Camera bracket for bicycle.

[Mike Kennedy]

Out this Sunday at 5:30 on my mountain bike with an F3HP cased and packed in my rucksack.Missed 2 great photo opps. because of the time delay (stop/unzip 2 bags).
Does someone know of a camera bracket one could attach to a bicycle? I'm thinking of something that would hold a smallish P&S with long lens capabilities.Hate to have the gear but miss the shot.

 

[richard ide]

I would hesitate to use this approach because of vibration. IIRC there was a sling strap with velcro which would hold the camera to your chest but easily detachable but don't remember any details.

 

[archphoto]

Mountainbike on the trail or in town ? It makes a diference.

For the trail: try a double adjustable strap: one around your neck and one around your chest, both interconnected to each other.
In that way the camera bounces around a lot less.
Otherwise a case that fits the belt of your pants can be helpfull. I have this for my dP&S, there might be ones that fit a small SLR, and a F3 is not the smallest one.....

I would not fit the camera to the bike, esp on rough terrain, it will shake the screws out of it, unless you have one of those softtail all suspension bikes, like I have in Holland.......
If you want to mount it on your bike in town you can use a (super) clamp with a ball head and QR plate, it will require some experimenting.
Very sturdy super-clamps are made by Manfrotto(-Bogen in the US ???).

Peter

 

[paul ron]

Just mount a 1/4-20 screw on your handlebars. Put a ball head n a quick release plate so you can snap your camera right in whenever you need it.

I just rest my camera on my seat and shoot away using my bike as a mono pod.

 

[ReallyBigCameras]

Mike,

Perhaps something like this would work for you. They are $39.00 each. I have both sizes in stock. You can mount a small ballhead to these brackets and use your bike as a tripod (bikepod?). As the manufacturer advises, the camera should only be mounted on these when stopped, or riding on smooth surfaces.

Kerry Thalmann
Really Big Cameras

 

[Mick Fagan]

Great looking product and something to think about.

Mick.

 

[arigram]

I have yet to see a bracket that has some sort of suspension or stabilisation which would make a big difference in the enjoyment of the footage. Bumps and vibrations may help carry the feeling of the rocky singletrack, but on the road it wouldn't work.
Do you know of any?

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Really cool looking device Kerry.

 

[Andy K]

I have yet to see a bracket that has some sort of suspension or stabilisation which would make a big difference in the enjoyment of the footage. Bumps and vibrations may help carry the feeling of the rocky singletrack, but on the road it wouldn't work.
Do you know of any?

Helmet mount.

 

[VaryaV]

Great thread Mike. I think one (a mtn biker) might need both mount types one for smooth surfaces and the helmut mount for crazy off road trails. Tackle both worlds. Great info everyone. I've been considering this too just to document my rides.

 

[Vonder]

Perhaps one of these straps from optech might suite your needs?

http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=4&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4

I use this for wedding work and never miss a shot because my camera's not ready. Flash not ready, yes, but not the camera.

 

[GJA]

I wouldn't mount an F3 or any camera with a nice lens on my bike. I'm not so worried about vibrations, but I would be worried about dust, sand and gravel flying up into the camera and lens.

If i were you I might try to rig up some sort of system like a rear rack.

Here is a link to the world leading authority on bike luggage racks (and nude riders). Dead Link Removed

 

[JDP]

Well, depending on your exact requirements you could simply mount a bar-bag on your handlebars. I do this and can lay my hands on the camera within a few seconds. Most bags will take a 35mm + zoom & some will take MF equipment. By the way I have never had any problems with vibration causing damage to any of my cameras when carried in a suitable pannier or bar-bag on any of my bikes, over a period of 25 years or so.

 

[archphoto]

Kerry: I wish I had come across this bracket a year or so ago: I would have loved to make some video's with this on my travels on my motor-bike through Brazil.
If I come back to Brazil after September I will order one.

Wolfeye: this kind of strap I was thinking about in the first place.

And it shure has become a very informative thread !

Peter

 

[AutumnJazz]

In the movie business they use gyros.

 

[arigram]

In the movie business they use gyros.

They use this?

:confused:
Doesn't look like a stable platform...

 

[GM Bennett]

I picked up one of these "ultramounts" recently to secure a small P&S camera to my motorbike, and it works fine as long as its strapped to a part of the bike that has the least vibration (frame, crash bars, etc.). About $30.

 

[Moopheus]

Hey, that ultramount looks like just the thing I've been looking for. I'm not worried about vibration so much--I don't plan to use it while the bike is actually moving. I just don't want to have to carry a tripod.

 

[AutumnJazz]

They use this?

:confused:
Doesn't look like a stable platform...

http://www.ken-lab.com/