Laszloimage

Thanks man! Those videos look great. Actually it's hard to belive it's video and not film...

Those who use packers and jump heavily loaded X-braced or eliptical by some reason have significantly more cut aways, hard openings, pilote chute in tow, and so on...

I love my Velocity. ...don't use packers though if you're jumping X-braced for camera!

This camera records onto a Hard Drive. Hard drives fail at altitude due to the low air pressure. You'll neen a camcorder recording onto either tape or solid state memory. But at least a hybrid camera like the Sony SR11 or SR12 where you can turn off the hard drive and record on a memory stick while you skydive. Yes, I recommend one of the Sony models too.

Thanks for the great link Scott! I normally use GettyImages for calculations (...it's also a "Big Name" reference) but your link is definitelly very easy and fast to use. -Laszlo-

Spot, actually they work with the adapter I build. I built a quit few of them already and tested them all summer long. We tested this D-link/LANC adapter with the TG-1, CX-7, CX-12, my HC-3 (even if it has a LANC anyway), and other tape based Sony cameras with no LANC. They worked just fine. One of these days I'll post a picture of this little device.

ARRIFLEX 235 http://www.arri.com/prod/cam/235/235.htm

I got to work with the HVX200 last week-end. I made six jumps with it and shot some B-roll as well. I have to tell you guys SONY RULES! A few months ago I worked with the Sony V1U and have to tell you it’s so much better camera to work with (definitely out doors) than the Panasonic HVX200. The only cool thing about the Panasonic was the 60 frames a second at the 720p mode. Everything else sucked compare to the V1U. (AF, AE, dynamic range, low light, and so on…) The interesting thing the reviews about the HVX200 are so good by professionals on B&H’s web site. I’m sure those “pros” never had use their Panasonic in skydiving or on the airplane in difficult light conditions. One more time, SONY’s 3CMOS true 1080 sensor is providing way better image than the Panasonic 3CCD. I hope I gonna have a chance to to work with the EX1 some day... -Laszlo-

Last time we mixed politics with religion people got burned at the stake!!!

Well said!

Very nice Mike! ...but please buy mine!

My modified FTP http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2623684#2623684

Apperntly the "prayer thing" din't work for the supposed to be "real American christian conservatives" on Nov. 4th. And I'm sure they were praying for McCain/Palin. So where was God for them who they think is real? ...a God what they think should be part of education and politics. If there was God there would be only one religion. Even whitin religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, end etc..) are major differences and disagreements. Chatolicts don't agree with evengelicals, Sunnys hate Shiates, and so on. The whole "GOD" theory is made up by a few smart people to control the mass of the less smart people. Giving them fake answers about the "mechanics of the Universe" and taking advantage of a basic human feelings like fear and hope. ...unfortunatelly it works pretty good. This is my opunion in a nut shell. -Laszlo-

Agree! I don't understand why conservatives are bitching about "fukin' liberals" whend they had all power to make things the way they wanted to for 6years!!! ...and even after 2006 Bush still vetoed every bill initiated by Democrats what could have helped a lot. ...I guess we've seen the result of the GOP's rule. Economic crisis, never ending war, bad foreing relations, and so on. And don't even make me start about their real fucked up Evangelical Christian agenda! It was really a "Time for change" I hope they'll actually really make it happen.

Me jumping from it a long time ago... ...and a same plane on the ground (that's not me in the shot though) -Laszlo-

You might want to get a real camera helmet instead of FF3. FTP, Wes, or some other full face model. ...and of course keep "building up" your skydiving skills before you jump any camera.

Same as any other Canon or Nikon model. The principals are exactly the same! Please search this forum about camera settings. -Laszlo-

Over West Point this last week-end. Yes, right over the Military Academy! ...as far as we know beside Sonic (Kamuran) and I only one more civilan had a chance to do that.

DSE explained most of it already.... It definitelly looks like some motion blure comdined with the JPEG processing. Manual settings as much as possible could help a lot. Focus to infinity, make sure you get fast shutter speed, (can you set that manually on the HC5? if not use sport mode), and torn off the EIS (electonic image stabilization).

Business is business! They're going to make money with your product, which is a photograph. You should get your fair cut! You can't be just nice with business catalog. Would they be nice with you when you're paying for some service at one of the advertised businesses? For example: the catalog has a few restaurans in there for sure. Those restaurans are paying for their ads in that catalog. And when you go to any of those restaurants they won't give you a free dinner just because of your picture in that catalog, neither the Chamber of Commerce will give you any benefits (if you have a business in that area). This catalog is about business and money not about charity! I highly suggest to charge for that photograph. Gettyimages.com is a good place to start to figure out the pricing. -Laszlo-

The tandem instructor have to watch out for it too!!! Another fact: The Sigma (and other systems with the drouge collapse first) is significantly more comfortable during the opening. It requires to "fly through" the trapp door effect though. Sorry guys being off topic, but the camera guys should know these important details about tandems since they're filming them.

Eric, I know about those UPT (used to be RWS) requirements. They were on my test too when I got my TM rating... The problem is now days lot of DZs don't mention these "rules". The other thing is the manufactures won't have too much contor over TM anymore. It's USPA and some rules by FAA of course. The other big issue is the minimum requirements to bacame a TM/I. In my days beside all those jump numbers and bla-bla-bla you needed at least one year of experince of teaching skydiving (AFF, S/L, or IAD rating) prior to obtain a TM rating. Now you can get it after some very easy couch course in the next couple days... The result is some TM/I's (are they really????) them selves don't know about drouge collapse and such, there're TM Cypress fires, students falling out off the harness, and more. So yes why would camera people know details about different tandem sysytems, and minimum requirements to filming them? Growing skydiving businesses had lot of infulence to lower the standards to be able to keep up with the demand for staff. It's said but that's what really happened. (I know I work in the sport for ten years) Otherwise thank you very much for listing those requirements by UPT for tandem camera work! -Laszlo-

I see this debate going and going… It’s all about jump numbers, flying skills, who should, and who should not jump with the tandem. And then I see these comments and questions about “trap door effect” and “no trap door effect”. Honestly if anyone considering him/her self as an experienced camera person SHOULD KNOW about these differences between tandem systems before start filming them. This is a radical idea but I truly believe filming students (including tandems) the camera person should have some kind of rating. The camera person should understand all aspects of the jump he/she is intending to video or photograph. The instructor is required to have a rating why not the camera guy? The camera person is just as much part of the skydive so he/she should be responsible just as much as the instructors. It’s a bit scary some of the guys are trying to give advice here about camera work (no doubt with the best intention) but not having enough experience or knowledge of the “game” (the trap door effect is a good example) …this my two cents

...wow this thread bacame a pretty long discussion about a very simple question. The answer is: The 580EX or the EX II is way SUPERIOR compare to the 430EX. That is just fact as simple as it written above.

You're right that stuff on Youtube most be true, because the video shows it. Am I right??? But whats the source of that video? People believed the popcorn cell phone trick too which was pretty retarded. (even if I think cell phones actually can have effect on a human brain). Do you really believe if Obama had a dirrect tie with some extremist terroist group (a group claimed to carry out actual bombing on US soil) could make it this far??? Then how come the super vigilant, most anti terrorist, best defense expert Bush administration didn't send him to Gitmo yet?