Well, I was at the last AutoX trying to get my Chase-cam camera mount to work and it just wouldn't stay. One of the suction cups wouldn't stay on and the weight would just drag everything down. It was a great mount while it lasted, very adjustable, but too bulky and heavy. I decided to look for something smaller and easier to use.

Since many of the pieces for the Chase-cam mount were made by Panavise I decided to go to the source. Don't get me wrong, Chase-cam products are good and their service is also impecable. I once cracked one of the joints on the arm of the device and when I called to find out where I could order a replacement, chase-cam sent me one free. So I have no complaints about them. In fact if I were to go more upscale I would probably get their PDR, but that is for another post.

I decided to get the Panavise Model 809, it was inexpensive... $25. It seemed compact and it had the suction lever that will keep the camera damn near welded to the winshield. I received the box about a week after I ordered it. It's not the lightning fast delivery we get from some of our vendors (MAPerformance Rocks) but I am patient and I was not going to need it for a little while anyway.

Once I got the thing, I ripped open the box and found the product you see here. It was compact, well made and seemed to have all the adjustability I needed. For reference in the pictures it is sitting on a sheet of standard letter paper, 8 1/2 by 11 inches.

http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7386&d=1253747622

http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7387&d=1253747622

So out to the car I went. When I took it and the camera out to the car I was a little disappointed because I just couldn't get the damn thing adjusted correctly. No matter which way I turned it I couldn't get it to hold the camera facing forward. So I went back inside and looked at the box and that's when I saw this....

http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7385&d=1253747622

The mount is MEANT to hold a camera in a hanging position. I was soooooooo disappointed. I just sat there for a minute in front of my computer thinking I would have to return it. That's when I had an epiphany. Why not hang the camera upside down? YOU CAN. There's no real reason you CAN'T!

Take the video upside down. the buttons are easier to reach. If you want to see the playback on the LCD, Well... it's already hanging upside down so it will play back upside down, which to you, is right side up anyway! And when you download to the computer, all you have to do is use Microsoft movie maker and do a vertical mirror and Voila!!! Your video is now rightside up and perfect.

The next day I took the mount to work and recorded about 40 minutes of the drive home. (I didn't do it in the morning becasue it is still dark when I get to work) The mount is great!! The arm is so short there is very little vibration from those little bumps to shake the camera. It mounts to the windshield in a snap. Just push the suction cup on and then use the suction lever to lock it in place. The thing grips so tight you could use this as a tow hook in an emergency... (OK, maybe not) And it will easily fit in the glove compartment as long as there is not too much stuff there.

Overall I give this product two thumbs up. one for an excellent product and another for being very inexpensive compared to other offerings. I still have to take it to AutoX to see how well it works so I will update this post when I do that.

Bro you can switch the video upside down on the mac to fix that ;)

Bro you can switch the video upside down on the mac to fix that ;)
I can do it with Microsoft Movie Maker too. I think any video editing program on either platform will allow you to do that.