mounting camera on front of vehicle?

F

firehawk

Veteran
Hi all. I am working on ideas to mount two small cameras to the front of a vehicle.

The cameras I want to attach are:
Sony Action Cam FDR X3000V
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1278151-REG/sony_fdr_x3000_action_camera.html?sts=pi
sony-fdr-x3000r-action-cam-12.jpg

Panasonic AG HCK 10
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._AGHCK10GPJ_AG_HCK10_Compact_Camera_Head.html
hck10.jpg

And use it atop a remote pan/tilt head
MP 101/ MP-1AC
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1204156-REG/bescor_mp_1ac_mp_101_motorized_pan_head.html
bescor head.jpg

My idea is to attach a push bar/bull bar to the vehicle and then weld/attach some 1/4 -20 threads.
I do not have a specific unit selected yet. May eventually wire up a couple lights on the bar as well.
TRANSIT-R1370-04-1.jpg

All the above gear can be powered from battery and the control cable from the remote head along with a cable for video preview would be routed into the cabin.
I would rather have threads larger than 1/4 but that is what all those units use.

I want to be able to use this setup for doing chase car shots (following a subject with the camera vehicle).
Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions for accomplishing this?
Initial concerns include wind and vibrations. Since those are CMOS cameras I don't want jello. And of course do not want them breaking off.
 
Vibration is a challenge. I have a Zhiyun Rider-M Go Pro gimbal that really helps with taming it for car footage but it's made for the Go Pro as far as mounting. But something like it could help?
 
I'd just recommend using the lens cover on the X3000 to protect against rocks. That camera does a great job of image stabilizing and I only had problems with it while attached to the front fairing of a motorcycle which idled very roughly whenever stopped in traffic, and that engine vibration was a bit too much for the BOSS. On SUVs, drift cars and a H3 Hummer going down a pot-holed road at high speed (cops pulled me over) that X3000 did a very good job. Recently had 3 of them attached to the side, back and front of my Honda CR-V and filmed a car going down the expressway and over the Yokohama Bay Bridge near Tokyo. Worked like a champ. My side camera was connected to the Zacuto EVF via HDMI cable for shot composition. I think I got about 40 minutes off the camera battery with Wi-Fi off and GPS on. I have to shoot that again though since I had them in 120p HD mode and 4K looks much better and I don't need slow mo for this. If I wanted to mix slow-mo then I would cover the shot with a second X3000 running in 120p mode. I use the Sony action camera suction cup wherever possible as it works very good and then gaffer tape over it for added security.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1280978-REG/sony_aka_mcp1_mc_protector_for_select.html
 
Thank you Mark. Great advice. I have that lens cover and use it whenever I use the X3000. Good to hear that it did so well for you on those shoots. I haven't actually mounted it to a vehicle yet so that is encouraging news. I've used the older Action cams on vehicles with good results but sounds like the X3000 will do as good or better. Looking forward to some 4K with it which will be useful
 
If you weld tabs, then I suggest drilling a hole and using short bolts, welding bolts/studs weakens them too much and leaves ugly things that will rip your clothing. With tube bumpers/bars a clamp might be fine as well, and a lot easier to deploy or move.

If you want pan and tilt, why not get a gimbal with vibration absorber to help fix some bumps and road vibration? Look at the RC plane/quad solutions and I bet you can find one that works for up to a DSLR for not a huge amount of money.
 
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