How to Mount an Action Camera to your Se7en

Introduction

Most people just use the GoPro roll bar mount to attach their camera to their se7en and then drive off.  However, you will quickly discover that our little cars are fairly high in vibration despite generally having a compliant suspension and good ride.  As a result, a peculiar effect can be generated on video called "rolling shutter."

Rolling Shutter Effect

Borrowing from Wikipedia:

Rolling shutter is a method of image capture in which a still picture (in a still camera) or each frame of a video (in a video camera) is captured not by taking a snapshot of the entire scene at a single instant in time but rather by scanning across the scene rapidly, either vertically or horizontally. In other words, not all parts of the image of the scene are recorded at exactly the same instant. (Though, during playback, the entire image of the scene is displayed at once, as if it represents a single instant in time.) This produces predictable distortions of fast-moving objects or rapid flashes of light.    This is in contrast with "global shutter" in which the entire frame is captured at the same instant.

To illustrate, here is a side by side comparison.  Left half of a screen is with a CMOS chipset video recorder producing rolling shutter or "jello" effect. The right hand side of the screen is with a video camera with a CCD chipset with a global shutter set up.

Clearly the left hand side of the screen wobbles around far more than the right which is steadier and far more enjoyable to watch.  

An illustration of the rolling shutter effect in this Caterham video - its particularly pronounced at idle when the car vibrations sync with the shutter timing of the video.

So what can be done to avoid it?

A couple of things:

• Buy an action camera that uses a CCD chipset (instead of CMOS chip as in a GoPro for example) as these are predominately using global shutter
• Buy a good roll bar clamp
• Use a camera with an active steady shot feature

Buy a Camera that Uses a Global Shutter

Dealing with each in turn.  It is not automatically guaranteed that a CCD chip in an action camera will use global shutter to record video.  In fact it is possible that a CCD chip may still utilize rolling shutter.  Further, it is extremely rare that you will be able to find an action camera that does not use rolling shutter.  More expensive professional cameras will likely use global shutter but these are $1000+ and well beyond the budget of us amateurs.  

Buy a Good Roll Bar Clamp

The standard clamps provided with your new action camera are unlikely to cut it.  Lots of testing over years has led me to use Manfrotto Super Clamps.  They are expensive, heavy but work very well.  They are strong and stand up to enormous abuse without failing.  

The standard clamp looks like this:

There are other versions of this clamp with different shape locking mechanisms and if you look closely on Amazon you will find similar unbranded copies for cheaper money.  

That brass stud is important as it installs into the clamp and you then screw your camera onto it.  

There are also Nano clamps - smaller versions which are excellent for installing cameras on wishbones or headlight brackets for a different video experience.  

Out of side in this photo is the screw hole on the end of the clamp that will take a brass stud to allow you to screw your camera on.

Sometimes, these clamps, once mounted in place, will be positioned so that the camera cannot be aimed correctly.  In that instance you will find a ball head to be helpful.  These come in a variety of sizes and prices but allow infinite adjustability in aiming your camera exactly where you want it and locking it tight so it will not move.  

Sometimes the ball head mount will not get your camera in just the right position.  In that case, ball socket arms will provide the needed extension.  I find the Ram Mount brand to have a good selection of options.

RAM Mounts - Mobile Mounting Solutions

Use a Camera with Active Steady Shot Feature or Use a Multi-axis Motorized Gimbal Attachment

Many higher end action cameras will offer a form of image stabilization feature that reduces vibration effects from rolling shutter. This is a software driven mechanism to stabilize the image being recorded. 

The physical version of this is a motorized multi-axis gimbals, frequently seen in drone photography which uses physical movements of the gimbal to offset the physical movements of the camera.  

However, not all have the same effect in the end result.   Action camera gimbals are designed for relatively slow movements and not high G forces of a vigorous backroad blat or a track day drive, as seen in the following example video.

So the multi-axis gimbal is a fail for us amateurs unless you go high end which is thousands of dollars.  

So that leaves us with the software version that is built into the cameras.  This technology has improved drammatically in recent years.  Five years ago I tested a Sony action camera and found the so-called "SteadyShot" feature to be terrible - moving its aim around all over the place.  

Now, the current crop of GoPros, DJI Osmo Actions, Sony Action Cams, etc have very sophisticated software to reduce vibrations, producing a particularly professional image.  When you select this feature you should know that it works by allowing the recorded image counter the movements from vibrations around an image center spot.  It then crops the borders of the video so you never see the countering effect that is going on producing the effect of a closer video image.  Each camera manufacturer calls this image stabilization feature by their own marketing term.  Sony uses SteadyShot, DJI Osmo uses RockSteady, and so on.

This is best seen in a back to back comparison.  Same car, same driver, same camera, same circuit, same day, same Manfrotto mounting clamp and ball head.  The difference between the two is Video 1 has no image stabilization.  Video 2 has the image stabilization turned on.  

Video 1 - No Image stabilization

Video 2 - Image stabilization turned on

First thing you will notice is that the view of the cockpit and my body is cut off compared with Video 1.  To my mind, Video 2 has a smoother image.  Dashboard label letters are nicely crisp.  Momo on steering wheel is nicely defined.   A little less image vibration in Video 2.  You should make up your own mind when thinking about buying a camera for this feature.  

So Where Do You Mount the Camera?

You have a range of options.  Think big.  The traditional view is on the roll bar above the driver - like the ones immediately above.  But keep in mind that height above the asphalt tends to slow the sensation of speed.  

With that in mind, you should consider alternatives:

(a) Hang it off the side.  Roll bars have upright pieces.  The clamps shown earlier work well to mount on the side of the roll bars.  Aim it over the driver's shoulder or maybe the passenger if you are out there terrifying them with your driving prowess (or lack of?).

(b) Point the camera backwards - If you are anything like me, you will be pointing people by.  Or if you are on a road tour with some se7ening friends then you get to focus on them following you.  Or maybe, just maybe, you will get lucky and see someone goof up while following you.  This produces a video like the following:

Oops!

(c) Front wishbones - This is a good location to get the sensation of speed and movement.  Remember that it is subject to a lot of movement in the front suspension and a level of undampened asphalt vibrations.

(d) Headlight stays - These are a great location for 360 cameras.  You can clamp to the metal stay then I use additional painters tape to provide additional support for an extension arm to the camera to steady it.  

If you have never used a 360 camera before, play the video and while playing use your mouse or track pad cursor to click and drag the video around - left, right, up, down.  You can face the video back at the driver or possibly study the track map that GoPro/Garmin/Sony/etc can overlay on the video.  Track cars around as they are being passed.  The big downside of these 360 cameras, apart from cost and massive video files, is that they generally do not have an external mic capability.  So wind noise will be a factor you have to deal with.  

Wrap Up

You may never remove all the vibration effects present in your se7en videos but hopefully this will give you some ideas to significantly improve the quality of your se7en videos to show off to your family and friends.