Laszloimage

For most of my stuff multiple HDs. For my Tandem videos I use DVDs. Simultaneous recording on two separate recorders. One disc goes to the costumer, while I keep recording on to the other one (each video has its own menu window) as a back until it fills up. It cost 10c to back-up about 20 tandem videos without any extra time and effort.

I have received a few emails and PMs regarding this subject. It is lot of time to give an answer to everybody individually. So I try to post a super simple article here to give some basic ideas to what principals to follow in order to be able to run a ground to air skydiving video successfully. Clearing some mysteries about wireless systems. Transmitters can NOT be simply rated for range based on their power. It’s possible to cover 100miles with only 0.7W if everything is right, or you can’t even cover a mile with 20W if everything is wrong. There are many different factors to determinate the effective range of a radio transmitter. Of course higher power normally means more coverage. But other things to consider… The frequency it self, different wave lengths propagate differently. In this case 900 MHz (33cm wave length) pretty much travels in the “straight line with very little reflection (bouncing if you will) from other objects and easily “faded out” by obstacles (terrain, buildings, or in this case airplane fuselage) In the other hand as long as the transmitter and receiver can “see” each other directly with their antennas on 900MHz a very small output power can have a very long range. The antennas are the other important factor. There are antennas radiating (beaming) to all directions all at once (like those rubber antennas) and there are antennas more directional (YAGI, parabola dish, quad, and more...). The directional antennas can pick up a weaker signal better (more directional effect more gain) but that means they have to point to the right direction all the time. It can be difficult when someone freefalls with a transmitter… In the skydiving case the best compromise is to have a 1or 2W output transmitter with a rubber antenna (that’s also small and snag free) and the receiver with a directional antenna with a not too “pointy” angle of beam width. A 5 to 7 element YAGI is a good choice because of the 30-50 degree with combined 10-12db of gain. Another important thing is the SWR (standing wave ratio) 1:1 is the perfect 1:2 is still usable but I would keep it under 1:1.5. This “SWR” thing is coming how the antenna is tuned to the frequency is used on and how the impendency (Ohms are matched) between the antenna, feed line (mostly coax cable), and transmitter/receiver. Further more the polarization of the antenna makes a different too. The orientation of the transmitter antenna (vertical or horizontal depends how it’s mounted let’s say on a helmet) better be matched with the receiver antenna in order to avoid about 3db of loss. As an analogy for this “gain/ direction/SWR” of antennas I can maybe bring up lenses to make it easier to understand. A wide angle lens takes wide images with easy to focus but everything looks smaller in the frame. A telephoto lens can take images farther, but it has to be pointed more accurately to the direction of the subject. Bigger the zoon is farther the lens can see, but more difficult the pointing and focusing becomes (steady hands or tripod required). Higher the frequency shorter the wave length is, which means physically smaller antennas. But above a certain frequency (microwave range) things start behaving differently, so the 900MHz or the 1.2GHz wireless video systems are the most optimal for skydiving “air to ground video” purposes. These receiver antennas should be pointed half way between the expected exit point and deployment point for a good result. Of course the best would be if someone could point the antenna non stop towards the transmitter (in this case the fee falling camera guy). Some antennas: http://www.ebay.com/itm/900Mhz-GSM-Yagi-antenna-12-dBi-N-female-connector-/280746140029?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415dc6217d http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilson-Yagi-900MHz-Cellular-Antenna-301142-/130547166596?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1e6537ad84 Some wireless video systems: http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-9GHz-2-5W-Wireless-Video-Audio-Transmitter-Receiver-/230459336467?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item35a8726713 http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-9GHz-1-5W-Wireless-Video-Audio-Transmitter-Receiver-/330421632323?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item4ceea9fd43 Transmitting with this kind of power directly from the helmet (right next to the brain) I would consider use shielding against electromagnetic field inside my helmet! Thin foil or thin wire web lining connected to the transmitter’s metal housing can serve that purpose.

I jump every week with a 900MHz 0.7W video transmitter providing air to ground (live video). You can buy even more powerful wireless video systems (transmitter and receiver) on ebay for $150. ...now you just need to become an experinced jumper. 73's HA3TW

Yes! Please PM to me for details

Paulo, Thank you for referring to me! A few people actually asked me about these Panasonic cameras. The issue isn’t that simple, the remote triggering involves a bit more than just a switch with the 4-prong plug. The camera actually “communicates” with the remote. I might be able to make a connection for the remote control though… The only problem is the testing since I don’t own a camera like this. Anyway, if can make this happen I’ll post it. -Laszlo-

But Jesus himself was a socialist!!!

Did Gandhi go to hell? Was he wrong? Did you equally study other than Christian religious text so you can make the statment about Jesus?

Isn’t there more important issues? People who believe that president Obama wasn’t born in the US are simple ignorant and have no clue about immigration process (I do ‘cause I went through it). President Obama’s citizenship wasn’t ever a question; the only issue is whether he was or was not born in America. If Obama wasn’t born in the United States he would have needed to go through a long process called naturalization in order to become a citizen. That process goes through multiple government agencies and most likely immigration lawyers too (even back then when things were easier); which means lot of record. That paper trail never surfaced so far. Years ago people bought fake green cards and forged SS cards which they could get away with even at DMV in some states. But trust me, if Obama had any kind of immigration documents (real or fake) his political opponents would have find out about it before he become a senator.

Thank you for the info Spot! ...the 5D footage looks very nice, but the separate audio recording is a PITA for sure (even if FCP can automatically sync it) For skydiving (when audio is not required) I can still see the advantage of a DSLR when we have to trade size weight, and pictue qouality. The new Sony FS100 is very promising for sure, will be a lot better option than any DSLR. (60p, 4:2:2, 4/3, pro audio, relatively light and small) I think PCs are better and more capable for the buck these days when it comes to NLE. Mac has many limitations. Apple doesn't like to adopt and hadle video formats if it's not invented by Apple. I just experinced again a few days ago...

Last week I was involved with a video editing project (non skydiving...). I edited a 1920x1080 5D MarkII footage (1080x1920 H264 29.97fps in MOV container) on my PC. I rendered it to HDV (MPEG-2) since the MOV didn't really have the template for the same output(1080x1920square pixels) exept manually determined resolution which didn't look right. The video looked great anyway after rendering the original 5D MkII footage into HDV. But I was shocked when FCP wouldn't recognize HDV (MPEG-2) when we tried to import it to a Mac for some color correction and minor sound editing. I had to learn Mac/Quick Time can't play MPEG-2 neither SD nor HD. I also have a question to DSE here. In future which codec in MOV would be the best to render a 5D mkII project on a PC to be usable on a Mac as well? All my editing softwares give me a long list of options except H264. H263?

I had this type of issue before when I used a practicular Sigma lens. As soon as I changed the lens the problem never occured again.

As it was said already. Unfortunatelly there's really no cheap option in this case for good results. The Canon L USM IS lenses are the solution. I use the 70-200 f2.8 USM IS. But I also thinking to get the 28-300 f3.5-5.6 USM IS. Trust me, not worth it to buy a cheap lens for landings. ...they'll get you fuzzy and blurry shots most of the time. I would get at least the 24-105 f4 IS.

This one is out of the use of everyday skydiving for sure. But for those who might have a chance to do some production work (higher end work...) here's one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/743863-REG/Sony_PMW_F3L_PMW_F3L_Super_35mm_Full_HD.html The size and weight makes it defenitely "jumpable" DSE any word on this?

Thank you guys for the comliment! The "female half moon" thing came to my head right away when I started to build these adapters. The only problem is I can't get them. I could maybe salvage them from broken camcorders; I don't know if that would be feasible... I'm still looking for Jacks with more rugged cable. In the other hand I taped the whole adapter assembly to my CX100, it doesn't move/dangle around so the cable's ruggedness isn't a factor in my case.

The adaptor can't help with certain control issues of the early version of the CamEye. Those problems are coming from the CamEye itself. According with the manufacture's web site all CamEyes made after August of 2000 shouldn't have a problem. That's my experince too; I have a unit from 1999 which works but once awhile does some funky stuff.

I do make those adapters

I made about 1,200 jums with mine, but honestly I never used the burst mode. Certain light conditions I use exposure compensation one step (0.3) up or down and I normally use the flash. End of the day I shoot at ISO 200 this way the camera maintains descent shutter speed.

Congratulations Saskia!

Hi everybody, ...a great news: http://blueskiesmag.com/2011/03/02/in-this-issue-18-march-2011/ The 21-way diamond AZ state record picture made it to the cover of the Blue Skies Magazine. -Laszlo-

I sent you a PM with a possible solution.

Thanks man!

A few shots from Puert Rico http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_10th_2011%20011.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_11th_2011%20005.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_11th_2011%20039.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_11th_2011%20048.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_11th_2011%20048.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_13th_2011%20012.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_13th_2011%20019.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_13th_2011%20063.htm http://laszloimage.com/2011/February_2011/pages/Feb_13th_2011%20065.htm

Very nice light in this shot! One of those rare times when the shot looks very good without a flash. ...we don't always get that light condition.

Some CReW photos from Skydive Arizona. Chico's cutaway from a wrap: http://www.laszloimage.com/2011/January_2011/pages/Jan_15th_2011%20050.htm Arizona's state record 21-way: http://www.laszloimage.com/2011/January_2011/pages/Jan_15th_2011%20084.htm http://www.laszloimage.com/2011/January_2011/pages/Jan_15th_2011%20107.htm Streamers: http://www.laszloimage.com/2011/January_2011/pages/Jan_15th_2011%20024.htm http://www.laszloimage.com/2011/January_2011/pages/Jan_15th_2011%20032.htm

"I will provide credits" Will those credits buy camera gear at B&H Photo?