Construct a greater mousetrap? When capturing car-to-car video, as we discovered, maybe that’s not at all times the most effective reply.
Just some years in the past, we constructed our personal rig that mounted a Sony a7 III mirrorless digital camera (about $2000 with the lens) on a DJI Ronin-S gimbal (about $325) onto a customized trailer hitch mount ($100 plus fab work).
A monitor (one other $100) allowed a digital camera operator to border the shot from contained in the digital camera automotive. To maneuver the digital camera, we used a PlayStation controller (about $18). An $85 battery powered every thing.
Whereas complicated and clunky, the rig labored okay and used some bits that we already had–just like the digital camera, gimbal and hitch mount. Let’s name it appropriate sufficient, and determine it will price just a little greater than $2600 to duplicate if ranging from scratch.
Nonetheless, there have been another prices concerned. First, the digital camera automotive required a hitch, whereas the digital camera operator wanted some specialised data–and couldn’t drive the digital camera automotive on the similar time. The complete setup additionally stuffed a 21x14x10-inch case, so not a tiny bundle.
Whereas not a deal-breaker, the setup concerned working wires down the facet of the digital camera automotive. Minimal setup time was quarter-hour, whereas digital camera placement was dictated by the placement of the hitch.
Our present setup is way simpler to make use of. It really works on almost any automotive and requires lower than 5 minutes for setup. It’s additionally a lot simpler to function and would solely price a grand or so to duplicate. Plus, it doesn’t require a devoted operator.
Right here’s how we cracked the code.
The Digicam: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
The primary piece of the puzzle was the digital camera, and we’re now utilizing the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for all of our car-to-car shoots. Principally, it’s a digital camera sensor and gimbal from a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. The companion cellphone app can observe objects, monitor the feed and management the digital camera, all with out wires.
That monitoring operate is large, because it ensures that the hero automotive is at all times within the body. As soon as arrange, the digital camera can mainly function by itself as soon as we depart the paddock. This setup also can hook up with DJI mics for clear audio. (This digital camera additionally works very nicely off the automotive, offering stunning, stabilized 4K footage even when strolling round.)
How a lot? The digital camera lists for about $800, though we scored ours on sale at Costco for $532. Whereas we did quit the flexibleness of interchangeable lenses from our previous mirrorless digital camera setup, the streamlined course of now permits us to seize extra footage with fewer folks and much much less problem. (The Osmo solely has digital zoom, nonetheless, whereas the Sony might use any lens from the catalog.)
What a few GoPro? The newest, the GoPro Hero13, lacks the monitoring means discovered with the DJI. At about $330, although, it does price much less.
The Mount: Tilta Hydra Alien Mini
What actually delivers these Hollywood seems is the digital camera mount. The Tilta Hydra Alien Mini Car Mounting System is a small, shock-absorbing arm that may suction cup to essentially any automotive. The outcome: buttery-smooth footage.
Our home made rig struggled to damp the micro jitters; the digital camera was doubtless simply too heavy for the setup, stopping us from completely nailing the shot.
The Tilta Hydra is nearly as simple to arrange as an everyday motion digital camera mount and damps these bumps and jitters. It’s virtually like a smaller model of the corporate’s full-size $2800 setup aimed on the movement image trade. We purchased the smaller model from B&H for $189.
The Monitor: Quad Lock Suction Mount and Telephone Case
Our cellphone controls the digital camera and displays the feed, so we wanted a safe mount within the digital camera automotive.
We’ve an older Panavise PortaGrip Telephone Holder with Windshield Mount that’s good however, typically, permits the cellphone to slip out–so not best. The trendy equal of this mount now sells for about $45.
So we checked out Quad Lock, a preferred model on this sphere with mounts aimed toward automobiles, bikes and bikes.
We picked up the model’s customary Car Suction Mount for about $40. The corporate additionally affords a heavy-duty mount, however the usual one has been simply fantastic for us.
To connect the cellphone to the mount, you’ll want the brand’s own case. They normally begin round $35. The Quad Lock setup retains the cellphone inside attain for straightforward setup earlier than rolling. Due to the digital camera’s monitoring software program, as soon as it’s arrange, the operator can now merely drive the digital camera automotive.
Complete price for every thing minus the cellphone? Proper round $1000, so lower than our previous setup whereas permitting us to function with two folks as an alternative of three. We will now use any automobile because the digital camera automotive.
In fact, you can spend even much less when assembling a car-to-car rig, however at the very least for us, that appeared to compromise high quality. This setup has been our candy spot.
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