DIY Headrest Camera Mount

[DustenT]

Total Time: Less than 1 hour
Total Cost: $15.13
Beers: 2

Parts List:
~18" aluminum square tubing (I used 3/4")
2 - 1/2" U-bolts
5 - 1/4"-20 Wing Nuts
1 - 2" 1/4"-20 bolt
1 - 1/4"-20 nut

Procedure:

1.) Gather parts
http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/albums/BMW/camera_mount_005.sized.jpg

2.) Line up aluminum tubing with headrest, mark where the holes for the U-bolts need to be drilled out.
http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/albums/BMW/camera_mount_011.sized.jpg

3.) Drill holes for U-bolts, assemble.

http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/albums/BMW/camera_mount_016.sized.jpg

4.) Trim the tubing to the appropriate length, drill hole for camera mount.

http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/albums/BMW/camera_mount_018.sized.jpg

5.) Install 1/4"-20 bolt into tubing. This will screw into the bottom of your camera.
http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/albums/BMW/camera_mount_020.sized.jpg

6.) Finished product.
http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/albums/BMW/camera_mount_021.sized.jpg

Notes: I made this as cheap as possible. I will eventually be using the ball-mount off my tripod instead of a straight bolt. The setup I outlined above is adjustable, simply adjust the position of the passenger seat to get the correct angle. Good luck!

[Tyler]

You rock man.:rockon:

[cali-ti]

cool idea. does the camera have image stabilization? :)

[DustenT]

cool idea. does the camera have image stabilization? :)

Nope. I'm just using my Fuji FinePix s5100. It's not the greatest but it works. I just did a test drive with it. I works great, it's a little shaky from the seat back vibration, but if you had someone in the seat it would be stable. I'll try to get some video tonight.

[lkwd318ti]

Good job!
I made one of those a few months ago too, but kinda different.
I bought one of those tripod mounts for it though. (It was the most expensive part :tongue: )

-Randy

[cali-ti]

if i start tracking my car, i'll have to do something like this to hold my panasonic three-chip dvcam so i can film in widescreen mode and transfer it to dvd :) wonder how well the image stabilization would do. perhaps some rubber bushings where the ubolts hold the seat posts and where the camera mounts ...

[Silver00spike]

Thats a nice idea. I was gonna use pvc pipe between 2 seats, but this looks much better

[thesk8nmidget]

any pictures of it?