Car Mount Systems
 

click to see sample footage (3mb quicktime)

features:
A very simple rig with three mounting points that secure the camera above and below.  Two suction cups support the camera plate with a third cup locking down the camera top.

The sample footage shows this rig while cornering.

straight talk:
This rig provides a solid camera platform away from the car but isn't absolutely still.  Small vibrations will still get to the camera and appear in the frame.  Some cinematographers like a little bit of frame movement to give the scene a sense of motion (as opposed to a process shot on a blue screen stage.)  To reduce vibration further:

• Support the lens with a rod system.

• Travel at slower speeds.

• Add a wind cowling ahead of camera to direct the air stream away.

• Choose your roads carefully

• Rent a car trailer.

• Prepare car by cleaning surfaces where suction cups will be affixed.

• Prepare camera plate by bolting two baby pins to the base - one on the "inside-front" corner and another on the "outside-back" corner.

• Attach the suction cup that will support camera plate to vehicle.

• Use a grip head to attach camera plate to suction cup.

• Attach another suction cup above and behind camera plate to provide vertical support.

• Add grip heads and 24" steel rod to secure further secure the camera plate.  Create a little tension between points by slightly stressing the steel rods between grip heads.  This creates counter-tension between in the system to reduce the common wobble that would otherwise occur.

• Mount and position/focus the camera.

• Add a camera starter pin to the top of the camera.

• Attach a grip head to another suction cup, slide onto the top-mounted start pin, and secure to vehicle.

• Adjust counter-tension between all elements to further reduce wobble.

• Double-check all connections for tightness.

• Grab the camera plate and rock it.  The entire vehicle should rock without the camera moving at all relative to the vehicle.

• Go shoot!