Laszloimage

I found this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Watt-PLL-UHF-TV-Television-broadcast-transmitter-LPTV_W0QQitemZ230429198577QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a6a688f1 ...and it's only $375! 4 Watts on the UHF band is pretty good. This only for analog SD signal though. But I'm sure it would do the job pretty good. I would love to combine somehow this: http://www.arcade-electronics.com/calrad/40-1070%20Product%20Sheet-2.pdf with that 4 watts TV transmitter. This device basically is an HDMI RF modulator (I assume somewhere in the UHF range). That would create a UHF DTV transmitter. I also found a bunch of devices like this (lot cheaper ones too): http://www.wwbroadcast.com/Gefen_GTV_WHDMI_p/gefen_gtv-whdmi.htm&Click=111419?gclid=CMujwY2E0J8CFQ8MswodGmXk0w and they could maybe combined with this: http://www.streakwave.com/mmSWAVE1/Video/12-505.pdf

Some people brought their Iphones on the plane to test the GPS. They normally lost signal less than half-way up to jump altitude (cell navigation requires reception from the tower too). We have concluded the cell towers are transmitting in a super flat angle; the antennas don’t beam “up ward” at all. Engineers designed the cell tower system to beam in a flat radial angle rather than every (spherical) direction . There’s another thread about this somewhere on DZ.com…. We agreed the digital signal would be the best. I think the easiest would be if a 1-2watts of UHF transmitter would be directly modulated from the fire wire port. Now days a size of such a transmitter is very small and light, the 2watts of power in that frequency is strong enough even with a ¼ wave antenna to transmit in a few miles radius. And of course the digital signal would allow transmitting without the loss of the quality.

The 3 attached pictures shows the camera after modification mounted and connected on the camera helmet. The gaffers tape looks a bit crude but it works well to cover the jack which is fixed to the camera housing with two small zip-ties. Also covers the wires coming outside from the camera. This set up allows making the modification without drilling a single hole on the FP8. If the camera brakes most likely I can take the wires out and sand it back for warranty repair. I still try to come up with the “better looking” way to have the jack mounted and covered.

Actually the “tougher brother” is a though task to modify. I tried to modify the Olympus water proof camera last summer. The problem is the water proof construction inside the camera. It was pretty much impossible to get inside without breaking anything to solder in a few wires. It’s a very delicate “easy to screw up” procedure anyway… The image quality compare to the Kodak V705 is better. But it’s still a point&shoot quality…. The Kodak has the 23mm wide advantage though. This camera is a neck saver not something to shoot photos for magazines. (I use my 5D with some good lenses for that purpose) For two seasons (1000 jumps) I’ve been using my V570 which is a bit behind the V705. No costumer ever complained about the image quality except once when some odd writing error occurred on the SD card. (I still salvaged and fixed the big portion of the images)

Hi everybody, Finally, here’s a new poin&shoot camera (after the discontinued Kodak ones) which can be used for skydiving after a little tweaking. The model is the PANASONIC LUMIX FP8. Beside that I’m able to hack inside and install a 2.5mm stereo jack for external shutter release (mouth switch, bite switch, and etc...) it also has other favorable properties. The camera is 12MP with the 28mm wide lens. Very important the lens assembly doesn’t have the telescopic mechanism. Also the camera has the USB, AV, and DC ports on the side (now days most P&S cameras have one port for everything on the bottom) so the camera can stay on the helmet/quick release plate for downloading images and recharging the battery. The 12MP resolution of course nothing else but digital enhancement just like on any other P&S cameras. (The size of the lens and imager just can’t truly provide 12MP). I also can’t see the difference in image quality between the settings like “HI” or “Normal” except the file size lot smaller in “Normal” mode (more compressed) and all processing and downloading happens faster. (which is very important for us in the tandem video business). I was getting the best looking shots when I used the 5MP Normal Quality setting with the forced flash. But the camera took only12-13 shots with this setting during the skydive. I got most images when I used 5MP Normal without the flash in burst mode. With this setting the camera takes 5 pictures in a row about 1frame/sec rate, and then the shutter release (bite switch) has to be depressed for about 2sec prior to take another 5frame burst. There’s a full quality 12MP picture (the solo guy) among the attached files to demonstrate that the 12MP is only a joke on any packet cameras. The file size (4000x3000 pixels) tells you it’s 12MP but you can’t see any more details in the image than in a 5MP one (also trained eyes will see the digital blow up). There’s a “flash burst mode” as well what I haven’t tried yet. This mode only allows 3MP resolution. The whole thing weights about 4oz ONLY with battery and SD card!!! The 28mm wide view is still wider than the Canon XTi with the 18mm kit lens for example. Overall this camera is definitely usable for skydiving (tandem factory photos) If anyone is interested please PM to me. -Laszlo- please click below to se the full res. images 12MP best quality: http://www.laszloimage.com/Jan_15th_10%20005_12MP.jpg 5MP normal, no flash: http://www.laszloimage.com/5MP_normal_no_flash.JPG 5MP normal with flash: http://www.laszloimage.com/5MP_normal_with_flash.JPG

So who would Jesus shoot?

In addition... According with a documentary I’ve seen recently the Saudis (including the royal family) are financing the printing of their own version of the Koran. This version encourages holly war (jihad). It’s printed and distributed many different languages on a very large scale. This “Saudi interpretation” of the Koran uses words like “explosives”, “tanks”, “guns”, and etc. Words what did not exist 1300 years ago when Islam was born. The Koran has many different versions and even more interpretations, just like the Bible. ...and as we see every version finds plety of followers.

Here's a very good link for the documentary about the "evolution" of the Bible. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/previous_seasons/case_bible/index.html http://www.pbs.org/cgi-registry/mediaplayer/videoplayer.cgi?playeraddress=videoplayer.cgi;media=%2Fwnet%2Fsecrets%2F602-about-lo.rm%2C%2Fwnet%2Fsecrets%2F602-about-hi.rm%2C%2Fwnet%2Fsecrets%2F602-about-lo.wmv%2C%2Fwnet%2Fsecrets%2F602-about-hi.wmv;title=Battle%20for%20the%20Bible;playertemplate=%2Fwnet%2Fsecrets%2Fmedia_players%2Fvideo.html (this only a trailer the whole video has to be ordered I guess)

You are awesome man!

"Tesla just couldn't figure out how to make any money on it. " He wasn't a money man at all! All the money he made or received as a grant he used for his researches. He was a very rare individual... The link I attached in the previous post actually tells about his whole life story. Just read it!

Climate has changed thousand of times through out Earth’s history… We all know that. A major volcanic eruption can cause more trouble in our weather system than we can imagine. …but It took millions and millions of years to have all of our carbon based energy resources deposited (oil, coal, and natural gas). We sent a big chunk of it up to the atmosphere as CO2 only in 100-150 years!!! I think it’s pretty obvious this human made pollution has some major effect on Earth’s climate. It’s silly to say this whole issue is Al Gore’s “evil liberal agenda”. The scary part of it is if we just stop carbon emission (like not burning fossil fuels at all) would collapse the world’s economical, political, and social structure. But if we don’t stop using carbon based energy then “Mother Nature” will take care of us sooner or later. Nikola Tesla saw this problem coming in 1904 already! (way before Al Gore) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

Without liberalism we humans would never have developed tools, writing, or anything! We would never have explored anything! We would never have discussed anything here on the internet! Evolution and progress requires liberal thinking and ideas. It doesn't matter if it's politics, science, or anything else. But changes probably should be made in small (maybe a bit conservative) steps. Radicalism doesn't lead anywhere, we know it from history already. ...damm liberals and their ideas! (just kidding)

At Z-hills we used to do the "realxtrem" up-load. It was a pain in a butt.

For example: Rush Limbaugh is a well known conservative but he's also pretty fanatic. ...don't worry I still think the current Iranian goverment/power is wrong!

It's a great idea Spot! Thanks! I hope sequences are ok too...

I only use the screw clamps. This way I can fit different plates into them including home made ones.

Congratulations for both of you!!!

Try ebay for a 2" or a 2.5" quick release clamp. Beside RRS also search "Arca Swiss" and Kirk Enetrprises" (same thing). I got mines for $40 each!!!

I have to agree with BMFIN, it's very easy to "cheat" on exif data. There's nothing wrong to touch up even a very well shot photograph as long as it's not over done. It's just like when a super hot girl puts on a bit of make-up and a very sexy deress to look even hotter. Right...?

Here's a few shots from the recent Thanksgiving Boogie at Skydive City. http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_20th_09%20014.htm http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_26th_09%20010.htm http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_26th_09%20023.htm http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_28th_09%20051.htm http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_28th_09%20094.htm http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_28th_09%20097.htm These two with the 200mm lens at FULL MANUAL settings: http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_27th_09%20045-email.htm http://laszloimage.com/November_2009_NEW/pages/Nov_27th_09%20039.htm

As you descibed the problem it seems to me you have saved (rendered) your project into a well compressed file format. The "ghostly" stuff is the sign of the very high compression (maybe some kind of internet file format). The skipping frames tellig me there are problems with the frame rate as well. The TRV18 captures NTSC 30i field order "A" video. Make sure you render your project with the same settings. Also make sure you chose MPEG-2 (for DVD) with at least 4000MBS constant data rate (6 or 8000 would be better though). I'm not using Vegas so I don't know the "exact clicks" in that software, but I'm sure if you find those setting I mentioned the froblem will be fixed. Ultimately as we know already DSE is the guru of Vegas (and other video stuff too) -Laszlo-

The Nikon D5000 actually DOES HAVE a remote connection! It uses the same plug as the D90. The cheaper model the D3000 uses wireless (infrared) remote. I can make an adapter for a regular 2.5mm switch (please PM to me if you're interested). But the Canon T1i is still a better option. (and then you don't even need an extra piece for your switch).

Congratulations Matt! And of course cheers for DSE and Skwrl for the advices and legal help! ...I wish I had a "support" like this in 2004 when an Indiana paper used my photo (scanned 8x10 print) crediting AP.

Yes, I'm using it for years now. It definitely gives me protection. I have enough flexibily to do camera work, but helps with whip flash (hyper extention) in a case of hard opening. Actually it helps with all openings... Of course a soft collar isn't "100% insurance" but makes me feel better at the end of the day. It would be cool to develop something semi-rigid support which sits on the shoulder and holds most of the weight of the camera gear.

Here's a few from the last couple of days. http://www.laszloimage.com/October_2009_NEW/pages/Oct_4th_09_100_2324.htm http://www.laszloimage.com/October_2009_NEW/pages/Oct_6th_09%20052.htm http://www.laszloimage.com/October_2009_NEW/pages/Oct_6th_09%20081.htm http://www.laszloimage.com/October_2009_NEW/pages/Oct_6th_09%20020_MG_0370.htm http://www.laszloimage.com/October_2009_NEW/pages/Oct_6th_09%20054.htm