DSE

Dan, how high are you taking the Archos? We've played with the Archos a bit for dirtbikes, it works great there with the Sony bullets, but I'm not happy with the quality, obviously. The one I'm really excited for is the new Bella device, it's HD-ready, at about the same price as the Archos box, but it requires a converter.

As was mentioned before, several times a year at demos. Used to do one for the City Bell and due to the approach to LAX we were lucky to get 2,000 feet. Roll out of a 206 with 15 lbs. of flag hanging around my waist, get open, deploy flag, find target and try not to forget to smile for the kiddies. But that is why they paid us the “Big Bucks.”

Maybe mine just doesn't like the desert heat or something. I guess I need to send it back to L&B, it's still under warranty, I assume, since it was purchased in June. Thanks for the feedback, and ALW, thanks for the PM information!

YOU are the one that opened the blue vs green door. Sorry if you didn't like what you found on the other side of it. You did manage to get one thing right though. And I am DONE trying to reach out to you. Have fun. If you're "reaching out to me" then please enlighten us on how the formats cited above are "pretty much the same?" YOU opened that door, but seem to be unwilling to walk thru it for some reason. I'm not the one talking about ice cream. I'm here to learn, and share what I know, not have topics shifted to ice cream and oceans. That said, I've always been interested in whatever is behind the green door. [edit] So now I'm really perplexed. You "refuse" to discuss lighting or color without specifics, but you can suggest that MP4 and MP2 are "pretty much the same." Isn't that hypocritical?

If you need to take differences of "blue" and "green" to a level of 'electromagnetic waves, pistachio ice cream, oceans and the sky' in order to divert focus from the point of the discussion...I don't have an intelligent response. Congrats, you win on humor, and everyone else is less informed yet probably more entertained for having read the thread thus far.

My apologies if I misunderstood. I assumed being accurate was important. Blue is "pretty much" the same as green then?

Swooping is to skydiving what the Indy 500 is to driving. You don't see Indy 500 cars on city streets, and you don't see Ford Escorts on the Indy 500 track. Like many folks, having seen hook turns and swoops that have gone bad, I can't agree that they are like low pulls and perhaps should be banned, but they should be kept away from the general landing areas and spectator areas. I'd think swoopers would agree with this, since unexpected traffic or obstacles shouldn't be a concern in proscribed high performance landing areas.

good to know. I'd written a while back asking about a box for the HC3, but didn't get a response. Cookie makes some slammin' stuff.

The HV10 isn't scheduled to have a preproduction model just yet. Altair makes the sensors in the Canon, so it's likely going to be pretty good. Sony makes the sensors in the higher end cams for Canon, so they're not going to be significantly different than the Sony. If you want small form HDV right now, Sony's HC3 is similar in size to a PC, somewhat smaller, but won't fit the PC boxes. Bonehead is working on a box for the HC3.

NEVER said it was. Go back and reread what I wrote. what you wrote was: I should have been more specific in what I quoted, since I was responding to multiple comments. No, AVC HD is not at all the same codec, compression method, or anything else similar to HDV other than 1080 HDV is 25Mbps and AVC HD *can* go as high as 24Mbps but currently is aimed at 18Mbps including audio. They're both compressed formats, but so are most video formats. MPEG is a brand, just like Coke, Adidas, or Performance Design. It's not a single form of compression; it's simply a form that the Motion Picture Experts Group approved, developed, and license. It can be packaged in many wrappers, and found in a number of formats.

Just to pound it in deeper I suspect you meant Beta SX and not BetaCam or DigiBeta, but I could be wrong. Prosumer DV is actually superior to the significantly older (and now discontinued) BetaCam. The only reason many ENG users kept using BC over DV is because at the time, there were no larger format/shoulder mounts. Then along came the larger version of DV, known as DVCAM. It didn't take long to make the switch. DVCAM is the most widely used production format in the world today. And it's "just" DV.

yes, you can chew gum in freefall. At some DZ's they ask the tandem student to not chew gum in case they could choke, spit it in the tandem instructors hair, or spit it on the floor of the aircraft, but solo skydivers often chew gum (or other substances) in freefall and under canopy. One guy I know chews tobacco and during an RW jump he got knocked enough that his mouth opened. He had really interesting brown streaks up his face and over his goggles.

In this case, I'd wager that the attorney has gotten these parents to sign on first, getting himself in the mix as attorney of record, and I'll equally wager he's contacting others to try to turn this into a class action with him already in place as lead attorney, hence the haste in which he filed. It's apparent this guy is an ambulance chaser that caught the family in their weakest moment.

Uhh...I put most of my comments in another thread, but DVCAM and DV are EXACTLY the same thing, excepting that DVCAM has a slightly different head pitch and speed. Still 25Mbps or 3.6MBps, and this is why all DVCAM devices play standard DV, and why nearly all DV devices play DVCAM. Maybe you meant Beta SX instead of DVCAM?

Quade, I don't want to get into an argument with you, but AVCHD to HDV is a Xaos to a Navigator. Yes, they're both video codecs, yes, they both carry an HD resolution-compliant stream. That's by FAR where they end. You can theoretically get AVC HD to look as good as HDV, just like you can theoretically get HDV to look as good as HDCAM, just as you can theoretically get HDCAM to look as good as HDCAM SR. I've proven in very high end venues that in the right hands, HDV cannot be visually differentiated from HDCAM. On multiple occasions. AVCHD in the VERY right circumstances, can be made to look very, very good, but getting it to HDCAM level...not a prayer. Not even with some of the most powerful hardware and software tools available. AVCHD is in no way at all poised to replace HDV. First, it isn't as robust a color sample. Second it's MAXIMUM bitrate is 24Mbps and that includes a 7.1 audio stream or two PCM audio streams. Second, AVC HD has no bit redundancy, which HDV has. HDV was designed as a low end professional format, just as it's also a high end consumer format. Yes, it is to HDCAM what DV is to Beta SP. However, differently than DV, the color sample is twice the value at 88% greater resolution. AVC HD is one quarter the color sample at the same resolution. AVCHD can somewhat be edited, you'll be hearing a lot more about this very soon from leader NLE companies, but for the moment, there is only one app that can natively handle AVCHD without a DI, and it's not terribly efficient. The decode can't currently be managed by hardware, including graphics cards, and you'll likely never see an accelerator for AVCHD like there already are for HDV. AVC HD compared to HDV first generation on a switcher isn't remotely the same. You also have to take into account that AVC HD is aimed (currently) exclusively at the consumer market. HDV is barely aimed at the consumer market. AVC HD currently uses lower grade glass or plastic in the lens. It uses significantly less DSP to get the great image. It also isn't a constant bitrate (currently) I keep saying "currently" because even though consortiums agree on specs, someone inevitably breaks the spec, and there are already rumors of one consortium member moving up the bitrate, but those are just rumors for now. Maybe at NAB East/Post Plus we'll hear something more concrete. In another thread, someone asked to see skydiving footage shot with HDV. Well....Performance Designs entire demo reel is shot with A1U's, the Wild Weddings episode is done with A1U's and Z1's, Joe Jennings and Ed Dickenson have shot exceptionally beautiful footage with it. I've shot b roll for several broadcast pieces in the air. On the ground...All of the BTS for King Kong, Miami Vice, Fast and Furious, Charlies Angels, and many others are shot with HDV. HDV is used as first cam on many Discovery, Food Network, MTV, Nightline, VH1, and other broadcasts. HDNet just recently carried a bunch of my own motoX footage captured on bike and sticks. In other words, HDV is very much being used in broadcast in spite of the ignorance that seems to surround it. Is HDCAM better? Absolutely, if you're compositing. If not, I challenge anyone (and have done this with people like James Cameron, Bob Redford, Robert Rodriquez, and other directors at Sundance) to tell the difference in a side by side comparison. I use HDV alongside our 750 virtually every day, and am now using my XDCAM in place of my 750 almost every day, preferring the look of the XDCAM HD over HDCAM. I'm not the only one of this opinion or experience. Many shooters such as Jodi Eldred, Todd Lincoln, Marshall Hicks, Kevin Sweeney all prefer the image over HDCAM. I'll also combine another comment from another post. Someone made the comment about "true HD" being related to imagers that are 1920 x 1080. Uhh....not even the HDCAM offers this as native resolution. Might as well say that HDCAM, VariCam, LDK series cams aren't "true HD" either, and they're the workhorses used for just about everything broadcast in HD up til recent months. The ATSC spec is very clear on what is HD and what isn't. HDV absolutely meets the spec. HDV in the pro end is good enough for "West Wing," "24," "House Arrest," "Cathouse," "Monster Garage," "American Chopper," but it's not good enough for skydiving? Yet most skydivers are happy with the image from their 100/109's? Are you serious? Sorry for the long post and semi-rant, but it chaps my ass to read "opinions" vs real world experience. I might as well start pontificating on swoop techniques (of which I know nothing about) or similar. I invite any of you to NAB Post Plus in November as my guests, (classes are around 900.00 per day) to sit through some editing sessions with folks like Thelma Schoonmaker, Walter Murch, and/or myself. See what HDV is doing to the film industry along with other low-cost 1080 formats. If you're in Oz, (bob) you're also invited to be my guest at the HD Power Production Techniques classes from New Magic.

It would be really easy to turn this into a "why do you hate HDV especially if you've not created a for-broadcast" thread, but I'll avoid that.

You'll be waiting for the rest of your life. HDV by definition, HAS to record to tape. That is the entire basis for the format. While they might at some point come out with a 25Mbps camcorder that records to some static storage format, it won't be HDV.

Anyone who has an Altitrack seeing the rubber ring holding the front lens starting to chip out? I've got one that has about 60 jumps, and in 3 places, the rubber has started coming out/off. It's stored in a soft bag, which is stored inside my helmet, so it's not being abused. Wondering if this is common?

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Panasonic is expected to announce an AVCHD camera in the *very* near future according to insiders. Folks that know for sure are under NDA. Suffice it to say that there are four major video shows coming up, WEVA, IBC, NAB East, and DV Expo, all of which are prime shows for announcements. Caveat tho...they announced the HVX and then took over a year to ship in spite of announced shipping dates. I kinda don't think Sony is done for the year tho. [edit] On the subject (sorta) of new cameras, not sure if anyone/everyone caught the new Canon replacements for the GL series. A bit heavy for the typical tandem, but great for other shooting, such as RW, advertising, etc. http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/articles/xhpressrelease.php 24p isn't terribly useful for skydiving overall, but all other features on them is great. JVC is expected to have a couple new small HDV offerings as well. NAB East will be interesting, as will WEVA later this month.

Talk to the DZO, even if he/she is one of the alleged users. Talk to the S&TA if the DZ has one (it should), even if he/she is one of the alleged users. Failing the above, if the DZ is USPA, then talk to your USPA regional rep. I'm sure the USPA rep would have some advice and perhaps experience in these matters. If they're not USPA, I'd not jump there, or I'd figure something else out, but be careful. If you know the alleged user reasonably well, consider talking to them over a beer. Doesn't matter, IMO, if they're taking up AFF, tandems, or coaching people with 10,000 jumps. They're putting everyone in the air at risk one way or another if they're actually using as you suggest they might be. If they're employees, then they have a certain level of authority that they should not be permitted to have, regardless. Be damn sure you know what you're talking about in the process, have some kind of evidence to back you up. In a different world, I had an experience where someone claimed some of my employees were using, and made an accusing comment to one of my clients. Client immediately brought it up to me. Random drug test proved the accuser wrong. Glassy eyes/weepy eyes of the two employees in question turned out to be serious allergies. The two employees do have a history of substance abuse going back several years, and both had been clean for nearly 6 years. The accusation damaged a lot of relationships, whereas if the accuser had merely come to me with their concerns, I'd have addressed them privately and immediately. [edited for spelling]

You're right about the cost...quality of any sort will cost a lot more than 80.00 Street price on the UX1 is expected in the 1300.00 range. The HDD cam is one I probably wouldn't jump frequently, although I'll be jumping it for testing as soon as a preproduction model arrives. The UX1 will be jumped as soon as weather leaves us alone. It's DVD, yet I've jumped a DVD cam before without issue. Definitely not ideal, but... The static storage cams have been announced, but nothing has come up just yet, so I'm not sure when we'll start seeing pre-production on those. However, Panasonic is also making rumblings that they'll be releasing the static sooner than Sony, so maybe we'll see those sooner than later. BTW, the Sanyo HD1 isn't bad, but it's also not great. Downsampled from 720p to widescreen SD, looks very impressive for the size/cost. I'd like to jump it more, just haven't had the opportunity.

Huh? Isn't that the other way around? Don't "zoom" lenses make things look (appear) closer than they really are, and "wide angle" instead in fact: objects are actually "closer than they appear"? In other words, to get that really "tight" shot, on a wide-angle, you in fact need instead to get EVEN CLOSER? You understand the concept correctly. Wide angle adaptors require the flyer to be closer, not further away. Kinda like the warning on your convex rear view mirror "Warning, objects are closer than they may appear to be..."

The camera you linked to is a pretty poor camera. You can find them on most tradeshow floors for about 50.00 and they're barely worth that much. MPEG 4 doesn't have to be poor quality if the bitrate is high enough. This camera has an exceptionally low bitrate, so macroblocking and skips are going to be the norm. On the flip side, Sony and Panasonic have just announced the AVC-HD format camcorders that are technically MP4, and can record to static media. Just got a pre-production model and will report on the quality as soon as I'm allowed. The Sony models allow a lens adaptor on the front.

That's funny, I thought it was legal besides inside of some national parks. As far as I know, there are no laws against BASE jumping if you have permission from the fixed object owner and the land below it. The 20 BASE jumps I've done have all been legal: Bridge Day, the Perrine, Norway. Dunno about much of the rest of the world, but in Utah, BASE is legal except in the cities (tall bldgs). Moab (Moab Boogie anyone?) is a terrific place to BASE, and a lot of effort goes into keeping it clean and friendly to non-BASE folks so that BASE jumping won't be outlawed there. LOTSA BASE guys at our DZ that do both.

Listened to Creed, pulled a little high for a longer ride, took some snapshots with my camera, smacked the tuffet, and got pie'd for mine.