There is such a thing as a poor photographer, I know cause Im one of them. When i decided to make my homemade automotive rig I went out and bought some cheap suction cups like these…
They have done the job for a few months and I havent had any issues, until tonight. I was out shooting a friends mustang and we decided to do a couple rig shots. When I mounted the rig to the car I made sure that all four cups where sealed onto his back window glass then attached my camera. While i was making adjustments to my camera the suction cups let go. Lucky I was right there and was able to grab my camera. It still hit the ground and left a scar but my camera and lens were not demolished and the mustang was not damaged. I got lucky this time. If you decide to build a rig please learn from this situation and dont cheap out. I almost lost my camera and wide angle lens because i wanted to be cheap and use crappy suction cups instead of doing it right. Tonight I am ordering some avenger pump suction cups so hopefully this will not happen again.
#1 by Jon on June 27th, 2009
I’d be terrified to even try it again…
#2 by Chad on June 27th, 2009
i wont try it again with the suction cups i have now. no more rig shots till my new cups come in.
#3 by puregroove_org on June 27th, 2009
Dang… glad your camera is okay. I still haven’t tried my video camera and a suction cup at a drift event, yet. I will not cheap out.
#4 by Nathan on June 27th, 2009
Wow, Glad everything was alright! Where did you get the cups from and what was the rating on them?
#5 by Chad on June 28th, 2009
im glad its ok too. my world froze for a few seconds LOL
i got them from harbor freight and the rating was 125LBS each!
#6 by Bandy on June 28th, 2009
Wow, so sorry to hear, but I’ve learned this lesson before. My suction cups are $45 each and im more than willing to pay for them, got them from Grainger. Glad to hear no damage was done!
#7 by Vince on June 29th, 2009
you live and you learn. best of luck with your new set up
#8 by Chad on June 29th, 2009
hopefully the avengers i ordered a few days ago will keep this from every happening again! no major damage was done but it sure did scare me lol
thanks vince! im sure the new set-up will work better.
#9 by Seagram on July 6th, 2009
I’ve been using the ‘el-cheapo’ suction cups for over a year already. I trust them more than the single-pad suction cups because if you get these things to stick properly, they will tear a car panel off before coming off the car.
Perhaps your one bad experience was because of a slight misaligned placement or something. It happens sometimes. But as far as ‘hold’ strength, the twin pads are strong enough for me to stand on while attached to a wall or something.
I’m sure your new pads will be rocking too. The single pad is easier for placement on the car.
#10 by Chad on July 6th, 2009
it is possible that the car has some type of cleaner on the back windshield where i attached the cups cause he did just detail it. at the same time the avengers have a warning line thats letting you know they are losing vacuum so even if the avengers would have not fully sealed i would have known about it….
#11 by RashardAnthony on January 28th, 2010
Wow.. I’m glad everything turned out ok for you cam AND the car..