Using a Car Camera Mount
Getting Off the Tripod and into the Action with Camera Car Mounts.
Remember those movies from the 50's and 60's where a couple of young lovers would go for a drive in the country? The "scenery" behind them moved. Every so often, a gust of wind might blow back their hair, but the lighting rarely changed and it seemed like they would pass the same country fence or lofty oak four or five times before the scene came to an end. Now, however, you can capture even the most difficult driving shots with some rather uncomplicated equipment and at a price that won't break the bank.
There are a number of reasons why directors from decades ago opted to keep their driving scenes confined to a studio interior rather than take the scene out on the road. The cameras in use back then were quite heavy, and picture stabilization and audio capture were far more difficult to control in an exterior setting with a moving vehicle.
Audio complications not withstanding, advances in camera technology and the introduction of a wide variety of inexpensive camera vehicle mounts have opened the door for video prosumers. This article will cover some of the more useful stick and suction mounts on the market, designed for basic camcorder use and for heavier cameras.
What's Out There?
The type of vehicle camera mount you use will depend a great deal on the type of shot you're attempting to accomplish. However, the most popular types of video camera mounts for moving vehicles work by using the same basic materials. Unless you're mounting a camera to a roller coaster or a vehicle destined to crash, heavy-duty screws and steel brackets and plates are no longer required. Monopod legs, industrial suction cups and a standard fluid head make up some of the most basic vehicle camera mounts on the market today.
The Monopod
This type of vehicle mount comes under a dozen different names, but the same basic technology still applies. Built specifically for interior vehicle shots, the monopod is just as its name implies, a single leg support for your camera, but with a few alterations to make it work inside a moving car.
The basic monopod system typically has one or two adjustable support arms or struts, built with small suction cups at the end. The arms extend out and adhere to any non-porous surface in the vehicle for support. The main leg adjusts the height.
While simplistic in its design, the monopod type of camera mount is an often reliable and cost effective way to get a stable shot from a moving vehicle.
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