What is your favorite position...

bse · Joined: 30 Jul 2013 Posts: 34

...for a camera? I just picked up a Sony HDR-AS100V during Amazons sale last week (only 150 bucks w/waterproof case + gps) and i was wondering what the preferred methods for mounting cameras were... seems like lots of tradeoffs that someone here might have experience with.

I've seen them in the front of the board (smashy spot?), on the back of the boom (but only one sided?), top of the masts, even on ones back with a pole (which I think might make me nervous)

Mostly i'd like to see my technique (or lack thereof!) and/or show the sorts of conditions i sail in. I'm quite aware that my abilities aren't going to make me the next video blogger!

Lastly, any recommended mounting techniques? should i be using some little floaty thing with it, just in case? are any mounting methods better than others? Any words of caution?

Thanks!

outcast · Joined: 04 May 2004 Posts: 2724

Since you are using entendre ...I like to strap one of these on.....

http://wind-nc.com/hatteras-windsurfing-sup-shop/gopro-waterproof-cameras/clew-view-gopro-windsurfing-mount/

https://vimeo.com/62016234

bse · Joined: 30 Jul 2013 Posts: 34

That's slick... they don't seem to be for sale, but I think i can make one (access to a machine shop is a handy thing to have)

(never mind, found the link... it is, 1 left)

cgoudie1 · Last edited by cgoudie1 on Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

If you're looking to check your technique, I like the view from about 3/4
up the mast, or the top of the mast if you don't have the appropriate
clamp............. but, all the views are good for something. Almost all
the views are boring after about 15 seconds, so get some from every
where you can and mix them into something watchable.
Lately I have really been digg'n the body cam 3rd person mount skiing,
so I'm going to take that into windsurfing as well.

For mast mounting I prefer a "fly mount" http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1025110-REG/flymount_flym3_action_camera_mount.html

Don't know the camera you mentioned, but a fly mount uses a standard
threaded camera mount (unlike the GoPro toy mount, which you would have to adapt).

The conditions you sail in are best shot non-POV. The nature of POV
tends to compress the terrain detail considerably.

Board mounts tend to be a little more problematic, because most of the
strong swift stress happens there. I like good board mount video, and I've
shot some, but it's hard to come by, even after post processing with a
software anti-shaker, and, since the stress is strong, it's easy to detach
the camera from the board, so be sure and rig a shock tether to your
camera, or you will lose it. In fact, you should always tie off with a shock
tether somewhere.

Good luck, there are about a thousand other things to consider, but shoot
some video 1st, and then come back with more questions.

-Craig

manuel · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158

I have tried a few and to me this is the best for all-around use.

I have cut a PVC pipe in half which snaps onto the boom (works on any boom) then simply taped it to an aluminium pipe (rigidity). The PVC is flexible enough to take some beating (hit the reef bottom).

I doubled the white pipe because it was too thin and I had in hand, some heavier duty grey pipe would work better. With this setup there's no clamp or anything that could hurt your hands in case you slid down the boom while being washed for example.

Swing weight is hardly perceptible. The camera does hit the water sometimes but without affecting overall balance.

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

favourite position ??
OH, for the camera !! Smile

purchased a used GoPro 1.0 and posted some details about cameras and where to put them - for filming I mean ... Smile

http://joewindsurfer.blogspot.ca/2012/12/gopro-hero.html

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

No need for a machine shop, just get one of these, it's light weight and works great:
clew-view dot com

Wind-NC.com · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 1:52 pm Post subject:

bse · Joined: 30 Jul 2013 Posts: 34

Thanks all!

Great ideas and great pics.

Went with the clew-view... It seems like the best view & least hassle. It bites into my boarding budget a bit, but hopefully it will help me improve accordingly!