Testing The Allen Smart Suction Snap Camera Mount

Today, I'll have a quick look at the new Allen Smart Suction Snap Camera Mount. It's a tool designed for mounting compact mirrorless cameras, action cams, and smaller DSLRs to smooth surfaces via a suction cup that can deliver dynamic moving shots.

My experience with the Allen Smart Suction Snap Camera Mount was a little different from my usual review process. Usually, if I'm reviewing a camera, lens, light, etc., it's after having tested a million and one such devices, so my critiques are usually based on a lifetime of experience. But, while I'm well aware of suction-mounted camera systems, I had very little experience using one myself.

I've had opportunities, but, well… I'm the paranoid type. And the idea of suctioning my very expensive camera to a moving car and hoping for the best admittedly sends a tremor down my spine. Yet, these are the types of devices that get used on set every day. So, when I was able to get my hands on the Allen Smart Suction Snap Camera Mount, I decided to give it a try.

First, the basics. If you've never used a similar system, the concept is fairly straightforward. A suction cup with your camera attached is mounted to a flat surface. That surface could be a moving car, skateboard, or just the side of a wall. The "flat" part is important, as you want to ensure that the cup is sealed at all edges to prevent loss of suction. You then pump this little plunger on the side of the device, which tightens the suction against the surface to lock it in place. The Allen device has a nifty little red indicator to let you know when you are sufficiently sealed. Once you pump the device enough to achieve suction, the red line disappears. If you still see the red line, you're not yet secure.

Allen's main selling point for this particular product is that they provide a free Bluetooth app for your phone or mobile device that monitors your suction during use and can alert you when your mount is in danger. A nice touch for a worrywart like me who was constantly keeping one eye on that red line.

Connecting the device is simple and straightforward. No additional tools required. I didn't have any major shoots in the week I had to test the mount, but I did stick it to my car, mount my Nikon ZR, and go for a ride. A few things stick out right away. The literature for the product suggests the intended use of the mount is for lighter-weight cameras. Think more mirrorless than a fully rigged Alexa. Although the suction cup is rated to be able to handle 110 pounds, so it should be set to handle a much larger package. Something small like the Nikon ZR or even a phone won't trouble the mount at all. In my case, I tried the ZR with a smallish Rokinon 35mm cine lens. I didn't have a long, heavy lens to test with it. But, in my use case, it held well.

https://vimeo.com/1178613642/17605e3910

As I said, because I'm the nervous type, I spent most of the shoot focused on whether or not my suction cup was holding. After all, that's really the only important thing in a test like this. I didn't find there to be any loss in suction during my test. I was, however, reminded of how many potholes there are in my neighborhood.

I'm not sure if there's a maximum recommended speed for driving while using the suction cup. I drove at a medium speed over mostly flat terrain. One thing that was immediately clear and logical is that the mount will pick up all the vibrations from the car it is attached to. So, uneven roads or vibrations will show in the footage. That's not a failing of the mount, just something to keep in mind as you're planning your next shot.

I was also reminded just how little surface area there really is inside my 2005 Toyota Corolla. It mounted cleanly to the front hood of the car. But, when I tried to mount the Allen to the dashboard, I quickly realized that the Corolla is a bit short of flat interior surface areas. I ended up mounting it to the inside of the windshield for some interior shots.

The small double-jointed camera mount that comes with it simply screws into the mount via a standard 1/4"-20 screw. So, I think you could use other standard adapters in order to add additional camera orientation options. Again, I'd be mindful of weight distribution and the suction levels when setting that up. Luckily, the Allen app will help with that. The app's calculation of suction risks includes not only camera weight but also factors such as wind resistance, speed, braking, hard turns, etc. When in a danger zone in terms of suction, the app will present a big red warning sign on your device screen as well as emit an audible siren indicating you should pull to the side of the road.

Also, as a side note, since Allen has a number of previous products for the cycling world, they even provide an additional bike mount for those of you on two wheels.

If you're looking to expand your filmmaking skills alongside gear like this, Introduction to Video: A Photographer's Guide to Filmmaking is a great place to start.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Sturdy
• Bluetooth app
• Red confirmation line

Cons

• Really only limited by needing a flat surface with enough real estate to mount to

Conclusion

While I didn't attempt to push the product to its absolute limits, I was impressed by its utility. I think if you are working with a mirrorless camera, phone, or action cam, this device will be more than worth having in your collection. I easily recreated various follow shots and leading shots. Carefully mounted, you could easily record an entire scene with this relatively unobtrusive kit. Especially at $69, it's something nice to have around that can add real production value to smaller shoots for not a lot of investment. Paired with a compact rig like the Nikon ZR and a Rokinon 35mm cine lens, the Allen Smart Suction Snap Camera Mount is an easy recommendation.