A camera mounting assembly for a weapon is provided. The mounting assembly
includes a mount for direct attachment to the weapon. A parallelogram
linkage includes a pair of depending swing arms, each of which is
pivotally secured at one end in the mount and at the opposite end in a
camera support. The support also includes a transverse slot for receiving
a stud or other mount carried by a camera. When the weapon is discharged,
the swing arms allow the camera and support to together swing to and fro
in response to the forces generated. During this swinging motion, the
support and hence the camera are both maintained substantially aligned
with the line-of-sight of the weapon at all times, thereby ensuring that
the shoot is reliably captured. Dampers may also be provided to dampen the
swinging motion of the camera created upon discharge. The combination of
the swinging and damping improves the capture of the shoot by reducing the
effects of the recoil or discharge forces. Also, since the camera is not
in direct contact with the weapon, the potential for shock damage is
significantly reduced.