DSE

I wasn't looking at it as a cost thing, but as a riser strike precaution question. The rental unit we have is one of the older helmets, and it has nearly disappeared on two occasions because it's not one of the newer models with the deflection on it. So, even tho both models have the same protection, I wondered if I'd be safer with narrow. However, it's pretty clear that the Pro is still the better choice, just because of how wide it is at the top. More importantly, I like Phreezone's points, as they make great sense to me.

For the price of the Director software, you'd likely find yourself better served with Avid Studio (formerly Pinnacle Studio) Adobe Premiere Elements, or Sony Vegas Movie Studio. Of the three, I prefer Sony, but all of the above are standards. Sony has a better mpeg encoder than the other two; it's the same encoder they have in their high end software. It's kinda weak on the quicktime side, but for windows media and mpeg, it's terrific. VMS also has templates for PSP and iPod built in, and comes with DVD Architect, which is great for making very polished DVDs. http://www.cyber-aspect.com/sreviews/vegas_studio.htm has a review.

It's a lens cleaner/polisher. Works very well, too. Safe for coated lenses. http://www.basegear.com/catcrap.html

The HC3 is 5Lux Japan, where the others are measured as "Lux US". In the US, if Sony were to rate the HC3, it's 7 Lux just like the others. Lux measurements vary from region to region, with a swing of up to 2 value ratings. Why the HC3 and other HDV (Sony only) measure up reasonably well in low light is not their native lux rating, it's how they process gain and noise reduction while processing gain. A bit of time on HDVInfo.net will show you a number of demonstrative images. It's unfortunate that we don't have a worldwide LUX rating system, because this discussion, and often debate, comes up often in other fora.

Stumpy, if you'd like a full version of Premiere 6.5, which can be upgraded, I'll send it to you for cost of shipping. I think we've got 1-2 copies of unopened boxes lying around here. PM me if you're interested.

QuoteLots of people in here always asume people are aiming for high-end broadcast use of their footage. reply] All encoders, high end or not, do their best job with the highest resolution input available. Why throw away half the resolution when the cost of keeping it is identical? Yes, I understand that web or highly compressed is often a target delivery, but does that mean it's "OK" to deliver less quality when you don't have to? I guess I don't quite get your point since I live in the world of "best it can be for the cost." It costs nothing to keep most of that additional 50%. But, if you're happy with the 15 frames out of the 30 you shot... by all means, use it.

Unfortunately, Wild Weddings will not allow the HD footage to be posted, and since they're the contractor, they determine what can/can't be posted. However, we do have some documentary footage, and we're likely going to get permission to post that. It was not shot as part of their camera wishlist. I'll re-up this thread when/if we're permitted to post it.

Alright, since you'd prefer to be argumentative... All of Sony's HDV camcorders have a significantly lower LUX rating than any DV camcorder they've ever made. How is it that you'd say "You don't like the new Sony camcorders for low light excepting HD?" That makes no sense, and deserves to be challenged. HDV, whether it's Sony, Canon, or JVC, and the new Panny HVX, all have bad low light numbers. Same with the Sanyo as mentioned before. Could you explain how that turns into you "excepting HDV with regard to low light?" My previous comments are based on knowledge of poor numbers in low light, which is why I've kept to that point. You seem to feel differently.

Because it's quite possible to corrupt the headers on the files. If you have a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration, this is particularly important to not do, with single drives, it's not as big an issue. Avid tech support won't even talk to you if you've defragged in the middle of a project. Defragging in today's world is more myth than reality. It does decrease seek times, but doesn't benefit large block files that video generates. If you've not captured video yet, then there is no risk of corrupting headers. Additionally, since vid files are so large, defragging takes a longer time than for smaller files, with a low cost/time benefit to long defrag sessions. Another issue I failed to mention earlier that can cause dropped frames, is if you've got disk compression enabled. Be *sure* it's disabled on any drive accessing or writing video files.

The HC3, HC1, A1U, FX1, and Z1 will all be just fine for sunset dives. I could explain why, but I guess I explained too much earlier.

Bear in mind that you're still working with a 1/3 chip in the case of the Sony, slightly smaller with the Sanyo. That chip is providing the same amount of light-gathering real estate whether it's SD or HD, and therefore with HD, you've now made the pixels smaller, therefore decreasing light sensitivity. Sony has done a great job of programming their DSP, especially in the Z1/FX1 series, as you can seriously punch gain without noise. The HC3 does a good job as well, but folks need to remember it's DSP and not chip-ability giving the better image in low light. Sanyo has a terrible DSP for gain, so without really solid light...it's useless. But, I'd submit that most skydiving has good light. The Sanyo does well in skydiving if it's set up right, but otherwise, it's a mess due to the encoding/compression. You MUST have it set for high action. For 650.00, it's worth a looksee if you want HD on the cheep. I bought one for messing around the barnyard and shooting goofy little things, cuz it's not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes.

Yes, I misunderstood quite what you were comparing by way of resolution. The Sanyo HD1 is 7.2 oz. Only 1280 x 720, but it works impressively well if it has good light from which to draw. It does require some time to properly aim though, due to it's odd angle.

I agree with dunesurfer. While we've come a long way from the -real- heavy cameras of the past (see Tom Sander's set-up!), we have to understand that if a camera is made -too- light something in the quality output is sacrificed. I started with a Digital8 camera, then less than a year later went for the digital TRV8. Progression to TRV10, then TRV22. I stopped there because the next "TRV-type" series lacked the quality that the 22 had. If I was to upgrade it'd be HD. IMO the series inbetween lack the lens quality needed for what I use it for. And the HD is heavier...but then again, better quality. :^) ltdiver HD is not heavier, or doesn't have to be. And there is no sacrifice of resolution; rather you gain 88% greater resolution in 1080 over DV. And you also get a significantly better DSP, plus a better color sampling scheme with HD.

First of all, you don't WANT to deinterlace if this will be showing on a regular television, and if you DO want it deinterlaced, certainly don't use Premiere Pro. Use something made for it. For instance, frameservine from PP Pro to the Virtual Dub deinterlacer, or use the Canopus deinterlacer found in Procoder. It's very good. Sony Vegas does a good job as well. you need to determine how you want to deinterlace, for skydiving I'd recommend bob/weave, but you could also blend fields with some motion blur. Sony Vegas does a good job of blending fields, but that's the only deinterlace method that does well in Vegas. Mike Crash' deinterlacer is very nice, and it's free. Alparysoft does a reasonable job, and there is a free demo of that app for Premiere Pro and other NLE systems. Dynapel has a GREAT deinterlacer that they quit making, but you can find free copies around the web if you look hard. The reason you don't want to deinterlace just "anywhere" is that you'll lose half of your resolution if it's not done right. The Kell factor allows you to keep up to 35% of your resolution if you deinterlace correctly.

Disk defrag is a bad idea if you already have video files on the system. Disk defrag for video/large block files is rarely a necessity anyway. What I'd be looking at is whether the drives are in PIO or DMA mode, look in your System Properties/IDE controllers to find out. Drives should always be in DMA mode when possible. Also, if you have lots of small files on the disk, then a defrag will help initially, but you'll run into other problems later on. it's a good idea to capture to a second drive anyway. Drive an IDE, SATA, Firewire, or SCSI system? Is it sharing any system resources such as fans, sound cards, video card, or controller device? USB? You want to not be sharing any of those resources with your IDE controller. Also, if you have video sharing a resource with 1394 bus, that too can cause problems depending on how overlay is managed. Myriad reasons, I have an FAQ on the subject at http://www.vasst.com/?v=training/VegasFAQnew.htm that might be of some additional help. Look at the Capture FAQ as it goes very deeply into why frames can be dropped during capture. HTH

That's the argument my partner in the biz says too. I hadn't looked at it that way, simply because I'll likely only be jumping one of two cams in most instances, but I can see using a transmitter feed, and the larger area would be better. I was mostly concerned about airflow, but it seems insignificant overall compared to the benefits of the greater surface area. Had an opportunity for an FTP narrow fairly cheap, so wanted to weigh the decision. Thx for the input guys.

Bonehead flat top vs narrow top helmets? Any opinions on one vs the other? I likely will not ever shoot stills, but even if I did, it seems either helmet? Have a Flat Top we rent out now, more for other extremes, but want to purchase my own, trying to decide one vs the other.

Check the contacts on your card. Sometimes those can be dirty. A small amount of isopropyl/rubbing alcohol on a swab, clean em, and should be good. Another option is to LIGHTLY use a white rubber eraser, the kind normally used for pen, not pencil, to gently clean those contacts. Poor contact can easily be responsible for corrupted files.

What I'm referring to is a lot worse than what you're referring to. I agree with your comment; hearing that sort of comment from time to time isn't at all a problem. On the other hand...a jumpmaster telling a tandem pax "Spread those knees, baby, you know I wanna be sitting between your legs for the next 20 minutes" is a bit over the top. You really think that young thing wants to come back? And pay to be harassed? DZO doesn't censor anyone; he just asks folks to keep it to a dull roar. Our local DZ is a lot like what John Mitchell describes, a LOT of families for both tandem pax and fun jumpers, and a lot of small children in the loft from time to time. If you wanna keep em', then it needs to feel friendly to an extent.

Anyone a parent, a skydiver, and a child who has become a skydiver as a result of watching the parent? My daughter completed her AFF today. It's an emotional struggle watching her jump out of the same aircraft. She's my only child.

Y'know, by the time they're 18 most people have done a lot more than just be exposed to that. Exactly proving my point. Just because they've been exposed to it doesn't mean they have to enjoy it. A DZ isn't Disneyland, but it's also not a strip joint. The point of the article is retention and conversion, and I'd submit part of it is exactly the elitism that tandem folks often see, and if that show of elitism is too far over the top, they won't see themselves as being able to be a part of the sport. While a DZ is a social place, like any other social place, it needs to turn a profit in order to operate. In order to continue to turn a profit, new blood is required, yeah? I've never owned a DZ, just have spent a fair amount of time observing several small DZ's and a couple very large ones. Maybe I'm too P&L oriented?

Congrats! Gotta feel good to have that big ole' "A" stamp on your license, it sure did for me.

Sounds like I need to hang with you, Slug. I'm past the age of getting all the attention from the females, maybe if I hung out with a cool young dude like yourself I'd be attracting something other than flies.

The beer works, but one small comment before I crawl back to my hole: Please remember that newbie skydivers are in awe and somewhat intimidated by the active and more aggressive skydivers. With adrenaline junkies being portrayed in movies like "Point Break" and "Dropzone," many skydivers carry a certain mystique about them that intimidates the newbies. Newbies also don't know to bring beer. (In Utah, no one knows to bring beer anyway ) Additionally, at a couple DZs I've been to had a sort of horseplay that told me I didn't want to be around. VERY explicit sexual jokes and activity made it a place that a family wouldn't want their 18 y/o being exposed to just yet. My daughter went to a couple different DZs to get in her first tandems and AFF, and found that she just didn't like being hit on by every guy in the place from the DZO on down. She ended up doing her AFF in Utah, 3000 miles from her home in Georgia. I'm not by any stretch a prude, but bear in mind that the conversion and retention starts with tandems, and I'd submit that a huge percentage of tandem pax drag their family or friends along with them. For their one afternoon of fun, should the DZO allow the more extreme horseplay and vocabulary to take place? I don't know the answer to that, I just know that I'm glad I have a DZ that only has a limited amount of that kind of activity. (Yeah, we have a lot of horseplay, but the DZO has hinted to the staff and regulars to keep the "Fuck, shit, bitch etc" and assgrabbing of both males and females to a dull roar. No one likes having their ass grabbed or be dry humped while they're packing their parachute. Newbies and tandem pax likely don't quite understand what they're seeing)

Just as a small point/comment...don't you think you need a library of songs for your various clients? That 30-something might not like Good Charlotte (I do, but that's beside the point) and your 18y/o birthday girl/guy might not like Bob Marley or god forbid, Tom Petty. Maybe it's just me; I spent an hour yesterday trying to remind our camera flyers that the video is for the tandem student, not for anyone else, so I'd submit that a library for the appropriate age might be of value? YMMV