Today we are taking a look at a special system developed by iFootage for mounting professional-level cameras on a car in a safe, simple, and, relatively, affordable way – the iFootage Spider Crab Vehicle Mount.
Ifootage
iFootage has become a strong name in the field of camera support. They have been innovating and setting new standards for the industry. We’ve been using their products for some years now, and have published a number of reviews.
We actually reviewed the suction cups used in this system in July 2022 but didn’t get to use the whole system until earlier this year, when we shot a commercial for a new Canon camera (BTS coming soon).
The iFootage Spider Crab Vehicle Mount – fully assembled with a fluid head and camera attached
Concept
The system offers a 4-point suction cup camera support for inside shots or POV angles from the vehicle. The suction cups adhere to the hood of a car or the side [or basically any other smooth surface], combining the versatility of the Spider Crab arms with an innovative bowl mount (you can also use the longer iFootage SA-32 arms if you need to but they don’t come in the kit).
the half ball and handle which comes with the iFootage Spider Crab Vehicle Mount
In the box
iFootage ships this kit in a hard plastic carrying case that includes 2 large and 2 small suction cups, a bowl mount with a base and handle, a security strap, and 3 11’’ Spider Crab arms. There is also a phone mount if you want to use a single suction cup to support a phone.
The hard case with all the components which come in the kit
Design and build
This camera support system gets mounted onto a moving vehicle, so it’s very important to trust the support. The Spider Crab connectors feature fail safes and anti-rotating pins. They offer a solid hold and pair with the rosette articulation lock to safely position the camera.
The arms connect to the bowl head with the same quick-release tips. The base attaches to the camera head and secures it in place with locking screws.
The positioning handle features a quick-release button. It slides into position, and it only takes a couple of turns to tighten it.
For installation, the system comes with two big suction cups rated for a payload of 30kg /66lbs and a small one with a 20kg/44lbs rating. The fourth cup is a fail-safe that comes with a ratcheting safety cord to tighten the grip of the whole setup.
To install the system on the car, make sure that the surface is clean and dry. The suction cups adhere by pumping out the air. The pump indicator will hide when suction is maximized.
The center part of the unit
In use
We tried this setup both on the hood and the side of the car and it felt very sturdy. Bumpy roads do affect the quality of the footage, so it would probably be best to mount the camera on a gimbal if possible. But if you don’t drive very fast, the footage is actually pretty smooth even without a gimbal.
For us, the iFootage unit served its purpose in getting the shots that we needed even without a gimbal for our Canon commercial and we were able to do this without spending too much time out of our very busy shooting schedule.
Securing the unit to the hood of our car
Conclusion
In conclusion, using any system that mounts a camera onto a moving vehicle requires a certain degree of trust, and iFootage is a name that’s earned our trust over the years with high-quality products and innovative design.
The Spider Crab arms are versatile and extremely sturdy, and the quick-release bowl mount is easy to assemble and provides up to 6 points of contact, making this system easy to install and safe for even a really heavy payload.
On the hood of the car driving to the dead sea as part of our Canon commercial
Pricing
As for pricing, this Ifootage vehicle mount system sells for $850.
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