A Simple Dashboard Cam Setup

When I started autocrossing my car I wanted a way a dashboard cam to record the video. I looked at a few online and they were quite expensive and were only mounted to the car using a suction mount. I didn’t feel like spending the money on a camera with a suction mount as many actual race tracks don’t allow cameras to be mounted this way. There must a a physical connection to mount the camera.

I had a cheap point and shoot camera laying around. I decided to mount this to my car. It can shoot video at 640 X480 at 30 fps. I figured this would be good enough for short autocross races.

Step 1 Where to Put the Camera

I needed a point on the car which to mount the camera. I chose the point where the sunvisor is attached to the headboard in the car. All cars have this point and there is a threaded fitting where the clip that holds in the visor is attached. My mount design is very simple and I was able to make it in just a few minutes with some scrap material.

Comments

[DarkDelorean]

As a storm chaser and frequent windshield-camera-mounter, this instructable is invaluable! I can't believe I never thought of it, or anyone else for that matter! Ingenious! Thank you times a billion and I'm going to go out right now and make one myself!

[praise_song]

www.tru4orce.com

or

www.race-keeper.com ....

Someone else HAS thought of it ... either of these should do the trick for you, and do it quite well! These would be invaluable to you, as a storm chaser!

[DarkDelorean]

Ahh I meant I've never thought to tie into the sun-visor as a camera mount location. Though I've not seen these sites either, they're a bit out of my price range. Amazing and drool worthy none the less! Thanks for the links praise_song!

[Rainh2o]

I use to install a lot of camera systems in police cruisers sort of like this, only it was a larger bracket that would span both visor clips and would hold not only the camera but a whole control assembly for the recorder in the trunk. (Idea here, I wonder if you want make a 3d movie, just make a piece of metal span both clips and mount the cameras about 3 inches apart on it?)Great instructible!

[gomiboy]

Great idea! I was thinking of doing something for a cross-country drive I'm planning, so I could take time-lapse video on the road. This will work well. One thought on the upside-down video - maybe you could make a C bracket from 2 L brackets, bolt it on first, and then bolt the camera right-side up from the bottom?

[wiglaf]

This is brilliant. I've been looking for something like this for a couple of months. I bought a ContourHD camera and a universal mount for it, and I've been trying to think up a way to mount it securely in the car. Brilliant!