The Sony HDR-CX700V is my permanent dash camera, it’s a small, versatile and highly controllable camcorder that records to SD cards in full HD using the AVCHD codec. The only problem I’ve run into with the setup is that the cameras get’s a bumping noise in the audio from components shaking, the only real way around this I’ve found is to use a shotgun mic to get above the camera. Seeing as audio is not absolutely critical, the Bower Electret Condenser Microphone was perfect and the price was right at $30 dollars. Despite looking like a shotgun microphone it’s really a wide-angle stereo system that just pretends to be a shotgun mic.

All my vehicle setups are temporary and removable. I do this for simplicity and theft deterrence. To mount the camera I use a Manfrotto Magic Arm with a suction cup mount. Manfrotto has long since updated and changed their design for both components but the system as a whole I acquired back in 2002 and it has been very reliable with no major problems.

The tripod head I’ve mounted to the magic arm is a Manfrotto three position photo head. Because the road is never level and often ditches have a considerable slant to them, this head allows me to quickly tilt the camera and regain level. It’s also compact and robust.

Manfrotto Suction Cup and Magic Arm supporting the Sony Camcorder on a three position head.

Support Arm

Here you can see the feature of the suction mount and magic arm.

Canon CX700V

Looking out of the windshield

Left Side

Straight On

Left-Rear View

Right Side

Full Assembly

Here is the entire support structure

Suction Mount

The blue piston looking thing is the pump, you basically pump it and eventually it will sit snug inside the pump housing. Once the suction mount looses suction the red line will become visible and that's the cue to pump it more to retain the vacuum.

Thee Position Head