I’m trying to come up with a video camera mount that will keep the camera basically level. I’ve shot beautiful video that would make you seasick. ;-} I have some ideas on how to construct something that might work but I was wondering if anyone had seen a ‘ready made’ solution.
2 options
one option - head cam, requires you to be aware of how you lean/tilt your head
better option, more work = search how to build a DIY gimble, or buy one, and figure out how to mount it on your boat.
Might want to check out Kayalu
I just received a couple of lights with an interesting base mount I found from their ad on Pnet. They have mounts for various items including video.
Stickypod
– Last Updated: May-06-11 7:35 PM EST –
LOVE my StickyPod - been using it for years on kayak
http://www.stickypod.com/osc/popup_image.php?pID=28
Works great on your windshield for road trips
Even works underwater on bottom of kayak
-- got great shots of wreckage at Tobermory, Canada
Example
http://youtu.be/_ZO3pRLO48E
Self made…
Pretty simple self made: a little piece of minicel carverd like
http://ostfriesland-entdecken.de/img/droemel/stativ.jpg
Thanks everybody.
The gimble idea would be the best because it would have to self level. I never realized how much a kayak leans from side to side, which is what causes the seasick effect.
It’s your Boat! Switch it out.
I have shot many hours of video in many different conditions. All my videos are with a fixed mount. I have never had a problem with sea-sick videos. You can see my videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/paddlingfan1?feature=mhum I shoot from a Clipper Sea 1 Decked Canoe. It’s great for shooting pics from. If your goal is video and pics get yourself the right boat.You can see my photos here: http://www.everytrail.com/profile.php?user_id=274733
gimble
Interesting the responses that talk about attaching cameras, but nothing about the problem you asked about - sea sickness.
I agree with the comment above that attaching a camera to a boat generally doesn’t give that sea sickness effect. I have not tried masts (like Kayalu), and perhaps that would give a more pronounced rocking.
I have tried helmet cams and have a lot of trouble with me having to keep moving my head for kayaking purposes (often using in surf or similar), so I get lots of swinging back and forth that I have to edit out.
The real answer if this is really an issue is a gimble, as zzz mentioned. This is a mount with your camera above a pair of pivots, and a weight below. These pivots are then attached to your boat. The boat rocks but the low weight and pivots allows the camera to stay steady.
Here is a clip that has hand held, helmet mount, and deck mounted clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1heeCzAjxlo
The 2 “Point Bonita” clips are helmet cam pics with a GoPro. You can see a head jiggle or two as I am checking for waves in the first one.
“Wave at Mendo” and the 2nd “Disney Pour Over” are deck mounted with an Oregon Scientific ATC2K.
The rest are hand held (Pentax Optio).
DIY gimbal
– Last Updated: May-09-11 1:23 PM EST –
BTW, the spelling is 'gimbal', which will help with web searches. Here are some designs for DIY hand-held, steadycam-style gimbal mounts. I think you could feasibly adapt one of them to kayak use, with some experimentation, but it won't be simple:
http://diycamera.com/stabiliser/index.html
http://diycamera.com/stabiliser/index2.html
http://diycamera.com/stabiliser/index3.html
It looks like the third link has the most promise for a kayak mount.
Camera settings
– Last Updated: May-09-11 7:28 PM EST –
Some newer camera's have "anti-shake" stabilization
-- use the feature, it helps a lot
if only it could be
if only it could be all constructed with components that are corrosion resistant.
My challenge would be to make the gimbals suitable for marine environments.
Any components I use on my camera set ups that aren’t stainless steel or of plastic material they usually corrode hopelessly and seize.
Maybe I could modify the design #3 and make it with fiberglass/carbon components and stainless steel hardware? hmmm, got me thinking…