Home-made bicycle handlebar camera mount

[weisan]

Every time I am thinking of something, I tell myself there must be at least one other pal on the forum who has already considered it, so it's under this context that I am asking the question.

Have anyone attempted a home-made handlebar mount to put a lightweight camera for video-recording ride/scenery?

If so, would you please share your experience?

My research thus far is a combination of this:
http://www.knick-knack.com/howto/motorcycle/cheap-handlebar-camera-mount.html

And this:
http://www.camerahacker.com/build/Bicycle_Camera_Mount.php

And then, this:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Arca-Swiss-Monoball-Z1-Ballhead-Review.aspx

Not that I would spend so much on a pro-level ball-head, but what I would consider better versatility than, say, a simple plate mount. That way I can pan or swivel to a certain angle if need be on the move.

What are your thoughts?

[xjoex]

I have been using an ultrapod for years now. I occasionally put it on my handlebars and take some shots. Here is a video with a canon s90 attached to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCNIF3VmhRk

And it is handy for taking self portraits
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/boulderjoe/riding/IMG_2400.jpg

-Joe

[false_Aest]

arca swiss is overkill.

You just need a small head that's rated for double what your camera weighs (maybe triple if you're gonna take a big hit on the road).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/213133-REG/Canon_6205A009.html

This would work with some hacking and a flip type video camera/point and shoot.

hakuba, gitzo, bogen/manfrotto, and sunpak make decent ones too. probably Silk but im not sure.


and some hacking would do you just fine.

The only issue I can see with something like your examples is that they're designed to keep things ridged and still. That's a lot of camera shake when you're riding.


2 solutions: a) buy a steadicam and reverse engineer it and then make it smaller

b) good image stabilization in camera.

[weisan]

Joe-pal, thanks for sharing your clip, it's pretty cool!
It reminds me of this:
http://vimeo.com/11695455

false-pal, what do you think of these ball mounts, which one would you go with? I will be using Lumix TZ3.

KS-0 Professional Tripod Ball Head Camera Ballhead
http://82.images22.51img1.com/6000/k652423451/24b7fb7d8175ff0c9f18e0f95c52ab73.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220678375386&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2773wt_905

Sunpak Pistol Grip Ballhead
http://i.ebayimg.com/13/!B7ZH4Iw!mk~$(KGrHqV,!hsEzMl!gCfOBM0D2SgBcw~~-1_1.JPG
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380284963084&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1492wt_1139

Mini ball head Stand tripod ballhead 1/4 3/8
http://www.shot-in.com/html/img/F80201.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250727819840&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5648wt_1139

[weisan]

Live longer...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrbSRLiIdOk

[eddief]

i know nothing about it, but this looked cool:

http://www.goprocamera.com/products/helmet-hero-wide-camera.php

http://www.goprocamera.com/products/handlebar-seatpost-mount-ride-hero.php