Camera Mount

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="043785a3.jpg"> <div> <B>                                                         Camera Mount  </B></div> <div> <B>                                                                                                                              by Jerry Frost                                                    </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4bfb4e70.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="231" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#333333" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>As a result of a nasty leg break, I was fitted with a knee brace. It didn't take too long to figure out a useful purpose for the brace. </B></div> <div> <B>I like taking aerial photos (still and video) and have never really had a mount, helmet or otherwise, that I could use to shoot with hands-on brakes and still be able to frame pan and tilt. </B></div> <div> <B>Hence, I designed the video mount shown in the  photos attached.</B></div> <div> <B> The core of the mount is a Bogen Model # 3265 Manfotto Bassano camera mount made in Italy. The lever can be depressed and the mount can then be swivelled 180 degrees on the x-axis and about 90 degrees on the y-axis. When the lever is released the mount stays in the locked position. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c0cc350.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="309" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>The video mounts on the top of the mount with a cam-lock quick release mechanism which allows secure mounting of the camera and quick release to remove it. The cam-lock mechanism also has a locking feature to insure the cam-lock is not inadvertantly released. I attach a small line lanyard as a safety in case the camera detaches from the mount (which to date has never happened). The video camera I currently use is a Sony DCR TRV730 digital. </B></div> <div> <B>I cut some round pads using an old pair of flip-flops which serves as a shock mount to absorb mini-vibrations and provides a contour mount between the base and the leg brace. The mount is secured to the Townsend Design carbon fibre leg brace with a carriage bolt. The hole in the brace was drilled and then filed into a square hole so the carriage bolt would not turn. </B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c1cc520.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="594" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c2cc9a0.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="410" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c3cc670.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="615" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c4cc6a0.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="618" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c5cc670.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="615" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c6ccb00.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="432" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c7cc790.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="377" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c8cc620.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="610" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4c9cc9a0.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="410" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="4cacc4e0.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="590" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Overall, the video camera mount is working out very nicely. Footage is clear and I have the ability to view the filming through the flip-out LCD in-flight. I can angle the camera to view my subject and lock the mount then make minor pan and tilts using my leg movement. The mount is strong enough to foot-launch and land with outout having to take the video camea off the mount. I can swivel and lock the mount to film up at the canopy, or rotate it to film my face, or rotate it so a flyer on either side can be filmed, or set it looking forward in a normal flight mode or lock it in a tilt-down position to film the ground. It's very versatile, easy to use and provides a stable vibration free mounting platform. </B></div> <div> <B>Credit for the photos goes to my 10-year old Son Brandon who is beginning to show an interest in flight. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For more info, please contact me at: </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:jfrost@bak.rr.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jfrost@bak.rr.com"><U><B>jfrost@bak.rr.com</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>         </B></FONT><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B> </B></U></A><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B>Back to Inventions</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>