OT: Suction Cup Mounts

epirb wrote on 6/8/2006, 4:38 AM

I am lookin for a suction cup mount to mount my FX1 w/ wide ang adpt. or A1 to that I can adjust to all diferent angles if nesc.
Was looking at this one and wondering if anybody has used or seen it. Other suggestions welcome

Suction mount
Also just discovered this company, looks like they have lots of great things. anybody used them before?

Comments

Serena wrote on 6/8/2006, 5:00 AM

I like the look of it. Would want to make sure that it is rigid when sucked down because a single point flexible mounting wouldn't go well with a camera of FX weight. Like the pump -- generally these things are just push down to fasten. Farss has a different system (multiple suction caps) which performs well (but he expressed doubts about trusting Z1 to that). Bob?

Jay Gladwell wrote on 6/8/2006, 5:05 AM

I have to agree with Serena. I've yet to see a suction mount that I would trust my camera to. Most rigs I've seen use both suction cups and multiple tie downs.

Let me just say this: If it weren't for my bad luck, I wouldn't have any!

[edit]

Check this out. Notice the blue nylon ties downs!

epirb wrote on 6/8/2006, 5:13 AM

Thanks for input, a couple of things . My use wount be for moving vehicles etc. Actually inside boats, some times i need to mount the cam right up near a wall ddor or cabinet. Clamp mounts are not possible on the fine wood finish, or tripods just wont fit in the bilge spaces.
the one thing that I would do, and actually they recc. is have a saftey strap attached.
Plus there pumps have a red mark on the plunger to let you know it the vacuum is dropping.
I will be right by the cam using a lanc controler and small monitor.

BTW Jay might be over near your neck of the woods next week might look you up if your around.
Thanks for that link Jay , but those type are just to large for what i need, space is one of the reasons Im looking for a suction mount. I can stick it to doors and cabinets like these.:
http://www.epirbfilms.com/inside.jpg

farss wrote on 6/8/2006, 5:50 AM

I have a full Stickypod kit and it works well, OK for A1 sized camera.
We also have one of those Manfrotto suckers, also works well but it's more for mounting lights. The advantage of the Stickypod is it gives you 3 or 4 point attachment and some degree of vibration isolation. Also for tight places there's Mathpoles, although you can buy much the same from Manfrotto cheaper.
There's also some very expensive gear used for 35mm cameras that again is suction based but uses external pumps and vacuum gauges to warn of pending loss of suck.

For inside a boat the Stickypod would be ideal, all you need is a smooth surface, it doesn't need to be flat. The three sucker version will hold onto a motorcycle tank. I'd consider adding a cheap head rather than using the fittings from Stickypod perhaps, they work OK but no real way to pan or tilt the camera, just lock it down in one position but if that's all you need they're cheap enough. My only concern would be putting the camera on the end of their long extension arms, you could get much worse vibration from the long metal rod. A bungy cord back to something solid may dampen it out though.

Bob.

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/8/2006, 6:25 AM

I have the stickypod, a Manfrotto, and a couple no-names. I've never, and would never, trust JUST the suction. I use a second tie in case the suction fails. As Bob mentions, even just a bungee to 'catch' the cam in event of mount failure is more or less required, IMO. Cleaning sucker and surface with Windex or alcohol first should help, but...

epirb wrote on 6/8/2006, 6:33 AM

I hear ya in that , even when filming outside like on the bow of the boat I have a strap attached to my cam and body. Cant tell you how many cell phones, tools and the like the fish have of mine. I'm not about to loose a cam by tripping as the boat rocks or gets caught in and outrigger line. Heck I had on of the kite lines get hoooked on my cam when the baot was backing down all over the place at a recent tournament. Didnt get pulled out of my hands but would have been scsary if it did.

rmack350 wrote on 6/8/2006, 10:22 AM

Have to agree about the straps. When you combine a suction cup with ratchet straps the cup will stop any lateral sliding and the strap will keep the cup tight on the surface. With a strap like this suction no longer matters. In addition, you need a second leash to the camera in case the primary fastening system snaps.

Fiberglass can get a bit salty so I'd wipe it off before attaching a cup. If you're relying on suction, I'd be surprised if the cup would stick to oiled teak, but varnished or urathane cabinets should be fine.

Another thing to look into is the sort of plastic used for on-car advertising. Some of that might be good to stick onto touch points to protect the boat's finish from straps. Maybe that's not neccessary on a boat but I'd sure do it on a car if I had the stuff available.

My scariest car mount ever was a suction cup rig to the door of a car in a sideshow. The whole thing was scary but the car was doing really fast smoking doughnuts. I was afraid the rig would get knocked off if the car plowed into the crowd of bystanders. (Gruesome humor there). Anyway, the cup was fine but it was the straps that kept it all together.

Rob Mack