Windshield mount

[Steve Grisetti]

What do you folks use for windshield camera mounts? I've been trying to find something to shoot with my action cam out my windshield while I'm driving.

I kind of like this because it's cheap -- and because it's got a flexible neck so I can easily direct it where I want it.

Any thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/Arkon-Windshield- ... mera+mount

[sidd finch]

Steve I am using one of these and it is as steady as a rock. I like that has 2 suction mounts to keep it steady. Especially if you hit a bump in the road. The cost is pretty inexpensive. The GoPro mount is removable so you can use any 1/4 inch device. It has a ball mount so you can adjust the camera and secure the setting.



http://www.amazon.com/Smatree-Suction-G ... ds=smatree

Sidd

[MrGrunthunter]

Steve,

Just my humble opinion now but I think I would recommend sticking with the original GoPro suction cup mount. I tried their clamp mount, with the goose-neck attachment, for a driving video recently but it flexed too much. I suspect that mount you're looking at would do the same. I think it has to long of an extension to provide the stability you need. They do have a good application though and that is where you are mounting it to something stationary and you need to orientate the camera in a 'not so convenient' direction.

After buying the GoPro suction cup mount I made a driving video and am very pleased with the results. That said I made another video last Friday of a ziplining adventure and used the clamp mount WITHOUT the Goose-Neck extension and clamped my GoPro to a swamp buggy while it was driving down an unpaved road and was actually surprised and how steady the video turned out ( https://youtu.be/w4S09Ozj0tA ). The driving on the paved road is with the suction cup mounted to the windshield of my wife's car.

[sidd finch]

GoPro makes great mounts but you pay a premium dollar too. Smatree makes a lot of virtually identical mounts at a much more reasonable price. But the GoPro mounts are top notch.

Sidd

[MrGrunthunter]

GoPro makes great mounts but you pay a premium dollar too. Smatree makes a lot of virtually identical mounts at a much more reasonable price. But the GoPro mounts are top notch.

Sidd

I still get nervous having a $500 camera hanging out in the wind When I did a driving trip with my truck I ties a long shoe string to it and draped it through my moon roof ..... just in case ha ha.

[sidd finch]

I would not mount a camera outside without a leash. Not sure if Steve was asking for inside or outside his vehicle.

Sidd

[MrGrunthunter]

I would not mount a camera outside without a leash. Not sure if Steve was asking for inside or outside his vehicle.

Sidd

One thing I am NOT a fan of is 'ball socket' type mounts. I usually see them on cheaper hardware items.

[Steve Grisetti]

Don't most of these solid mounts stick to your dashboard? I can never get that to work. That's why I'm kind of intrigued by the idea of sticking my cam to the windshield (inside, of course) and then aiming it forward or even sticking it to one of the inside passenger or driver side windows.

I actually experimented with one of those silly as-seen-on-TV GripGo mounts -- supplementing it with a rubber band to hold the camera onto the sticky surface since the sticky surface only works well with flat objects like cell phones. Worked okay but the first time I tried to adjust it while it was sunctioned to the windshield, it broke in half!

[momoffduty]

Don't most of these solid mounts stick to your dashboard?

No. The dash (at least mine) isn't smooth like glass to get a good grip. I use the GoPro suction cup mount and add a few joints to get the angle degree desired. I usually mount mine at the top of the windshield inside and then flip the video in post. The glare gradient on the windshield at the top makes a good ND filter. Just be careful not to have half on the gradient and half on the clear portion.

I haven't used it on the hood yet, but did make a leash for it. The problem is there is no where to hook it unless I use the side mirror as the anchor base.

How to video to make tethers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2paJCxbmdPY

[Steve Grisetti]

Thanks, Cheryl.

[_Paz_]

I've not had success with suction type mounts either. Maybe the humidity here is part of the problem.

I have a GoPro clamp that is like a 3" wide clothespin. It was part of an EEE Kit from Amazon. The springs are really strong. I'm sure it would be possible to clip it onto a partially lowered window.

Whether that's a smart idea or not... well, I'm not sure!

I've rigged it up clamped to a thin piece of plywood on top of an extension pole and it works well. Smatree makes a wide clothespin type clamp on a flexible gooseneck stem. I'd post a link but it is April Fool's day at Amazon.

[sidd finch]

For the dash mount you need to use the adhesive which is permanent. Otherwise the suction mount is the way to go. I use a Computer monitor wipette to clean the surface of the suction cup and the windshield. the stick while they are both wet. You get a good seal.

Sidd

[Steve Grisetti]

Thanks, guys. So many great options out there! I'm glad the connections to the cameras are pretty universal.

Once my flexible mount gets here I'll give it a test drive and post the results.

[_Paz_]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JX8Y0NeDV8&list=FL4__avdpBOGYEKcxUT1auoA&index=2[/youtube]

[_Paz_]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdcuRfW1vPU&index=1&list=FL4__avdpBOGYEKcxUT1auoA[/youtube]