Using a Car Camera Mount

Michael Fitzer
April 2007

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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.

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.

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.

Do you remember the old vice in your dad's workshop? Clamp mounts work along the same principle. These industrial clamps are fully adjustable to fit just about any thickness. From something as thin as a car window to the thickness of a car door, the clamps can be tightened and locked into place without damaging the surface underneath.

A fully-adjustable flex arm and camera plate attaches to the clamp. The flex arms on these types of mounts are usually kept short. Over-extension of the arm would cause the camera to bounce once the vehicle starts to move.

Using clamp mounts limits the camera position. They're obviously not meant for attaching to the hood or windshield of a vehicle; however, if you're looking for a way to stabilize a driver or passenger shot while moving, clamp mounts are tough to beat.

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