mounting a camera on the back of a boat

[oldharry]

No tape, no bu7ngees, I use a Gorillapod, which allows you to fasten a camera to almost anything. Smallest size suitable for pocket cameras from £17 (Google it). Larger size needed fro the average DSLR, though the little one will hold it - just! Mine holds an Xacti on the pushpit rail perfectly. Useful too for setting up a time lapse sequnece in an odd place.

 

[dylanwinter]

if it is on the inside of the lense then you might try removing the card, battery and open the little connection port and leave it somewhere warm and dry for a while - low humidity

I am told that some dry heated rice makes a good moisture absorber if you put a layer of it in a tupperware box - put kitchen roll paper over the top of the rice and lay the camera on top of that

keep it warm for a bit

might be better to do it sooner rather than later

see if it helps

how long have you had the Xacti?

they have now replaced it with a panasonic - same design

D

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

if it is on the inside of the lense then you might try removing the card, battery and open the little connection port and leave it somewhere warm and dry for a while - low humidity

I am told that some dry heated rice makes a good moisture absorber if you put a layer of it in a tupperware box - put kitchen roll paper over the top of the rice and lay the camera on top of that

keep it warm for a bit

might be better to do it sooner rather than later

see if it helps

how long have you had the Xacti?

they have now replaced it with a panasonic - same design

D

Thanks Dylan,

I've had it for a couple of years but the problem has always been there...

The outer covering is removable which is where the problem lies. I have tried taking it off and then leaving it to dry out, it helped a bit but not completely.

Pete

 

[dgadee]

Great looking device here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WnnXp74Nx60&list=UUdIlq2rvlZYxb_TPuqVmfaw

No idea whether it is marketed or home made.

 

[GrumpyOldGit]

I've seen lots of video with the camera on the back, looking forward, capturing all the action on the boat.

How are these mounted? is it hung form the backstay, or is that a bit too wobbly? is there a tripod tied to the backstay?
Maybe a tiller mounted camera?

Does anyone have a picture of this setup at all?

Talk to Geoff at TB4E.com he films all sorts of interesting stuff on 1/4 tonners and Laser SB3's and the website is full of video clips to get an idea of what he does. Very nice bloke who will be happy to share his knowledge

 

[Lakesailor]

Great looking device here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WnnXp74Nx60&list=UUdIlq2rvlZYxb_TPuqVmfaw

No idea whether it is marketed or home made.

Except it doesn't work. The idea is the horizon stays level. The cliffs in that vid have taken on a life of their own.
I achieved that effect for less than £10

 

[dgadee]

Except it doesn't work. The idea is the horizon stays level. The cliffs in that vid have taken on a life of their own.
I achieved that effect for less than £10

The video covers early and later versions, I notice. Are you discussing the later one?

Have you an image of your setup? Always happy to learn how to do things better.

 

[single]

No tape, no bu7ngees, I use a Gorillapod, which allows you to fasten a camera to almost anything. Smallest size suitable for pocket cameras from £17 (Google it). Larger size needed fro the average DSLR, though the little one will hold it - just! Mine holds an Xacti on the pushpit rail perfectly. Useful too for setting up a time lapse sequnece in an odd place.

Just saw them in Lidl earlier today.
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/www_lidl_uk/hs.xsl/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=2104

 

[Lakesailor]

The shot earlier in the thread was my best effort. A later and much more complex one was rubbish.

The video you posted showed the later example to be very sensitive to adjustment. Any inertia system will be a bit patchy. Probably the best dependable method would involve gyros, but I wasn't bothered enough to go to those lengths.

 

[dylanwinter]

the best system

The shot earlier in the thread was my best effort. A later and much more complex one was rubbish.

The video you posted showed the later example to be very sensitive to adjustment. Any inertia system will be a bit patchy. Probably the best dependable method would involve gyros, but I wasn't bothered enough to go to those lengths.

the best system is a bloke holding the camera

d

 

[Deleted member 36384]

As an alternative option you can also buy special kites where the camera is mounted on a frame that is aligned with the flying line. This gives a shot looking straight down to the kites anchor point on the boat. There are quite few models to choose from these days. Google is your friend.

 

[daveyw]

The video in this thread seems to use some sort of software to stabilise the picture but it twists the frame.


http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?357714-One-you-wont-find-on-any-marina-guide&highlight=

 

[Lakesailor]

That is disgusting. The distortion in the lens is bad enough, but the trapezoidal stretching of the frame is a move too far.

 

[Lakesailor]

the best system is a bloke holding the camera

d

Quite true. But when you are single-handed and want to be in the shot it's tricky.

 

[single]

Any use to anyone for a cheap boat cam?
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_30532.htm

 

[Lakesailor]

It doesn't offer any indication of the focal length of the lens (except that it is 4.5mm) in relation to the chip size. As it doesn't have HD it can be assumed the chip is pretty small (8mp could be interpolated) so it is probably not wide enough for use on a boat. Cameras that offer less than 35mm (equivalent) wide angles normal advertise the fact.
So, no HD and not wide enough angle of view. Not very much cop on a boat.

 

[dslittle]

I know the sort of video you mean, im pretty sure they are a GoPro on a goal post style gantry thats already there for radar, solar panels etc etc. I personally despise goal posts and you certainly dont want one on your mini tonner but im sure you could achieve a similar vantage point with something like a broom handle with some chunky cable ties (you can even buy ones that have a release mechanism) on your pushpit. I think the backstay would be too wobbly, also because of the angle by the time you've gone six feet up it you will be a foot or two forward. if you want the whole boat in the vid a vertical pole would be your best bet. hell, with a bit of ingenuity you could even have it raked aft of the transom so you really get the whole boat in. I guess the lighter the camera the better so something like a GoPro would be the way forward and the fish eye/wide angle lens would really help you out.

Whilst I do not think a radar arch would look good on every boat, I do think that a broom handle would look bad on any boat...

 

[cliveshelton]

Thanks for the ideas, unfortunately, as cool as the go pro is, I want to use a proper camera, as the fisheye lens just isn't what I'm after.

I quite like the idea of a pole sticking up, as unfortunately I don't have a pushpit! Maybe I can clamp it onto the grp seam at the back?

I am setting up for video too and have gone with the GoPro Hero3 (the new black model). I understand the objection to fish-eye lenses but it can be reduced with the new camera version. This is a first trial (time-lapse and not particularly interesting) but there is no image bending to speak of here..............
I don't mind the horizon wobbling a bit bu have yet to try it in a stronger wind - or any wind really as you can see! The ultimate goal is a kite-cam. Suggestions very welcome please.

Incidentally, at about 0:39 we are practising the DW bowline technique!

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

The key is to make sure you are in a place where the boat stays flat!

Pete

 

[Giblets]

I understand the objection to fish-eye lenses but it can be reduced with the new camera version.

It can also be reduced on the previous version.