In-Car Time Lapse Photography Options

[TomoHawk]

What kind of options are there for in-car photography? My goal is to record some short drives, like on local twisties, and if it works out, maybe longer drives, say Route 66, or even the Gumball Rally. Maybe some laps on a track or autocross runs.

The only thing I can think of is to use a laptop and a dashtop mounted camera. Laptops use hard drives that are sensitive to vibrations and bumps/jarring. Some digital camcorders may be useable. What else is there? Any other ways to mount a camera on a stock 280Z? I have some super-magnets from computer hard drives that can get glued to the underside of the dashcap over the center gauge pods, and the camera mount stuck to that with more magnets.

thx

[seerex]

Most camcorder mounts i have seen is a mount on the roll bar but i am sure it can adapted with a rod or other things to work, the magnets would affect the camera in negitive ways with recording aspects. Ebay had several people making custom mounts for the same thing you are trying to do search there as well

[TomoHawk]

In what way do you think magnets would affect a digital camera?

[hls30.com]

A magnet strong enough to hold a camera solid would might be strong enough to mess with the focusing.

Make a mount to fit on your tag mounts on the bumper.

Sacrifice a second cowl grill and make it a mount.

make the mount magnetic-that is to hold the camera mount to the sheetmetal of the car.

Get a tripod at a second hand store, and use the swivel and shoe mounting.

Add a remote controlled tilt/pan kit and really get the shots!

WIll

[c david]

[zbane]

There is at least one company making camcorders that use no cassette, they record directly to hard drive (much like an ipod). These units would have been tested under harsher conditions than a laptop, due to their intended purpose. An option you might consider the use of is Velcro (industrial strength) put some on your dash (or wherever), some on your recorder-there you go.

Vibration will be your enemy, regardless of recording device. Newer recorders have the "anti shake" option, but I've never been entirely pleased with my results.

You might want to check into shock mounts, perhaps search a film production company supplier-they have the goods for in car filming. Granted, their stuff would probably be really effin expensive, but perhaps you could crib some ideas...

[whyrualive]

Try this link. It is a suction mount device with 400# rating so you would only want to use it on glass. Front or rear.

http://www.megaz.net/MegaMount.html

Good Luck

[hls30.com]

I am not sure that that mount has enough flex to accomodate the front winshield of an S30, it is made specificly(as are all of the intersting parts on that site) for the much lower curvature of a Z32 windshield-as the maker instructs-I would call and verify before ordering.

WIll

[Ricklandia]

If you google CAR CAMERA MOUNT you'll find many different options for mounting a video cam in your car, from suction mounted devices, rollbar mounts, even head restraint mounts (although that wont work on stock 280 seats) I would strongly DISCOURAGE using magnetic anything as a mounting device. Even though the video cam (DV or otherwise) is considered DIGITAL, it still uses a magnetic oxide tape to store the media, and any strong magnetic field is going to be a problem - especially one powerful enough to hold the camera in place! Even if it doesnt use DV (or VHS, Digital8, 8mm, dvd, etc) any strong magnetic field is likely to create nightmare-ish problem. Stick a strong speaker magnet by your laptop and see how quickly it gets hosed.

If you go the laptop/webcam route, there are also a number of laptop isolation mounts. As for the time lapse itself, you can go a couple of different routes, depending on what equipment you already have, what quality you need, and what you're willing to spend. If you already have a timelapse DV Camcorder capable machine, you're all set. If not, you can always record in regular mode (SP, or even LP if your camcorder allows) and do the time lapse in an NLE like Premiere Pro (or others). Same goes for a standard VHS camcorder if you have a means of digitizing it. If you go the laptop/webcam route, there are plenty of freeware programs that will grab stills at whatever interval you need which you can then assemble into a movie using an NLE program. If you are an APPLE person, there are a few software options for pulling your images directly off your iSight cam, or any camera that provides a Quicktime driver (see istopmotion.com)

[TomoHawk]

Thanks for the ideas. If I could get anything to stick to the dash cap, I'd stick some Sure-Lok stuff on it for the camera mount, and probably make up a mount from a cheap mini-tripod or ball mount. Telescope stores carry ball-mounts for binoculars to go on the side window, and I've modded those for cameras. I'd make up something for the vibrations too.

thx

[240ZX]

How about a friggin passenger with a video cam!!!

[TomoHawk]

Sure, Tom.

"Just sit there, and hold this camera perfectly still, and take a picture every 60 seconds until we get to Miami."LOL

BTW, the guy who did the video in #5 left the camera going even at night with the parked (with the top down.)