Topic: want to build an inexpensive camera mount

[axehole54]

anyone got any ideas where to get a vibration resistant handle bar clamp? I was thinking of trying to make one from sheet metal with some kind of rubber insulator so I could mount my digital camera on my bars for rally pictures and the like... any ideas?

[faux fiddy]

I was thinking the inexpensive camera was the first step. I have bought cameras that do 17 seconds of video for under $10. Not the best pixel rating , but it does make a  moving image.

Then you just duct tape it where you want it.

[axehole54]

I built a dash mount for my ancient "brick" camera out of a cargo tiedown base and (I think) a 1/4" bolt that works great it cost about 6 bucks... I think most cameras have the threaded hole in the bottom so I'd like something like that so I can remove the camera in case of weather

[faux fiddy]

I've got a few of these, more of a toy, I guess, but a fun toy. They claim they are waterproof, but if not the price makes them disposable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Argus-Bean-Sprout-300K-Carabiner-Digital-PC-Camera-/220726009645?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item33644b9f2d



These are at least  a way to start getting a few images without getting too much invested.

[axehole54]

VERY poor image quality with that one cell phones get a min 1.3mp might lean towards a waterproof disposable before one of those

[swellguy]

Most camera stores sell these Manfrotto super clamps:



You can put a brass stud into it that for the standard camera 1/4" tripod mount.

[bradweingartner]

That's pretty fancy! I could build you a simple mount using some handlebar clamps and whatnot I have laying around the shop. Would be as solid as the clamps holding your bars to your bike. I want to say camera mounts are a 1/4" Coarse Thread.

Probably want the mount to have some mass to it to dampen vibration too...

[faux fiddy]

They do have advantages besides $.99 bid prices. The smaller photo lets you upload pics here with the 'other options'  feature instead of going to photobucket first. They are easy to have in your pocket ALL of the time.  

For many purposes they work acceptably  beyond their parameters.  

For instance they say daylight only and  4-5 feet minimum distance. If you can hold still and  get a minimum amount of any kind of light you get an image. None of these are daylight, mostly dim light.

Oh yeah, the pic of the cam chain is less than a foot away from the chain.

[faux fiddy]

You can also get close shots of things you wouldn't usually put a higher priced camera near.

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff191/salmonshark/?action=view&current=ntakecut.mp4

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I made a handlebar mount for my Fat Boy from PVC piping. Used a T fitting, cut it down the horizontal middle, top hole threaded, screwed in a plug, drilled 1/4" hole, inserted a 1/4" bolt with a nut on top and the bolt shaft sticking up, attached the 2 halves to my bars and secured with gear clamps, then the camera mount screws onto the 1/4" bolt and secures with another 1/4" nut. Looks great, cost a buck fifty but it didn't like the potato potato at higher revs. I haven't tried it on another smoother bike yet. I used my HD camcorder with the vibration thingy with less than hoped for results.   

[Joe Efinger]

It's not cheap but if you get a go-pro hero,  http://www.goprocamera.com/  with a mount kit for your helmet you can avoid the vibration. You can get an extra mounting kit for your skydiving helmet too. oh     

[rhos1355]

A couple of years ago someone posted a couple of pics on here showing a great PVC pipe arangement for mounting a Video Cam onto the cross bar of their handle bars. The cool thing was that whoever made it had wrapped some of that pipe insulation foam around the cross bar first and then clamped the mounting onto the foam. I dunno how much that improved the vibration but it looked the biz.
Wish I could remember who it was and when so I could find the post again.

[Anti-Johnny]

I am looking for a mount for my evo. its got a pretty slick camera. Not sure about the vibration though. Planned on using it for gps also. Maybe a helmet mounted camera would be best?

[seaweb11]

Have a look here. http://search.store.yahoo.net/yhst-66049453130018/cgi-bin/nsearch?query=handle+bar&searchsubmit=GO&vwcatalog=yhst-66049453130018&.autodone=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.advdesigns.net%2Finfo.html

[axehole54]

Have a look here. http://search.store.yahoo.net/yhst-66049453130018/cgi-bin/nsearch?query=handle+bar&searchsubmit=GO&vwcatalog=yhst-66049453130018&.autodone=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.advdesigns.net%2Finfo.html

or i could spend likely more money on a potentially poor performing home brrew design hmmm...

[seaweb11]

I ordered the $9.99 one.  Worth I try I thought.
http://www.advdesigns.net/drhdhamo.html

[swellguy]

anyone got any ideas where to get a vibration resistant handle bar clamp?

I don't want to restate my earlier post but there is no better solution than the Manfrotto (or Bogen Super Clamp). They are cheap (under $30), will grip just about everything without damaging the surface, super flexible about gripping around tubes, bends, different surfaces. You can mount a camera directly to it and it will sit rock solid.

I am a professional photographer and routinely hang any of my cameras or lights from one of them. I think there may be some interesting designs with homemade PVC setups that may have worked for some, but anything with some sort of mounting arm will just transmit more vibration to the camera.

This is the simplest, cleanest, and safest way to do it. Plain and simple.

[swellguy]

I ordered the $9.99 one.  Worth I try I thought.
http://www.advdesigns.net/drhdhamo.html

Unless you're using a small, light and inexpensive point and shoot, it's junk.

[brycegp]

I built a dash mount for my ancient "brick" camera out of a cargo tiedown base and (I think) a 1/4" bolt that works great it cost about 6 bucks... I think most cameras have the threaded hole in the bottom so I'd like something like that so I can remove the camera in case of weather

most standard camera do have the threaded hole on the bottom.  the thread matches the thread of standard lamp harps. see pics below. 

I'm sure you have an old lamp laying around...steal the harp off the top...cut it with about 2" on either side of the top stud.  ....and that's as far as I've gotten with this idea...shooting from the hip here.

find a way to wrap and clamp it to your bars...

[seaweb11]

I ordered the $9.99 one.  Worth I try I thought.
http://www.advdesigns.net/drhdhamo.html

Unless you're using a small, light and inexpensive point and shoot, it's junk.

I am, but it takes video as well. Even my home made one worked OK when I tested it with the camera on video last year

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I made a handlebar mount for my Fat Boy from PVC piping. Used a T fitting, cut it down the horizontal middle, top hole threaded, screwed in a plug, drilled 1/4" hole, inserted a 1/4" bolt with a nut on top and the bolt shaft sticking up, attached the 2 halves to my bars and secured with gear clamps, then the camera mount screws onto the 1/4" bolt and secures with another 1/4" nut. Looks great, cost a buck fifty but it didn't like the potato potato at higher revs. I haven't tried it on another smoother bike yet. I used my HD camcorder with the vibration thingy with less than hoped for results.   

Sounds just like the one I made.  Here is a vid I shot with it.

[lone*X]

I built a dash mount for my ancient "brick" camera out of a cargo tiedown base and (I think) a 1/4" bolt that works great it cost about 6 bucks... I think most cameras have the threaded hole in the bottom so I'd like something like that so I can remove the camera in case of weather

most standard camera do have the threaded hole on the bottom.  the thread matches the thread of standard lamp harps. see pics below. 

I'm sure you have an old lamp laying around...steal the harp off the top...cut it with about 2" on either side of the top stud.  ....and that's as far as I've gotten with this idea...shooting from the hip here.

find a way to wrap and clamp it to your bars...

A lamp harp?  That thing will not just transmit vibration and shakes, it will help create them.  Your pictures would be worse than the view from a Sportsters rear view mirrors.