Mounting the RED on a rooftop car rack

[Jean Déraps]

Hi everyone. I drive a Toyota highlander that comes standard with a rooftop rack. I was wondering if there is any mounting hardware made specifically for attaching a camera to a rack on a car...
Any suggestions would be welcomed!

Thanks

Jean Deraps

[Catherine Russell]

Originally Posted by jdcineaste

Hi everyone. I drive a Toyota highlander that comes standard with a rooftop rack. I was wondering if there is any mounting hardware made specifically for attaching a camera to a rack on a car...
Any suggestions would be welcomed!

Thanks

Jean Deraps

Hi Jean,

I am not aware of any car mount made specifically to be attached to a roof rack on a car, we have several different types and sizes of suctioning camera car mounts on our website, here: http://www.filmtools.com/carmounts.html

If none of those would suffice, we can always help you figure out some kind of custom rig you could mount on a roof rack. Please contact me if you have any questions.

[Steve Gibby]

On my 4WD SUV I've been shooting footage with a RED on the roof looking sideways, backward, and foreward. I have a large built-in luggage rack on the roof, and a sunroof.

I put a Cine Saddle on the roof, RED on the Cine Saddle, and simply use motorcycle tie-down straps to cross-strap the camera down to the roof. It can't go sideways because of the roof rack, and the Cine Saddle has beads inside it which absorb shock. I also us a RED Drive, top-mounted on a rod with an ET Shock Mount, and an ET Speedy Clamp. Never any dropped frames with that rig.

Here's the cool thing: I have the 10' RED LCD cable, and also a 10' View Factor Origo cable, which I attach to the camera, boot the camera, string the LCD and Origo switch down through the sunroof, and then I can either have someone else drive and I can see exactly what the camera is seeing using the LCD, and start/stop recording with the Origo switch. I've even done recording like that by myself in the car, while I'm driving, by dash mounting the LCD, keeping the Origo switch in my hand, and just glancing at the LCD to see when I have a good shot going - then just hit record on the Origo!

Where there's a will - there's a way :-)

[david farland]

Sounds sweet Gibby. I realise it depends on road surface and speed but how much was vibration a problem? Sounds like Cinesaddle did a good job for you.
Dave

[Steve Gibby]

Originally Posted by david farland

Sounds sweet Gibby. I realise it depends on road surface and speed but how much was vibration a problem? Sounds like Cinesaddle did a good job for you.
Dave

I love my Cine Saddles - been using them since long before I got my RED cameras. My newer ones are a regular (full size) Marsupial, and the Mini Saddle Marsupial. The Marsupials simply have a a pouch in the center to store accessories.

In my experience using RED on the Cine Saddles, the beads inside do what they're advertised to do - greatly dampen the transmission of vibrations. The end result is that the camera doesn't get hardly any shake at all, unless you're "boulder bounding" off-road. The combo of the CineSaddle and ET Shock Mount eliminates dropped frames. I guess you could experience some dropped frames on a super-rough road, but I try not to shoot in those conditions - too hard on the camera, lens, etc. I could shoot to CF cards, but its a hassle changing them out constantly.

I've used the Cine Saddles on cars, boats, planes, skateboards, etc., all with very good results. For real mobile work where its a hassle to take a tripod, the Cine Saddle is a super cool alternative.

Disclaimer: I'm not a Cine Saddle representative, and never have been. I just really like their product - it has worked well for me - and when someone asks for camera support alternatives, Cine Saddle always comes to my mind.

[david farland]

Much appreciated Gibby....

[Steve Gibby]

Good on ya Mate...

[Jean Déraps]

Thanks for your input everyone. I may try out the cinesaddle as you suggest Gibby. I'd actually come up with the idea of the LCD and start stop (with the soon-to-be-released-at-least-we-all-hope-so ViewFactor Follow focus). However I'd still like to find a more hardware based mount, onto which I could possibly put a remote controlled head on top of the car for more dynamic shots...or is this asking too much?

[david farland]

I can tell you how not to do it using a more hardware based mount.
Bolt a hi-hat to a rigid wooden blank across the roof racks, raising the camera higher above the ground to ensure every vibration is transmitted and amplified.
D

[jimhare]

Hey Dave, I tried a similar thing, plunking my slider dolly on the back of my convertible. The opposite of smooth!