0
Skydive2

Best Camera Suit???

Recommended Posts

I'm in need of another camera suit, and I'm debating between a few things. 99% of the video's I do are Tandem/AFF. I'm looking for something with a big wing, but can't make up my mind if I want just a jacket or the whole suit? Also, what suit manfactuer would you recommend. I had a Tony C-Wing jacket a one time, and I was not real happy with it. Any other suggestions? The cheaper the better ;)

Blue skies

Lance
Skydive Maryland

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I jump a flightsuit with a large wing and like it okay, but a friend of mine has "The Camera Suit" built by Sky Hi Visual Productions. It is the best camera suit I have flown. Lots of wing, huge range of speed, and much nicer on the pocket-book than some of the others out there. Here is a link to check it out. Sorry, but I can't remember how to make it clicky so you will have to copy and paste into your browser.

http://skyhivisuals.tripod.com/The%20Camera%20Suit.htm


Skydive Radio

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hi,

I'm using a suit made by a spanish guy, Falcon.
I had several before, but this one rocks. Double-flip system. You can easily flip to belly-position. If you want a make some pictures. Disadvantage : waitingtime is 6 months and the guy speaks ONLY spanish. I got his name from Bruno Brokken. But Falcon's products REALLY rocks. He's living in Barcelona. Best thing is to visit him if you're planning to go to Empuria. Suit don't have booties, so I'n my opinion it's perfect for tandem and fooling around. For FAST RW I prefer botties. I would like to buy the camerasuit from Parasport Italia with the special booties. Anybody tried that allready ?

pancho:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
OK after 3 years of originally posted - it's time to revisit. Which is your prefered Camera Suit / Camera Jacket? which brand, worth it's price? This will really help all of us starting to fly cam with Tandems and AFFs these days...

Let's hear it!
http://www.childrenofthesky.com

Freefly!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The best for you is not the best for him or her!

I use a freefly suit that has some small wings added (by me). I have to fall extremely fast and also very slow as i am competing in freestyle skydiving.

I tried baggy arm in the beginning but i found it harder to go real fast as i couldn't get rid of the drag.

You don't need to spend heaps of cash on a camera suit. modify a freefly suit to your needs because you will find you will need to adjust the design until it is perfect for you. Can you sew? can your mum? It is easy to split the seam from the elbow to the bottom of the ribcage and insert some wings.

I used a double layer of ZP and strengthened the edge with two lines of stitching.

hope that helped?
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hmmm I think wings are fairly complicated. They can not quite work right for various reasons, and they can be downright dangerous if they leave a gap where you can pull your pilotchute through which has caused various incidents and deaths over the years. I'd rather have someone do it who knows what they're doing.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Thanks
rhys ... I too am inclined towards buying a suit or jacket from the guys that know what they are doing behind a sewing machine more than I do. I fall very fast, and without these wings... tandems are a spec on the TV screen... any more good camera suits / wing jackets you have liked enough to recommend?
http://www.childrenofthesky.com

Freefly!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I have a Tony Suit and 2 Camera Suits built by Sky Hi Visual that I have used over the past 13 years or so. My vote is for the Camera Suit built by Sky Hi Visual Productions. I am going to order my 3rd Camera Suit by Sky Hi Visual Productions
Quote


What makes the "Camera Suit " better than the Tony suit ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
>Hmmm I think wings are fairly complicated. They can not quite work right for various reasons, and they can be downright dangerous if they leave a gap where you can pull your pilotchute through which has caused various incidents and deaths over the years. I'd rather have someone do it who knows what they're doing.

You do not need wings that extend to your legs unless you have eaten too many pies or drank too many beers.

As i said my small wings start at my elbow and finish at the bottom of my ribcage. The wings are purely a triangle of material that can cope with rigorous flapping(ZP or similar) it is completely sewn into the seam running inside the arm and down the side if the jumpsuit. You can then make the wing smaller or larger as required with trial and error (and some unpicking and sewing). also each rig has a different main lift web and hip ring/ leg strap placement. you can make the wing fit into the hole between the MLW and the container exactly.

If the wing is to big for your harness it can damage the main lift web. And the wings that have adgustable wings with velcro are the worst for this.

My friend had significant damage to her main lift web due to this on her brand new mirage with less than 100 jumps the yellow line in the MLW was broken and the harnes should have been relaced at that point.
i have seen people purchase camera suits(tony suit, RMW etc.) that have too large a wing and they have to live with it.

your suit should fill your exact requirements to fall in a neutral position when in front of the subject you are filming most often, to have maximum range of flight while filming.

nothing is worse than footage from somebody with an incorrect jumpsuit for the subject they are filming. so they have to just sit in front of the subject. because they don't want to sink out or float.
That shit is boring to watch.

It is better to decide for yourself if you need more or less wing and have it ammended for free or cheap, at or close to home.

you do not need to be a rigger to make a strong seam you just need to know how to sew. if you don't then your mum, auntie, gran or neighbour probably will.

if you have trouble working out how to do it, Ask you local rigger!

don't settle for what you get until you are satisfied.

If you film Strong tandem, Vector tandem, aff, freefly, RW, etc. the requirments change. only you know exactly what you want.

you can order one and pay mega $$$ but you don't have to and it might not be the best for you.

Be safe have fun and get the best footage you can.

rhys
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I have seen Tony Hathaway fly large wings and he has neither eaten too many pies nor are his videos boring to watch. Wingsuits are like any other piece of equipment in that you have to learn to fly them. I have 2 Bevsuits with large wings and if I place my elbows at my sides they don't effect me at all but when I put them out I can jump with the smallest tandem master and student you are going to find. Wings are all about range. You still have to be able to fly smoothly to the slot you want to fly.

It is also safer for any RW groups I might film. Wings only matter in a burble if they are too small to catch the air you have available.
"... this ain't a Nerf world."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
we are talking about someone new to camera flying with wings, we are not talking about the worlds best flyers.

Filming a 400way is much different to filming a tandem or 4 way etc.

someone new to flying a camera suit should not have the large wings that extend to their legs for safety reasons... unless they are very heavy (to be a little more Politically correct:D).

there is more danger and more to think about with those type of jumpsuits. and 90% of the time they are an over-kill so in turn restrict the new camera flyers abilities.
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I was thinking the OP said he fell fast but looking back all he said was he wanted large wings.

As for the worlds best, well I am not one of them but I fly large wings on almost all of my video jumps and I am quite comfortable with them. Yes, you have to learn to fly them but it is not unrealistic to do so in a fairly short period of time.

I assume the danger you speak of with large wings is the potential to reach through the wing to grab your pilot chute. I honestly don't think that would be easy with either of my Bev suits but it definitely won't happen if you reach around the way you should.

The more immediate danger I have witnessed is in a malfunction if you are on your back the wings will likely fold up over your handles. This has caused a delay in finding and pulling handles in at least 4 cases I know of. Grabbing a handful of fabric in addition to a handle is a guaranteed hard pull at best and is suspected in at least one fatality no-pull that I know of. The bad news is this can happen with any wing large or small and even many baggy jumpsuits.

I know a lot of people are getting away from wings and flying some very good videos with freefly suits but wings are still a viable and solid piece of equipment. For a few years people got away from ring sights too but I love mine.

I am just trying to provide my opinions and I hope the poster is happy with whatever he chooses.

Blue skies and good lighting,
Robin
"... this ain't a Nerf world."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
OK, thanks for all your input! great help. I've compiled a list of basic online prices for camera suits / jackets before options, taxes, shipping, credit card fees ect.... sorted by price

Your own suit - sew wing: +-$80 in ZeroP material
http://www.zutesute.com $185.00
http://www.flitesuit.com jacket $189.00
http://www.tonysuits.com jacket $195.00
http://www.bevsuit.com/ $225.00
http://www.airsuits.com $237.00 (300 AUD)
http://www.flitesuit.com suit $239.00
http://skyhivisuals.tripod.com/ $245.00
http://www.fireflysuits.com/ $250.00
http://www.tonysuits.com suit $260.00
http://www.liquidskysports.com $400.00

your thoughts?
http://www.childrenofthesky.com

Freefly!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Firefly is the best camers suit I have flown so far - well constructed, in fact, built like a brick shithuose!

I have 2 Tonys II leave in the locer and rarely use, the FF is superior...
Mykel AFF-I10
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Firefly is the best camers suit I have flown so far - well constructed, in fact, built like a brick shithuose!

I have 2 Tonys II leave in the locer and rarely use, the FF is superior...



Agreed...I have 2 FireFly two piece camera suits (one super baggy, one very little baggy) and an extra pair of pants for tandems (extra cordura layer on butt and knees)...excellent construction and they fly like a dream!

I have 3 one piece tony camera suits as well, and I do like them but they did tend to come apart a little easier (knees wore through quicker, wings started to tear out at the lower attachment points, cuffs separated at the wrists, etc.). Maybe I was less experienced then at keeping my suits in good condition, but the FireFly's are definitely more robust, and to me they just fly better!B|
Miami

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0