DIY - Camera Mount - In Car Footage.

[JasonZ-YA]

Okay,

I started off by driving out to the local hardware store. I picked up an 3/4 inch aluminum square tubing. 4 ft was the smallest they had. So for about $$$ (edit as aluminum prices have gone nuts)$$$ bucks in aluminum you can make two of these camera mounts since you only need about 22 inches total length to make one.

I then measured out the head rest mount locations and drilled two 9/16 holes.

Then i drilled out the camera mount hole.
after reading the entire DIY you will see which camera mount design you may want, and decide what size hole to drill. either a small hole for the M4 bolt or 1/4 hole for 1/4 wing screw.

DFW:
If your local to DFW and wanna make one, come over and bring some pizza and a six pack and well knock it out one day! Pm me otherwise.......i have a few of the plastic camera mounts i can give away..

-J

[JasonZ-YA]

I had some black wheel plaint laying around so i painted the aluminum to finish off the job. Im glad i had wheel paint, because it left it with a nice satin style finish. looks great.


Next while i was at the store i bought this simple tri-pod camera mount.

I got it at "Dollar Tree" for yup, thats right - $1 dollar!

while i was there at the store i noticed that the tri-pod legs can easily be removed by a single screw at its base.....that allows for easy use on this camera mount.

if you cant find this exact one at dollar tree, try walmart - they are not that expensive... ive seen them at target, etc..
- J

[JasonZ-YA]

While i was at the hardware store i also bought a M4x0.7 X 30 bolt to use for mounting the tripod base to the aluminum beam.

[JasonZ-YA]

Okay, here is the camera mounted on the tripod top in the car. (mad skillz with a mirror for a reflection shot)

washers used as required for the bolt. Not shown, but i also got small rubber washers from the hardware store too, to act like lock washers. they work great.

[JasonZ-YA]

I had first used this design prior to finding the tripod mount at the store.
so i thought i would share it with you guys still. (in case you cant find a tripod top)

I got some aluminum shim stock from wk (aerospace company)

Then, at the hardware store i bought a 1/4 x 20 x 1.5 inch length wing screw. The pic shows a 3/4 inch length one, but i didn't end up using it because it was obviously too short.

also, you can see one shim has a 1/4 hole and the other has a 5/16 hole. you need to do this if you plan on using the shim stock. needs room for the bolt to bend to the angle of the shim. get it?

I added a diagram to show how i installed the wing screw and order of parts.

I used a tight fitting rubber washer/grommet or even a nut in the INSIDE of the square so that when you remove the camera the wing nut doesn't go falling to the floor of the Z.


-j

[JasonZ-YA]

Here is the camera mounted on the beam using the shims.

LOCATING SHIMS:
If anyone wants some shims let me know, or you can easily make some out of wood or by grinding down some sheet aluminum.

Ive even seen wedge plastic scrappers that can be cut and drilled to make a tapered shim.
I have also seen door stoppers, etc. - check the door hardware, misc section of any local hardware store.
also check google "wedge shims, etc"

-j

[JasonZ-YA]

Now, i went online and ordered some black plastic end caps just because i want to finish this off nice but they havent come in yet.

The other pics show how i easily install/remove the camera mount by bringing the seat forward and the perfect field of view the camera has at this mount location.

END CAPs purchased here: http://www.stoveparts.net/Merchant2/...de= GLD-01086

- J

[JasonZ-YA]

i plan on adding an embed youtube video later on this post (#7) to show the field of view it gets when driving......its great!! I also plan on showing the pics of the end caps installed when i get them in.

This mount is very similar to some other universal head rest mounts but done with pride by yourself and for less than half the cost.
- J


UPDATE: END CAPS CAME IN TODAY. They were a perfect fit. I ordered 4 just because they were so inexpensive. shipping cost more than the 4...lol

-j

[JasonZ-YA]

UPDATE:

Hi,

While at a local TARGET (also found at radio shack) I found this TARGA Universal Table Top Tripod camera mount.

It's pretty much an identical copy of the plastic "Dollar General" one used before but this one is much better of course. its made from machined aluminum and has some nice weight to it. the upper cylinder moves 360 degrees where the ball/arm does tilt........

You disassemble the mount the exact same way. There is a philips head screw at the base...

the legs come falling out and then these two disc are left.

In-between the disc is a small rubber o-ring. Which maybe good to keep for reinstalling the longer screw. I dont know the thread pitch yet, but ill update that once i do.

UPDATE: The bolt i used was an M4x0.7 pitch 30mm long - bought at home depot in their hardware section, pull out drawers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfS3WYLtpoo

-J

[chopperman]

WOW good job. This is such a simple and cheap DIY. Can someone sit in the passenger seat while the camera is mounted?

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by chopperman

WOW good job. This is such a simple and cheap DIY. Can someone sit in the passenger seat while the camera is mounted?

yes. Thats the main reason you need the shims for the second style. because with the seat back, and NO shims, the camera would be filming the dome light/sunglass holder area. And for the boom out design to the middle of the car..allows for a passenger.

-j

[JasonZ-YA]

I use this camera mount for AutoX and Drifting events.

my first drift event with it will be this weekend in the DFW area:
http://my350z.com/forum/meet-ups-eve...ifting-me.html

I also plan on using it for our cruise this sunday evening:
http://my350z.com/forum/meet-ups-eve...mall-meet.html

-j

[AznSky]

so does the camera mount bounce up and down a lot? Cuz it's sorta like a cantilever beam

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by AznSky

so does the camera mount bounce up and down a lot? Cuz it's sorta like a cantilever beam

nope, thats why i wanna embed the video...to show how good it records. the aluminum is stiff........it doesn't go anywhere..works great..
-j

[SargentZ]

now all you need is a real video camera, although for Youtube a 'point and shoot' in video mode should be OK. It'd be cool to get some widesreen footage though.

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by SargentZ

now all you need is a real video camera, although for Youtube a 'point and shoot' in video mode should be OK. It'd be cool to get some widesreen footage though.

heck ya....my canon SD can do a few minutes video, but ive been planning on buying a digital camcorder for a while now...

-j

[SargentZ]

they use the same mount so a camcorder should screw right on. I'm actually looking for one myself, my JVC mini-dig just bit it. now to find a hi-def widscreen one for under a grand.

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by SargentZ

they use the same mount so a camcorder should screw right on. I'm actually looking for one myself, my JVC mini-dig just bit it. now to find a hi-def widscreen one for under a grand.

ya they do....i really need to get one....

-j

[kennedy]

So which idea are you using the one with the tripod fitting or the shims? I would like to make one for auto X tomorrow.

[JasonZ-YA]

Originally Posted by kennedy

So which idea are you using the one with the tripod fitting or the shims? I would like to make one for auto X tomorrow.

my first idea was the shims, which works great, but now that i got the tripod one im gonna play with that one at my drift event i have tomorrow....so i guess ill be using that one from now on.......

either one im sure will work just fine.....
-j