Calling canon experts....

[Laszloimage 0]

Thank you for the compliment Ken!
The 50mm lens is quiet manageable for any fairly experienced camera guy with sight on the helmet... Beyond that becomes tricky
The 70-200 was open all the way to f 2.8
The 50mm was used around f2 and 2.5 for the other two shots.
F 1.2 is hard to work with.

[Laszloimage 0]

Today I had a chance to play with the SL1.
I think it's the best SLR for skydiving in the APS-C size category.
It has a better image processor (DIGIC-5) than the 7D!
If some into the "burst mode" I think 4 frames per second is still pretty good. I tried the AF with my 100-400mm lens while a swooper was coming at me and it was able to follow the subject without any problem. All shots were sharp.
It is a very impressive camera for its price and size!
Ebay has good deals:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL1-18-0-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-/230978969457?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item35c76b5f71

[BMFin 0]

gowlerk

That is indeed a nice shot. But I don't think too many people are going to jump with a 70-200 2.8 and a full frame. Yes shallow DOF can make nice shots, but it's difficult to use and compose correctly without a viewfinder. Your skills are well beyond mine.

It would be easier with the fast 50mm. Was it wide open, or stopped down a little?

Ken

I think Lazlo shot the 70-200 from the plane.

I think I have told this before, but there is however at least one guy in Finland who shoots 70-200mm + 1.4 extender in freefall. He shoots hand held and aims through the view finder. He used to be one of the old school pioneers in freefall photography but he suffered some injuries to his neck due to all the weight he was carrying. His neck is now partly titanium and he can no longer have any weight on his head and therefore he had to start shooting hand held.

He has even experimented using a gyro stabilizer. http://www.ken-lab.com/stabilizers/2012-02-04-21-28-47/gyro-stabilizers/ks-10-gyro-detail

I think some of the photos he gets are quite unique, but getting a good shot at this focal range in freefall doesnt only need skill, it needs a lot of luck too. I would think even Jussi admits this kind of focal range in freefall is not really suitable for freefall photography.

Like many others, I have also shot sometimes with a 50mm on APS-C (equivalent to 85mm on full frame) http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=115026;

IMO the biggest difference on this focal lenght is the backdrop you get. Basically you could compose the subject to be the same size on a wide angle that is shot closer, but the FOV of the background would just be much wider without much bokeh. On a photo, it may look nice, but IMO most of the times the difference isnt enough to compensate the issues you are dealing with focusing and composing. However, I think the visual difference becomes much more noticable when shooting video. I would rather think the troubles with shooting a larger focal lenght are worth it on video. When the background is "moving fast" behind the subject, the visual importance of the background suddenly becomes so much more noticable in my opinion.

[Laszloimage 0]

Ville,
While I agree the shallow depth of field isn't always the most in skydiving (like beach boogies when the scenic in a back is important too, large formation in a flat angle when everyone has to be sharp, and few more scenarios...) in other occasions really makes the image. Today I took my 50mm F1.2 lens on my Mark-II (580EX flash too) and set it to F1.6
As I mentioned before framing in freefall with a 50mm lens isn't that difficult. The 1.6 in the other hand requires a relatively steady skydive in order to get sharp images. The AI servo needs to follow the subject super precisely, 10-20cm change in the distance makes a huge difference. Mark-III (or even the 7D in this matter minus the crop factor) would be a better option.
But as I said as long as I no "hard core chasing in the sky" the Mark-II does a good job too.
I came down with about 30 freefall pictures only 4 or 5 of them was out of focus...

http://www.laszloimage.com/2013/June_2013/#June_27_13%20016.JPG

http://www.laszloimage.com/2013/June_2013/#June_27_13%20026.JPG

http://www.laszloimage.com/2013/June_2013/#June_27_13%20027.JPG

http://www.laszloimage.com/2013/June_2013/#June_27_13%20024.JPG

[Arcticanalog 0]

Laszloimage

Today I had a chance to play with the SL1.
I think it's the best SLR for skydiving in the APS-C size category.
It has a better image processor (DIGIC-5) than the 7D!
If some into the "burst mode" I think 4 frames per second is still pretty good. I tried the AF with my 100-400mm lens while a swooper was coming at me and it was able to follow the subject without any problem. All shots were sharp.
It is a very impressive camera for its price and size!
Ebay has good deals:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL1-18-0-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-/230978969457?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item35c76b5f71

Hey dude, I just got an Sl1 with a canon 10-22mm. My primary use is going to be for tandems but will also probably use it for freeflying and some ground stills. What do you recommend with this set up? Right now I'm at evaluative metering, AI servo (on burst), and Ive been playing around with the ISO and shutter speed. My first couple of shots haven't been that sharp but I'm working on it...

[Shaneshaw 0]

Laszloimage

Thank you! 5D and 5D Mark-II bodies. The first shot with Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS lens, the other two with Canon 50mm f1.2 L lens.

U used a 70-200 can I see a pic of your setup please and what Elmer u use. I have a anon 1dx, 5d ii and 40d and lots of L series les and want to set them up on a helmet. Not too sure about the 1dx but wat I the best canon to use I might buy a new canon just for skydiving

[Laszloimage 0]

I use a modified Bone Head Flat Top Pro for pro camera work.
The 70-200mm shot was hand held, taken from the door.

[Skydivesg 6]

Laszloimage

I use a modified Bone Head Flat Top Pro for pro camera work.
The 70-200mm shot was hand held, taken from the door.

Are you using the Canon EOS SL1 camera for tandems?

If so what lens are you using?

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[Laszloimage 0]

For tandems I use a modified point&shoot camera

[Skydivesg 6]

Laszloimage

For tandems I use a modified point&shoot camera

Which one?

Do you think that SL1 would be good for tandems?

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[Arcticanalog 0]

I've had my sl1 for 2 or 3 weeks and like it so far. Still gotta dial it in BIG time and definitely have years of learning ahead of me. The body is super light though. Battery is better than I anticipated. Sucks that the card/battery are on the bottom though...