CBurket

The 2k FFX and FF2 are actually designed and make with freeflyers in mind. They are great for all types of freefly video and I've used mine is pretty much every position (sit, head-down, back, and belly).

You are definately right that systems where all you have to do is pull a cutaway loop would be much easier to use than taking off the ratchet. 2k does call their ratchet chin cup a "quick release ratchet chin cup" though, and they have the loop cutaway system in the works. I just think people sometimes feel that simply taking off the helmet is impossible by releasing the chincup. You are probably right that I shouldn't have said that it is "very easy" to get off, but it is a widely accepted method of cutting a helmet away. I'd also recomend that if you buy any kind of helmet with any kind of release procedure that you practice cutting it away under a load. Thank you for pointing this out and let me correct myself. The chin cup may not be very easily removed but you can do it in an emergency situation. You should also practice this on the ground under a load with you head being thrown around so you know what could happen to you in the air. Give yourself extra altitude, know your procedures and be safe out there. edited to add: The more I think about it, it should also be said that no matter what camera helmet or release system you have, you may end up with a situation so bad that you end up paralyzed or dead and you may not be able to do anything about it. Camera flying is dangerous, but its important to take all the precautions that you can.

First off I usually recommend the FF2 over the FFX. The FFX is a little cheaper, but I think the immediate access you get with the FF2 is worth the extra $15-$20. 1. The camera is secured with a thumb screw and held firmly in place with custom padding inside the box. 2. Yes the hole is big enough, I use a kenko .43 and it works perfect. 3. As others have said, yes you will probably see the side, but you can also hit just a touch of zoom to get the corner out of there. 4. Also as stated, the cutaway system is in the works, but the helmet is already very easy to get rid of if necessary. All you have to do is reach up with either hand, push the button on the chincup and pull it off. It would be the same motion you would use with a loop cutaway except you have the press the button before pulling the chincup off. All helmets now come standard with ratchet chincups. 5. not at all, I am a US dealer for 2k, so if you have any other questions, PM me. PS I've heard some people say they have had fit problems with the lower part of the helmet around the jaw. If you have a narrow head, 2k will make the helmet slightly narrower when they send it to you, and you can also bake them like boneheads to get a more custom fit.

First I'll admit I'm a dealer for 2k and I jump one of their helmets so I may be slightly biased. I will say that all the helmets mentioned out there are good helmets, it just depends on what is right for you. I usually recomend the FF2 over the FFX because the price isn't that much higher and the benefits are really nice. Taking the camera in and out is very easy with the FF2 and you can even flip the door open and check your settings or check where you tape is on jump run. With a little work I rotated my video camera in the FF2 up slightly for belly flying. The new ratchet chin cups are standard and are also very nice. I would suggest an FFX if you want something for freeflying. It is sighted in for freeflying and I can't personally find a snag point on it (or the FF2). This all being said, check everything out, compare prices, and choose what you think might suit you best. I do agree with the others that you should wait for around 200 jumps to start flying video.

For sit flying, wear some shorts and a sweatshirt. If you want/need to wear pants, tape them around the ankles so they won't inflate.

Check out the red eye .3 lens made by way cool industries. www.waycool.com.au

English may be the language of eduaction and government etc..., but we are a free country and they never set a restriction on what language you could speak. This was attempted at schools for American Indians that tried to integrate them into European culture and they were punished severly for speaking their native language. You can speak whatever you want to your friends, and its your loss if you can't communicate with everyone else. I don't mind if people are here that can't speak English, but they aren't going to make it very far in life if they can't talk to people.

If you are talking about the 300 way at Eloy, call Skydive Arizona and ask for Jason Peters or Keith Snyder. They are making the video for the 300 way. Jason also has a lot of awesome stills.

Anyone have experience with the conceptus bite switch and/or tongue switch? If you have, how do you like it?

Yup, jump #3, that was quite a rush. I think I yelled pretty much every four letter word in the english language as I drifted off under my reserve to land in a puddle.

Hey, I have a Canon Rebel G that I would like to mount on top of my helmet. I was just wondering where I could find a bite switch/tongue switch. Thanks, Chris

failed twice??? WHAT DO YOU DO????!!! relax, don't worry about it. I failed 4 times if that makes you feel any better. Relax, you'll pass, keep jumping, and it feels great when you get it right, and you will. Blue Ones, Chris

I haven't seen someone let go of the toggles, hook it and then grab the toggles again, but in Eloy I saw a guy hook his stiletto, and swoop it to a dead stop without even touching the toggles, just left them hooked to the velcro and used the rear risers all the way.

Even one will make a difference, I got some coaching from Steve Curtis and Mike Ortiz in Eloy when I was down there for collegiates and the jumps were worth every dime.

ULEAD was the first video editing system I ever used and it was very easy from the second I installed it and I made some pretty cool and complex videos with it, but you'll definately want to step up to something like Premiere after a while, but I'd say its a great program to learn the basics of computer based editing.

I'd also encourage you to take a look at 2kcomposites camera helmets. You can check them out at www.2kcomposites.com. Of course I am biased becaues I'm a dealer and a proud owner of one, but definately worth checking out. I definately don't have anything bad to say about bonehead, they build great products, but I'd encourage you to check out all the helmets out there and see which one you think would fit your needs the best. Blue Skies, Chris

Hey guys, just thought I might be able to help with a few other questions. The cut-away system is its final stages of development. I don't know much about the mechanics of the system itself, but its been in development a while so they could really put it through some tests. 2k wanted to make sure it could cutaway under heavy loads and work in a variety of situations. Regarding wide angle lenses, it really depends on the lens, some are very small and would only barely come out of the box if at all, and some are really big. Mine is a Kenko .43 and it sticks out of the box a little bit. Blue Skies, Chris [email protected]

One other thing I should mention about 2k is that right now the exchange rate is very high, 1.64, but they have decided to lock in 1.56 as their rate of exchange for customers until May 1. This means that buying a helmet now until May 1 will be cheaper than normal. Blue Skies, Chris

I recently got a 2k FF2 which I am extremely pleased with. I'd also like to ad that 2k has recently added a ratchet chin-cup to their camera helmets. I was so impressed with their operation that I became a dealer for them so if anyone here in the US is interested in their helmets, let me know. -Chris

Does anyone know of any dropzones near Stirling, Scotland, there's a chance I could study abroad there and I'm hoping there's a DZ around somewhere. I didn't see one on any web-sites though.

Could anyone explain to me a little bit about wing types and all the different camera suits out there. I have seen probably 100 different camera suits and 100 different "personal" mods to those suits. Are there any out there that only really experienced flyers should jump or are they all the same principal, just different sizes and ways to hook/unhook them. I know some you don't have to unhook to get your toggles and others you do etc... Any general info would be appreciated.

I know a copule guys that jump the Nvertigo X and they like it just fine (without the chin-cup). I also know a couple people that jump Mindwarps and Optiks and they like those too. I jump a 2kcomposites FF2 and I LOVE IT! I chose it because its almost impossible to snag anything on it and its comfortable. They also just got ratchet chin-cups so I'm eager to get mine (they come standard). Anyway, just find a helmet that fits your price range and needs and if your interested in 2k helmets, let me know, I'll hook you up.

I had a friend that jumped a canopy that had been packed for 2 years, and it opened just fine. Although if it hadn't been stored properly, he probably would have repacked it.

Thanks for the replies, I need to call Eloy, I was just assuming that they were booked because of the volume of people. I'll give them a call and see whats up, hopefully their prices reduced with jump tickets going down for the boogie :)

I just got my new 2K composites FF2 freefly helmet and it looks awesome. I was a little skeptical since I'd never seen one and I didn't know if they would get the fit right but the helmet looks awesome and fits like a glove. The camera fits perfectly and I can't wait to take it up soon. I'll post some pictures sometime, if anyone hasn't seen this helmet, its kind of a combination of the optik with the camera mount built in like the old sidewinder. Also, if there are going to be any FF coaches at Eloy let me know, I'm guessing the ones down there are booked up already.