Just a short couple of films showcasing the ATC Mini Action Cam pole mounted. Both videos are shot around 8pm in late July/early August so the natural light levels are relatively low. Despite this, and the usual shaking that occurs when boarding, the footage is remarkably good on its default setting. The microphone picks up a lot of wind noise which seems to be the norm for this sort of thing, but certainly adds atmospherics to the video. I suppose I could always add some music if it was really an issue.
As usual, there have been plenty of crashes and its very easy to knock the camera on the ground or whack into the occasional tree as we ride through the woods. Despite this, the camera, though a little mucky, is running 100% fine and continued to film without issue.
However, as much as I enjoy the pole cam shots, a lot of the time I want to keep my hands free in order to concentrate on the ride itself, so I have invested in a helmet mount. Unfortunately, this will involve dismantling the pole mount but this is not a massive job, just not one I'd do out in the field.
As with all these things, there will be a bit of compression when the videos are uploaded to YouTube. By all means, if you want some raw footage to view, just give me a shout!
Showing posts with label pole-cam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pole-cam. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Friday, 27 July 2012
Pole Mounting an ATC Mini Camera
A quick and dirty hack for the ATC Mini Action Cam, but one that works it seems with a minimal amount of effort on my part. A bonus of using this method is that no serious alteration or damage to the original mountings is required - you can convert it back at any time!
I mentioned previously how the ATC Mini cam came as standard with a couple of mountings - a vented helmet mount and tripod mount? In using the section that attaches to the vented mount, much of the parts can be used with a few items found round the house in order to attach to a long pole. This can provide a good range of action shots purely by swinging the pole around whilst riding.
Next up, I've used an old golf club salvaged from the bins from a driving range we visited recently. The head of the club had already been removed and so with its relatively low weight and ergonomic handle, it makes a good pole to use here. It's a nice enough length - long enough to fit me into the 110-degree view of the camera, but not too long to drag along the floor or get caught up on stuff.
A U-shaped bracket will fit around the end of the golf club if I increase the club diameter a little - winding and unwinding sufficient electrical tape around the end gives sub-millimetre accuracy without having to construct anything with any precision.
This bracket will then fit onto the ATC Mini mounting with a couple of washers thrown in to bulk out the thickness a little. The benefit of using as much of the ATC Mini mounting as possible is maximum strength without compromising the accessibility of the button controls.
And there you have it, a pole-mounted ATC Mini action cam with variable shooting angles built entirely from parts that come with the camera and odd bits and pieces stored in the garage. I love my garage!
Pole Mounted ATC Mini Action Cam
I mentioned previously how the ATC Mini cam came as standard with a couple of mountings - a vented helmet mount and tripod mount? In using the section that attaches to the vented mount, much of the parts can be used with a few items found round the house in order to attach to a long pole. This can provide a good range of action shots purely by swinging the pole around whilst riding.
Next up, I've used an old golf club salvaged from the bins from a driving range we visited recently. The head of the club had already been removed and so with its relatively low weight and ergonomic handle, it makes a good pole to use here. It's a nice enough length - long enough to fit me into the 110-degree view of the camera, but not too long to drag along the floor or get caught up on stuff.
U-shaped Bracket
A U-shaped bracket will fit around the end of the golf club if I increase the club diameter a little - winding and unwinding sufficient electrical tape around the end gives sub-millimetre accuracy without having to construct anything with any precision.
This bracket will then fit onto the ATC Mini mounting with a couple of washers thrown in to bulk out the thickness a little. The benefit of using as much of the ATC Mini mounting as possible is maximum strength without compromising the accessibility of the button controls.
Bracket bulked up using washers
And there you have it, a pole-mounted ATC Mini action cam with variable shooting angles built entirely from parts that come with the camera and odd bits and pieces stored in the garage. I love my garage!
Quick test in the garage
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Pole-Cam - initial testing
After a long period of night-riding, finally got out for an afternoon, yesterday. Others in the area had reported Allestree to be a bit wet so decided to give Darley Park a go for the first time in a long while. Unfortunately, conditions proved to be just as bad, if not worse with most areas either slow and boggy, or wet and slippery. Shoved a set of 9 inchers on which improved things slightly, but still nothing much worth writing about. Got some interesting shots though using the new pole setup for the Contour cam whilst rolling down a couple of the footpaths. Most of the camera footage recorded so far lacks the interest of having someone in shot, so the options are to follow someone else, or to film yourself from behind (so to speak).
The pole itself I've taken from an old electric power mop. It features an ergonomic handle, handy grip section half way down the shaft, and ready made holes at the bottom to attach the camera bracket. For the custom camera bracket I've taken the mounting that the camera was originally packaged in and firmly adhered this to a wooden block. This provides a firm object to bracket onto my power mop pole. Overall, it's relatively heavy, but easy to handle and transfer from hand to hand mid-ride. It can be held mid length as shown in the video above, or at full length to put even more of me in the shot. Image quality looks nice and smooth filmed at 60fps and I hope to film a bit more once conditions improve a bit.
I've been warned by Contour not to use the mounting bracket due to the possibility of it shattering, so care must be taken not to clip the ground when using, or wiping out generally. Hopefully the wooded block mount should improve the overall strength a little.
So, making the most of a bad riding day. It's not something I'd do that often either as it distracts from the riding a little, restricts body movement a little and I'd have to move either the pole or the brake to the left hand if filming some of the faster tracks. Still, provides some nice effects so all good. Hope to film some more soon over the holiday period. Really hope it will snow, but I wont hold my breath....
The pole itself I've taken from an old electric power mop. It features an ergonomic handle, handy grip section half way down the shaft, and ready made holes at the bottom to attach the camera bracket. For the custom camera bracket I've taken the mounting that the camera was originally packaged in and firmly adhered this to a wooden block. This provides a firm object to bracket onto my power mop pole. Overall, it's relatively heavy, but easy to handle and transfer from hand to hand mid-ride. It can be held mid length as shown in the video above, or at full length to put even more of me in the shot. Image quality looks nice and smooth filmed at 60fps and I hope to film a bit more once conditions improve a bit.
[ergonomic handle]
I've been warned by Contour not to use the mounting bracket due to the possibility of it shattering, so care must be taken not to clip the ground when using, or wiping out generally. Hopefully the wooded block mount should improve the overall strength a little.
[camera mounting block]
[comfy handle]
So, making the most of a bad riding day. It's not something I'd do that often either as it distracts from the riding a little, restricts body movement a little and I'd have to move either the pole or the brake to the left hand if filming some of the faster tracks. Still, provides some nice effects so all good. Hope to film some more soon over the holiday period. Really hope it will snow, but I wont hold my breath....
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