the wood. I think that would work. I'd get a good head though, something tiny might not lock right, you hit a bump and then your camera goes face down into the hood. I think hood mount is one thing where you really get what you pay for.

I went the expensive route and bought a film tools vacuum cup, and then a leveling head from Willy's Widgets. Not DIY at all, but it's super heavy duty...can take a heavy camera on a hood with no shake, plus Willy's Widgets is basically one awesome old guy making good gear...happy to support him over the big boys.

All in all, neither of my solutions are cheap, but you could run at highway speeds with a 22 lb camera and be ok.

$145 10" Vacuum cup
$415 leveling head
$560

$145 cup x2
Manfrotto head $200 (just ballpark)
Woods and screws are cheap!
$490 plus lumber

Yeah so I am likely no help.
 
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I've also got one of those stickypods for sale in the marketplace. I used it in the past for an HVX and it did an ok job, not perfect but looked perfectly serviceable on-screen. Thats probably as cheap as it can get.
 
I got a quad stickypod that all I had to do was put a superclamp and camera on it, works pretty well.
 
Unfortunately a Stickypod is way out of my league on this... even to rent...

so... I went with the two Handles On Demand in the link above, a piece of wood to connect them, a flatscreen tv mount from fry's electronics here: http://www.frys.com/product/6213110?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG ... and will mount it upside down, then I'll have a piece of 1x2 wood on that with a 1/4x20 bolt to mount the camera.

I will post pics, if wanted, when I'm done. It's not pro, but it should work, along with a tie-down strap as backup for the suction cups.... we'll see!
 
On a side note, I am enjoying noticing the difference between the long time video/film professional's version of DIY and the backyard broke noobs like myself...lol... I can't afford even the "spare parts" you guys have lying around, haha! A cheeseplate costs more than my rig...lol, of course, I haven't even built it yet, so it may just be an expensive McGuffin...
 
I would always recommend attaching Rachet straps, no matter how small or large a rig.

Paul, any chance you can supply more detailed photos? that DIY looks pretty damn good
 
From what I can tell:

Speed rail, ferny pad, and ratchet straps for the mount. A cardellini clamp to hold a grip head for arming out the 2x3 cutter. Duvateen clamped to the hood to neutralize hot reflections from the sun.

My question would be how you mounted the camera to the speed rail. A little DIY with some C-bolts and a cheeseplate? Is that a hihat or some Miller head?
 
robmneilson said:
Yes, Willy's Widgets...worth its weight in gold!
Click to expand...

Bill the founder of Willy's Widgets is a great guy. I have enjoyed many visites to his home. He is getting up there in age and he loves to tell stories of his shooting and he really enjoys helping new film makers.

His products are top notch and he really cares for all of them, plus he can give invaluable insight into ways to use them.
 
Paul Hudson said:
Bill the founder of Willy's Widgets is a great guy. I have enjoyed many visites to his home. He is getting up there in age and he loves to tell stories of his shooting and he really enjoys helping new film makers.

His products are top notch and he really cares for all of them, plus he can give invaluable insight into ways to use them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a great conversation when I called up to order mine. It's nice to know when your money is going to a person, not a corporation.
 
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