Norton Camera Mounts

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swooshdave

swooshdave

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I'm looking at different options for mounting a camera to a Norton. One of the goals is to put the camera as far away from the bike as possible. I bought this RAM Mount pole option to try out. It uses to ends that get mounted to the provided PVC tube. While stiff it's heavy. I'm wondering about other tube options that might be lighter and wanted to get your opinions.

The tube is 12in long, 1in OD and .147in wall thickness. This piece weighs 141g (about 5 ounces). I'd like to stay as stiff but lose some weight, the camera hanging off the end of the mount will create a lot of leverage so the lighter the tube the better.

Carbon fiber is really expensive as is titanium. I'm wondering if steel or aluminum will be stiff enough and still weight less than the PVC.

Norton Camera Mounts


Norton Camera Mounts
 
Try a bit of alu tube. Will be very stiff and can be thinner walled. Carbon tube can be had from old camera tripods or visit your nearest small boat sailing club...should be loads of scrap carbon "tiller" poles laying around, especially from Skiff and catamaran sailors!
I think I may have some sitting in the basement...what weight is the camera gear (GoPro or something bigger?) Windage at speed might be the bigger issue.

Looks like those RAM mount ends are likely to make up much of the weight. Are you stuck on using them?
 
Tornado said:
Try a bit of alu tube. Will be very stiff and can be thinner walled. Carbon tube can be had from old camera tripods or visit your nearest small boat sailing club...should be loads of scrap carbon "tiller" poles laying around, especially from Skiff and catamaran sailors!
I think I may have some sitting in the basement...what weight is the camera gear (GoPro or something bigger?) Windage at speed might be the bigger issue.

Looks like those RAM mount ends are likely to make up much of the weight. Are you stuck on using them?
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Norton Camera Mounts


The RAM system is only one option I'm trying. I'm not planning on going super fast nor for very long with the rig. More for shorter shots. Everything will be tethered too.

I'll post picks of the other option too.
 
Hey Swoosh , noticed in your OP there was a Freudian Slip “I’d like to stay as stiff but lose some weight” ,sorry ! ... it must be this lockdown that has my brain fried , just couldn’t resist .... no offence intended , just a laugh .....
 
Would not use a suction cup mount for such a long pole...too much lever arm. Cup likely to release or may even pull up paint! Can you mount to a frame rail via a clamp?
 
What is the effect you are trying to achieve? Shots containing the whole bike, including rider as much as possible? Those drone shots are getting pretty neat now, with automated target tracking/chasing.
 
Why not mount something shorter off the handlebar with a bar clamp? I’d be rather concerned about the torque effect of the wind acting on the camera with such a long arm.

When I used my GoPro on the Busa or ZZr1400 I mounted off the left hand mirror mount, and I’d consider doing the same if I get a 360 camera.......



runs away shaking head and muttering about “must stop buying off the internet”
 
Craig said:
Hey Swoosh , noticed in your OP there was a Freudian Slip “I’d like to stay as stiff but lose some weight” ,sorry ! ... it must be this lockdown that has my brain fried , just couldn’t resist .... no offence intended , just a laugh .....
Click to expand...

I'm glad you thought it was unintentional. :)
 
Tornado said:
Would not use a suction cup mount for such a long pole...too much lever arm. Cup likely to release or may even pull up paint! Can you mount to a frame rail via a clamp?
Click to expand...

It's not going to pull up paint.

The goal is to put the camera as far in front of the headlight as possible. As you know there aren't a lot of places to attach to out there.
 
Tornado said:
What is the effect you are trying to achieve? Shots containing the whole bike, including rider as much as possible? Those drone shots are getting pretty neat now, with automated target tracking/chasing.
Click to expand...

Exactly, so in order to do that I need the camera as far away as practically possible.

And unfortunately the drone tracking isn't quite as good as I would like.
 
swooshdave said:
It's not going to pull up paint.

The goal is to put the camera as far in front of the headlight as possible. As you know there aren't a lot of places to attach to out there.
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I'd think a bracket off the shocks or headlamp ears could be rigged up to support a forward pole. Shouldn't matter too much if it moves with steering, especially with wider angle lens. Could give quite interesting views.

Another option would be to rig a pole coming out a backpack, up and over riders head then forward.
 
This tube is the center post of a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod from the 90s. 310mm/12.2" long, 103g/ 3.5 oz. Or 5.5 oz with the mounting disc and stud/nut. Both ends have a threaded insert.
Norton Camera Mounts
 
Simalar tube from a 80s Bogen aluminum tripod. 260mm long, 28mm diameter, 50g. Raw tube, no inserts.

Norton Camera Mounts


This is fairly thin walled. I think the CF piece is stiffer. My digital mic battery is dead, so I cant give a thickness, but I would guess slightly less than a mm.
 
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This project reminds me of when I rigged up a hockey stick to extend back off my sailboat boom. Was back in the days of video tape cameras. Had a rental one strapped to the stick, flopping around a few feet off the waves. Worked fairly well but no image stabilization and constant flopping made for queasy viewing.
 
Vibration is probably going to be a problem. I gave up on attaching the camera to the bike due to vibration. Having it swinging on the end of a pole may be worse. I now attach it to my body with a chest strap mount. My camera is a fairly cheap one though. The more expensive ones have better image stabilisation. Will be interested in seeing how you get on.
 
Nortoniggy said:
Vibration is probably going to be a problem. I gave up on attaching the camera to the bike due to vibration. Having it swinging on the end of a pole may be worse. I now attach it to my body with a chest strap mount. My camera is a fairly cheap one though. The more expensive ones have better image stabilisation. Will be interested in seeing how you get on.
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Depends on if the camera has good image stabilization. My Sony ActionCam is smooth as butter even mounted to a frame rail or on my bobble-head going over bumps or looking left/right. Almost too smooth, making view seem robotic.
 
IMO I'd rather see a video from the rider's perspective, including handlebars and instruments in the view. Otherwise you lose the motorcycle aspect.
 
maylar said:
IMO I'd rather see a video from the rider's perspective, including handlebars and instruments in the view. Otherwise you lose the motorcycle aspect.
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A bit like in 'adult' movies, then... Or then again, perhaps not?
 
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