Tim Dobson wrote: > So basically I've just acquired a small waterproof HD video camera and > I'm looking for the best way to mount it onto my Laser EPS[1] sailing > dinghy. > > It has a standard tripod mount so I was wondering about tying it on with > desk tripod near the mast foot or something but I wondered if anyone had > any prior experience or thoughts on how they'd do this.
I found that a standard head* (or a bottlecap head**) will do OK - and it is easily mounted by swapping out the bolds of the fairlead which keep the traveller line or the cunningham for a longer one upside down (and with a washer below decks - as they have the right diameter. Also - a lot of older lasers have 4 empty/pained-over holes where you can mount a compass - on port from the horizontal runout of the cunningham. For the speed of the bold you need to go imperial though - the metric ones will ruin your camera - and if you do not use something like a standard head (which makes swapping easy) be very sure you two counter-twisted or wing nuts+plastic washer at the right distance - as otherwise you will ruin the threads of the camera. However it is not ideal - they are near the deck (but any higher and the beam/sails obsucre the view all the time) - and hence easily trown out of alignmnet or vibrating as you move around. I've had a lot of bad luck with putting them higher up; e.g. in the mast - the speed at which that will hit the water or other things seems more than the waterproofing could stand. And on salt water - it is pretty much game over if the battery has any charge left. Looking forward to your pictures. Dw. *: like these http://brisbane.gumtree.com.au/c-Stuff-for-Sale-video-camera-digital-camera-Slik-SBH-100-ball-head-W0QQAdIdZ106211124 -- without the quick release ! **: http://www.semsons.com/botcaptripfo.html, http://www.amazon.com/Dynomighty-Bottle-Cap-Tripod/dp/B000TR80SS or try the ones they put on top of a mountineering walking stick. - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/
