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Car Rigging and Car Mounts - Best Results?

Mitch Martinez

Mitch Martinez

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I'm looking for advice for car rigging and shooting with a car mount. The goal is to have it be as smooth as possible - reducing visible effects of vibrations and irregularities in the road.

I picked up this car mount from Film Tools (http://www.filmtools.com/filmtools-4-leg-suction-cup-camera-mount.html) and also have a medium sized Cine Saddle available.

I did a camera test today with the RED on the Film Tools rig and will post a video of the camera test as soon as the video is finished encoding and ready for upload but wanted to know any tips or tricks anyone had for their best results.

Thanks!

Mitch
 
Looks Good!
I was thinking of getting this rig, but is an awuful pain to get this kind of things into Spain.
How stable do you find it to be with a fully rigged Red One to be set on the side window?
 
I'm doing more camera tests today. I'll let you know about the side window shot tonight or tomorrow after the footage is captured.
 
Hi Joe,

What I'm doing is geared more towards a car commercial where we'll see the front end and wheels...

The car tow/dolly would definitely work for any close ups like you mentioned though.

Cheers!
 
Mitch, your technique is too sissypants. Here are the rules: a) don't break for red lights and b) your California stops are too slow.
 
hi mitch
sweet mount that filmtools kit, although i am not a big fan of using suction mounts on vertical surfaces... call me old fashioned but i prefer the old speed rail systems for vertical work.
saying that i made a bonnet mount for one film (see picture) and when it was on it wasnt going anywhere.
it is always a good idea to lock off the top of the camera to something solid to stop any possibility of wobble in the camera
some people let the tyres down a bit to cushion any bumps
i guess it is a matter of trial and error

cheers
ian
 

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I agree with Ian about using speedrail. I own a filmtools-ish kit that I put together and have used a lot. Suction cup mounting to sheet metal parts will -always- exhibit some high-frequency vibration as the sheet metal is not stable (hoods, doors, roofs, etc.). That can be minimized with tie-downs (as seen in Ian's pictures) but not eliminated.

However, constructing speedrail rigs that lock into ridgid frame members will give as good a stable platform as is possible without going to custom built picture cars.

Oh, and cant over emphasize Ian's point about having a firm connection point to the top of the camera.
 
Hi Guys,

Good show. Since I've already bought the Film Tools car mount and their return policies are beyond strict, I can either use it, sell it, or let it collect dust. I figure that I should just use it and see what can be done since it's here.

With that, what are your suggestions for creating a solid connection point on top the camera in conjunction with the Film Tools car mount? Can I do that with tie downs? Or is a speed rail set up needed to make it happen? Also, if you have any more photos with close ups of the top camera connection, I'd love to see them. I couldn't quite make out all the connections with the other photos but definitely got the idea of what was going on.

The one thing I've found with my camera tests is that I'm getting the most solid results when suctioning towards the edges or hinged points of any solid metal surface on the car (hood, roof, doors, etc.). Going on the principle that the very center of that surface is going to have the most flex and the edges the least flex.

I'm finishing my camera tests and shooting the "real deal" soon, so definitely keep the input, photos and suggestions coming... Cheers!
 
Its pretty simple really. If you have a 1/4-20 or 3/8" socket on top of your camera, screw in a baby spud, and knuckle on that to an arm to another suction cup. Try to place the arm at a 90degree angle to the lens (perpendicular) to best cancel any side to side wiggling. You've already figured out to avoid the middle of big metal panels. Glass is awesome and tempting, almost zero flexing. However, its quite possible for enough suction and torque to be placed on a car window to spider crack it. Did that. Once.

Try to think in terms of triangles when placing your suction cups, which give the most stable platform. In other words, place your camera at the center of a pyramid of support. I can get pretty solid connections with three well placed struts to the bottom of the cam, and one to the top. Tie that all down with straps and you're good to go. If you have to arm out one of the support legs too far, then put a crossbrace between it and another arm to give it rigidity.

Hope that helps. If it doesn't make sense, I've got some pics I can dig up.

Oh, and if you get on a shoot with a decent budget, hire a skilled rigging grip/key grip. Have them rig a uber-solid mount with speed rail. You will be amazed. They take longer to rig, but when done well can get the camera right where you want it and still be tied to the frame of the car. Like butter.
 
hi mitch,

go with the film tools mount if you have one, just make sure you have it strapped down. i usually run a safety line thru the handle and strap it to some thing solid on the vechicle so that if the worst happens the camera cant hit the ground.

thats a good explanation paul you put into words whats inside my head but cant get out.

i usually use magic arms and super clamps to tie off the top of the camera.
it is a good idea to mount where there are stiffeners under the skin.
cheers
 

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found another couple of rigs
the smaller domestic based cameras are made of plastic and their base plates will flex under pressure so it is important to lock off the top of the camera.

the pana......ahem....... i mean the other camera was close to the road so i used a chain to stop the lens hitting the highway if it loosened up

i tried to lock it off in all axis with magic arms.
cheers
ian
 

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Hi Guys,

Cool. I'll try the top mount camera connection point out today or tomorrow.

So here's another question: has anyone done a jib shot on a moving vehicle? Like from the back of a pick-up truck or something? Obviously you'd want tons of sand bags and tie downs and extra hands on deck to keep everything under control. Any stories or suggestions for that?
 
Mitch Martinez said:
Hi Guys,

Cool. I'll try the top mount camera connection point out today or tomorrow.

So here's another question: has anyone done a jib shot on a moving vehicle? Like from the back of a pick-up truck or something? Obviously you'd want tons of sand bags and tie downs and extra hands on deck to keep everything under control. Any stories or suggestions for that?
Click to expand...

LOL. Good luck with this one. If you find a workable solution that isn't insanely risky, margianlly useful, or as expensive as the Russian Arm vehicle to rent, and can work at speeds exceeding 5mph I'd love to hear it.

I have had resonable success operating a steadicam from the back of pickups and vans, with plenty of rigged support to brace myself with. But I wouldn't really recommend it.
 
Hi Kwan,

That's interesting that Digital Juice released their version of the CineSaddle. I guess it was only a matter of time before other companies started putting them out. I definitely have one of them at my disposal.
 
Paul Nordin said:
Good luck with this one. If you find a workable solution that isn't insanely risky, margianlly useful, or as expensive as the Russian Arm vehicle to rent, and can work at speeds exceeding 5mph I'd love to hear it.

I have had resonable success operating a steadicam from the back of pickups and vans, with plenty of rigged support to brace myself with. But I wouldn't really recommend it.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'll see what people say and if anything cool is figured out. Nobody on the production is dead set on that shot. It never hurts to ask. Maybe someone on the forum will have a great idea to pull the shot off... I was thinking of maybe doing a bungee rig from the inside roof of a van if nothing else is working.
 
Mitch Martinez said:
Maybe someone on the forum will have a great idea to pull the shot off... I was thinking of maybe doing a bungee rig from the inside roof of a van if nothing else is working.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should describe the shot you are trying to do so we can come up with specific solutions?
 
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