TLob456

Holy SH*% that is scary to me. If you can't remember to properly route your chest strap just because you have a camera on...you should reconsider your hobby as a skydiver. Unless your plan is to never do more than a 2 way, never downsize, never WS, never jump from a novelty craft, or really anything else that would ever introduce a new element.

I like the analogy to the WS approach, let a qualified instructor make the call. But this also poses some difficulties in that you'd need an instructor flying 2nd camera slot (sort of) while the "student" flew camera on another group..right? Right off the bat we're starting to make it very hard for C182 DZs. That's a lot of bodies to coordinate and get to participate in a coaching jump.

Point well taken. All great points, airtwardo and I really appreciate the well formulated response. I agree, to "error" on the side of safety is nearly always going to be a good thing. I can only imagine the transformation that jumpers like you have seen over the years as USPA started to implement BSRs and a real culture of safety developed. All of which I am a grateful beneficiary of. One thing that I've seen (and here I mean folks who start jumping a camera immediately once they get an A-license) is that the #s argument alone is...like I said before...like abstinence only sex ed. It's really really easy to think, "well they obviously don't know how awesome I am and this rule is clearly for other people". Unfortunately I've never been around to hear an instructor delve into the real whys of needing more experience before making a skydive more and more complex (when it comes to cameras)...and lots of jumpers don't read through the SIM so the finer points fail to reach them. Hell, I remember at one DZ having a wing suit instructor try and talk me into doing a WS flight with only 90 jumps under my belt...and with absolutely no ground schooling! I guess my point there is that the typical skydiver is a risk taker, and I think risk takers tend to ignore "rules" but respect "common sense". I'd love to see more of that, but have no idea how the organization would go about implementing/encouraging that in a concise and repeatable manner. Thanks again. Blue Skies

I guess I wasn't clear in what I was trying to get across. My point is that if you are unable to wear a camera and maintain your situational awareness after 100 skydives, you're going to be unaware during lots of free fall circumstances (going for that last dock, geeking out for someone else's camera, trying to coach a student, etc.) The physical demands of wearing a modern digital camera are almost negligible...so my comment about "am I missing something" was meant to ask "is there something other than situational awareness that is at issue?". By the way, if this is such a tired, over discussed topic on these threads than why are you still reading them and posting? I noticed an interesting heading...read it...and made a post. Next time I'll be sure to research all the years of previous threads so I don't bother people like you (actually no I won't because that's the point of a forum, to discuss things) I maintain that the numbers game is counter productive. I know jumpers w/ nearly 1000 skydives who are far less competent and safe in the sky then others who have less than 300. Attitude, ability, focus, awareness are not solely based on who many times you've been in free fall.

This topic has been interesting to me for the past couple years. Compared to many of you I'm new to skydiving (a bit over 4 years now w/ about 450 jumps) so I'm not posting with any illusion that I'm an expert or a pro. BUT, I first jumped with a side mount camera when I had just over 100 jumps and never once did it affect my performance in the sky (in terms of being altitude aware, situational awareness, landings, etc.). As some of the posts in this thread state, cameras are smaller and cheaper than ever before so the idea that new skydiver aren't' going to strap a camera to their head is no different than abstinence only sex ed. I'm a USPA coach with hopes to one day be an AFF instructor so my curiosity stems from a mentor perspective...I just don't have a strong aversion to flying a camera at 75/100 jumps if you've shown that you're a competent, aware skydiver. Am I missing something?? I think that REQUIRING 300 skydives before you're allowed to jump with a camera is kind of ridiculous...I've been in the air with D-license jumpers who scare the hell out of me so #s are very misleading.

My guess is they are trying to sell it to someone across the pond...because they stole it here in the states. That's one hell of an expensive rig (nearly new mirage, clean white lines, reserve)...should be going for a few thousand USD at least. I wonder if they'll respond w/ the serial and DOM? If not they're sketchy thieves if you ask me. Any body look through the listings for stolen gear?

Cool, lark's head it is. Thanks guys

I'm setting up my newly purchased (but heavily used) canopy with a new bag and pilot chute and was wondering how best to connect the new gear to the canopy attachment point. I've got a Kazar collapsible PC with a closed loop at the attachment end of the bridle. Can I just use the bag stop link from my old PC (rated to 3.5N/220lbs) and screw that on the canopy attachment point ring? That rating seems insufficient to me.

Correction: Phoenix Fly suits have NOT outsourced their production. That makes my decision easy since turnaround is super quick and they've been making bomber suits for years. Thanks for jumping on the mis-information! Blue Skies to all

Thinking about ordering a custom WS from Nitro Rigging (the Pipistrellus). Any experience with their suits? Tony Suits has a 16 week wait, Phoenix Fly has outsourced their manufacturing (or so I hear) and I need a damn squirrel suit ASAP! From what I know Nitro suits are solid but I've only known one guy who used them. Any opinions would be helpful

I looking to buy either a weight belt or vest to up my fall rate. I'll be mostly freeflying but also doing some RW. Any opinions or experience with the benefits/drawbacks of belts versus vests?

A final note for this thread. I talked w/ Velocity and have some definitive answers. The newer Infinity rigs have a pocket located under the D-ring which the doubled portion of the RSL lanyard slides into. They have also started adding .5in to the final section of the lanyard to address the issue this thread is about. The original is 2.5 but they are making them at 3in now. If you've got the older one and have the above mentioned pocket, they will send you a new RSL to replace it. Hope this clears up any future issues. My opinion, Velocity ROCKS! And about the camera with or w/out RSL, for me I've got a cutaway chinstrap so that would be the first thing to go if I ever got my lines caught up....so I'll be keeping the RSL connected.

It's obvious, huh? Quite the assumption. Dude, chill out. If you're so concerned about awareness and safety you should be happy I'm curious about my gear and asking questions aimed at making it as safe as possible. My GoPro is currently on the right side because I have a Cookie Atomic helmet and didn't want to gum up the flatlock which is on the left side. My overall goal in skydiving is to be a videographer/photographer and figured I'd buy a helmet that will meet all my needs as I become more experienced. All it takes is turning my head the other way on deployment. By the way, I checked out your website...some really sick pictures there!

Thank you much, GLIDEANGLE. I'll just have to work on it, the link you provided is very helpful.

The camera isn't the issue. I'll edit my post so that I don't get a bunch of people like you complaining and talking down to those of us who don't have 5000 jumps instead of helping with my actual question.