Welcome to this short eLearning lesson on how to mount a video camera onto the nose of your SUP.

You will need:
- a waterproof digital camera with video capability (a 2GB memory card is also recommended to capture one hour of continuous video) - eBay $110;
- a glazier's suction cup - eBay $20;
- some scrap deck grip - the shed $0;
- a short tie-down strap - Bunnings $5; and
- a water ski rope float - Whitworths $3.

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Step 1
Drill a series of 4mm holes in one side of the fixed handle of the suction cup to create a slit as wide as the tie-down strap. Repeat for the other side.

Step 2
Feed the tie-down strap through each of the slits so the buckle of the strap is at the back of the suction cup (where the lever handle is). Using these slits will stop the strap from sliding off.

Step 3
Thread the water ski rope float onto the end of the tie-down strap. Tie a figure eight knot on the end so it cannot slide off. This is necessary as the complete unit doesn't float without adding this extra piece of buoyancy.

Step 4
Grind a step into the front of the suction cup for the base of the camera to lock into.

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Step 5
Stick some scrap deck grip above the step to enhance the height of the step and to add a bit of padding for the camera.

Step 6
Place the suction cup in the appropriate position on the nose of your board. It should be dead centre and as far forward as possible while still remaining on a flat part of the board.

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Step 7
Lock the suction cup in place by raising the lever handle. Make sure it goes on the inside of the tie-down strap.

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Step 8
Attach the safety strap on the camera to the tie-down strap. This allows everything to stay together in the event of a "suck-off".

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Step 9
Seat the camera (on its side) inside the strap at the front of the suction cup. The bottom of the camera should fit in front of the step you grinded earlier. The camera on its side allows more height of the surfer to be viewed without needing an expensive wide angle lensed camera. You will need to rotate your final video clip by 90 degrees during the editing process.

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Step 10
Tighten the strap as hard as it can go.

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Final Front View:

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Final Rear View:

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Now, get out there and rip it up. Just start the camera recording before you paddle out and keep surfing until the memory card runs out.

Don't forget to share your videos with everyone via YouTube and SeaBreeze.

Looks like a great setup!!
Where do you get the camera from on ebay??
What brand is it?
Waz

This is just another challenge for you Oliver! You love tinkering with this stuff. Can't wait to hear how your inventive mind tackles this one....and I can't wait to see the result.

But the only drama I have is sticking it down to the EVA deck grip on my SUP?
Any ideas anyone?

Jonathan you should be able to use the mast base screw hole to hold a stick with a camera thread size bolt through the other end..You could have the stick as long as you like..even going off the end off the board if you need to to get all of yourself in the frame.

DJ

Greenroom said...

DavidJohn said...

But the only drama I have is sticking it down to the EVA deck grip on my SUP?
Any ideas anyone?

Jonathan you should be able to use the mast base screw hole to hold a stick with a camera thread size bolt through the other end..You could have the stick as long as you like..even going off the end off the board if you need to to get all of yourself in the frame.
DJ

Whos Jonathan?
Hey DJ, sweet idea. Thanks heaps for that. I never would have thought of that
Let me rack my brain on that one. I will go out to the shed now to see what I can rig up.
Be right back

Sorry Greenroom..

I was just looking at the combi on your avitar (same as Jonathan and he has an SB 11'2" UB)..and nothing to do with me being a dumbarse..

DJ

Can't wait to see you sucker cam in action greenroom - when do you reckon your in action? I want to see the famous 'Ghostie' - closeup.

The famous 'Ghostie'. I taught Miller this move.
Only special people have the ability to pull this off

I wanna film some of this action

Awesome ideas Jonathan. That sounds like the go.

Just bought a gorillapod style tripod for $5.50 on ebay - I should be able to intertwine the legs under the new netting I've made on the front of my board and fix the camera to the netting so it doesn't get lost.

Here are some photos I took of the mast base cam I made this morning.
I can face the camera forward or backwards but it wont be in the centre line of the board.
Just a bit offset, but can angle it towards the tip of the nose.
If I was to face it towards the back of the board, it would only pick up my feet in the view.
But a test run tomorrow will tell.
On the Starboard 9'8 and 9'0 there are footstrap screw inserts which Im gonna make a cam mount for a different view.
Maybe on a tripod or rod so the camera can be about a foot off the back of the board?

Hey thanks for the lead Sub. I will check it out now.

Looks like a good setup greenroom. That camera is stuck firm - you should get some good footage.

I just purchased another suction cup camera holder option from a $2.00 shop - pitty it was a bit more than $2.00 but it should work great:



http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Universal-Car-mount-holder-for-PDA-PHONE-IPON-GPS-PSP_W0QQitemZ160268989669QQihZ006QQcategoryZ48575QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've got the holder - and that sucker is a good one - it's got one of those clips that you press down on just like the glass holder. I can lift my board using it and shake it around a little and it stays firm. I haven't tested it in the sea yet but my feeling is that the plastic would break before the suction would let go. Obviously it's not as sturdy as the glass holder but it's far more flexible in how you can position it. Anyway - it's just another option and at $10.00 it may be a good alternative.

My wife is off to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks and I want her to get a waterproof video camera for me - I've been doing a little homework and so far these look good.
www.techshout.com/gadgets/2007/10/new-6-megapixel-vivitar-waterproof-digital-camera-launched/
www.smarthouse.com.au/Digital_Photography/Video_Cameras/B3E6L2A8
www.goodgearguide.com.au/index.php/taxid;2136212591;pid;5003;pt;1

Has anyone got any thoughts on good waterproof video cameras. I just want to make good qual web clips that will last for 2 - 4 hours continuous filming. My olympus 790 shoots only 29 mins continuously and the battery goes flat in about an hour.

I can really see this as a becoming a bit of a hobbie for me - thanks casso.

For editing I'm using both the latest i-movie and the previous version of i-movie on mac and the programs really do have some fantastic video editing transitions and options packed in. I've got a few youtube concepts in mind that I want to further explore.

Oh answered my own question... after spending a few hours looking into it... I think my expectations are a little unreasonable, the olympus 790 seems to be up there with the rest of them.

cranky said...

Greenroom said...

I have a 2gb disc in my Olympus 770. It takes 1h 30m of continuous filming.
But the battery only lasts just over an hour.
I gotta buy another battery... or two... or three... or more

Where is the setting for continuous video? I can only get my Oly775 to video in 10 second blocks.

Im not sure?
Ive always just pressed record and it plays continually.